100 years of Beta
Since 1923, Beta’s history has been one of excellence in Italian industry and consolidation on international markets too.
1923
Alessandro Ciceri founded the forging plant “Alessandro Ciceri & Figli” in Erba (CO), specialised in iron and steel moulds.
1932
Registration of the Robur trademark; the company began manufacturing accessories for ropes and lifting.
1939
The Beta trademark was registered on 14 July. In the same year the founder's son, Damiano Ciceri, moved the company from Erba to Sovico (MB), which is where the company's headquarters are still based.
1949
Damiano Ciceri was one of the exhibitors at the 27th edition of Fiera Milano: an excellent occasion for establishing the first contacts abroad.
1955
Damiano Ciceri's business became a joint-stock company under the name “Officine Meccaniche Beta”.
1960
Beta Utensili is now staffed by over 200 employees, consolidating itself as an up-and-coming company in the professional tools sector. It began exporting its products abroad, thanks to 7 representatives.
1969
Beta's product offering includes over 1,000 tools in various models. Among them is the Tank C25, the revolutionary Beta trolley inspired by the intuition of Alessandro, the founder.
1971
A radical image change takes place: as of now the colour orange will distinguish the Beta brand style, thanks to the contribution of the designer Giorgio Tonti, who also designed the new brand featuring the wrench "fork".
1972
With the aim of achieving strong brand recognisability, Beta first entered Formula 1 as official sponsor of the team of Tino and Vittorio Brambilla.
1973
As part of its plans for expanding production, a plant was opened in Castiglione d’Adda (LO), in addition to the one in Sovico. Exports already accounted for 20% of total turnover.
1980
Beta branches open in France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland and Hungary. In Italy, the third production plant opens in Sulmona (AQ), where the iconic combination key 42 is printed.
1987
The first SuperBike sponsorship, which paved the way for Beta's MotoGP début in 1991. Beta's first illustrated catalogue arrived the following year, with 18 product families, published in seven languages.
1990
The fourth generation of the Ciceri family joined the company,the sons of Alessandro and Daniele, who passed away too soon, in September '90 and March '92.
2000
Presentation of the new Beta Utensili catalogue, confirming the continuous growth process. The range of available products doubled, with over 10,000 items, divided into 22 product families.
2002
Expansion of the Beta Utensili offering, with the safety footwear and workwear ranges. Opening of the new Logistics hub in Martinengo (LO) in 2003.
2009
Beta further expanded its markets, with the opening of a new branch in China and a branch in Brazil, three years later.
2016
Alongside Roberto Ciceri, the founder's great-grandson, came the Italian company TIP, while Beta continued to grow thanks to new and innovative products like the RSC55, a modular workshop equipment arising from its motorsports partnership.
2018
The consolidation of the Beta Group begins with the acquisition of BM S.p.A., a leader in electrical installation products, 3D Beta S.r.l., which specializes in custom workshop furniture, and VGF S.r.l., a specialist in powder coating of metal furniture.
2019
Acquisition of Abra Beta S.p.A. and Elpa Abrasivi S.r.l., leading abrasive manufacturing companies. Beta entered the North American market, with the opening of the USA branch in 2020.
2023
In the year of the centenary, the major Vicenza-based producer of welding equipment, Helvi S.p.A., joined the Group, which now works with over 1,000 professionals worldwide.