Our Heritage
We are proud of our roots
From a small family venture to an international industrial powerhouse
What began in 1937 as a small family venture harvesting timber in Italy’s Brembana Valley has evolved into an international industrial powerhouse.
Even as a global powerhouse, our philosophy stays the same: combining deep material knowledge with advanced engineering, cutting-edge manufacturing, and in-house finishing.
A legacy built one step at a time
Born to support international brands
Minelli Group today serves as a strategic manufacturing partner for brands around the world. This is made possible by our combined presence in Europe and the United States — the latter established to meet the growing demand of the North American market and provide direct, local support.
Operating within the United States, specifically, allows us to work more closely with brands and suppliers on the ground, with faster response times and stronger alignment with local commercial and regulatory requirements. Our production capacity, engineering expertise, and finishing technologies mirror the same standards first established in our European plants, now upheld across every site we operate.
Local presence, one shared standard
Minelli Group operates production plants across Europe, where the company was founded in 1937, and in Hickory, North Carolina, our base for North America. Each location is chosen for what it brings locally: the industrial heritage and craftsmanship built up over generations in Europe, and, in Hickory, access to efficient logistics and a well-established manufacturing ecosystem in one of America’s key industrial regions.
What keeps these plants working as one Group, rather than as separate operations, is constant exchange. Teams across Europe and the US coordinate on production schedules and share technical knowledge continuously, so a project can move between continents without losing consistency along the way.
Decades in the making
Explore our timeline below and follow the milestones that mark this journey. Each step reflects a deliberate choice: to grow without losing sight of the craft that started it all. Nearly nine decades of entrepreneurial drive, told through the moments that shaped them.
1937 – The first shopfloor
Francesco Minelli and his sons officially founded the company in Bergamo. Initially, their business focused on cutting timber from the surrounding valleys.
Working directly with raw materials enabled the family to develop unparalleled knowledge of wood species, grain behaviour and structural performance, a level of expertise that continues to underpin our manufacturing precision to this day.
1940 – The artisan workshop
The family opened a small workshop dedicated to wood machining in Ambriola.
It was here that Francesco’s sons mastered their craft. They learnt how to select the finest wood, how to shape it accurately and how to finish surfaces to exacting standards.
1952 – The first factory
The workshop expanded to become a small factory with dedicated office space.
Located in a narrow valley where the buildings were only briefly touched by sunlight each day, the company grew steadily thanks to its reputation for reliability. Recognising the consistent quality of its products, clients increased demand across the following decades.
1963 - The beginning of automation
The economic expansion of the 1960s created new opportunities.
Minelli invested in automated machinery and constructed additional production facilities. The company increased efficiency without compromising on craftsmanship standards. Industrial processes became faster and more structured, yet quality remained uncompromised.
1974 – The Zogno plant
As product lines diversified, additional space became essential.
The new Zogno plant was a major step forward. With increased production capacity, Minelli was able to serve a wider range of industrial sectors and establish itself as a reliable B2B manufacturing partner.
The company moved beyond local recognition and entered a structured industrial phase.
21th Century
2010 – Gottolengo plant
In 2012, Minelli Group set up an in-house Finishing Laboratory at its Gottolengo site. Thanks to this strategic decision, the company was able to develop, test and refine advanced finishing technologies in-house.
Clients benefit directly from this capability. Surface treatments, colour development and performance coatings can be engineered to exacting brand specifications while adhering to rigorous environmental standards.
2012 – The finishing lab
In 2012, Minelli Group set up an in-house Finishing Laboratory at its Gottolengo site. Thanks to this strategic decision, the company was able to develop, test and refine advanced finishing technologies in-house.
Clients benefit directly from this capability. Surface treatments, colour development and performance coatings can be engineered to exacting brand specifications while adhering to rigorous environmental standards.
2012 - Growth across Europe
International demand increased steadily.
In order to respond efficiently to this growth and reduce carbon emissions linked to long-distance transport, Minelli increased production capacity in Europe by opening a plant in Albania.
2015 – Minelli USA
Thanks to innovation, advanced technology and decades of craftsmanship, Minelli has become a trusted supplier to leading brands worldwide.
In order to support the growing demand in North America, Minelli USA LLC was established. This expansion strengthened proximity to clients, accelerated response times, and ensured local commercial support.
2020 – WOOX
From humble beginnings on the shop floor, the Minelli Group has evolved into a global enterprise with five production plants worldwide, all the while maintaining its roots.
WOOX marks the beginning of a bold new chapter. Developed in the USA and crafted in Italy, this artisanal line of high-performance outdoor gear combines traditional woodcraft with modern engineering.
2022 – Minelli Systems
Minelli Systems was established to expand its capabilities beyond wood.
As a contract manufacturer of beauty and household product packaging, Minelli Systems integrates diverse materials, advanced engineering and structured industrial processes.
Sustainable manufacturing is treated as a business imperative. Every project is guided by efficient processes, material innovation and responsible sourcing.
2023 - Minelli Materials
The focus of innovation is now shifting towards material transformation.
The company is actively replacing plastic with wood-based alternatives. The goal is clear: to provide brands with technically viable, aesthetically refined and sustainable solutions.
By combining wood expertise with hybrid material engineering, Minelli supports companies that aim to reduce their environmental impact without compromising on performance or design integrity.
Today
More than 250 professionals operate across five production plants spanning over 350,000 square feet.
Our size enables us to manufacture in a structured way, produce flexibly and reliably and handle complex international programmes, all while maintaining the precision, agility and long-term vision that define our heritage.