History

WHO WE ARE

One group in different markets

History

The relationship between the Donelli family and the world of painting dates back to the second half of the 19th century. In the years immediately following the Unification of Italy, the Donellis, originally from Casalmaggiore, in the province of Cremona, were active in the decoration of façades and interiors of churches, noble palaces and other prestigious buildings. Over time, partly due to the nature of their work, they moved between Lombardy and Piedmont in search of new customers.

In the early 1900s, Giovanni Donelli relocated to Legnano and founded a small decoration and painting business, also implementing innovative activities for the time, such as the application of oil-based enamels for metals and lime-based paints for masonry. Giovanni Donelli’s vision was decisive in transforming what was primarily an artistic and artisanal endeavor into a true entrepreneurial venture, around which a Group was built over the years that has always been able to reinvent itself.

In the period between the two World Wars, one of the most significant projects was the coating of Milan’s trams. Then, in the years immediately following the Second World War, his sons Carlo and Martino took over the reins of the company, continuing to expand the business into the industrial sector, responding to the needs of post-war reconstruction and the economic boom of the 1950s and 1960s. During this period, the firm participated in major industrial projects, including the coating of large construction sites, petrochemical plants, thermoelectric power stations and the nuclear power plant in Latina.

In the 1970s, Giovanni and Piero Donelli, sons of Carlo and Martino, joined the company and further expanded its technical expertise and geographical reach to countries such as those in North Africa. Particular attention was paid to anti-corrosion, protective, and anti-acid treatments for industrial plants and power stations. The Donelli Group continued to grow, enriching its experience with projects of international value. Among these, one of the most significant was the coating of the San Siro stadium roof in preparation for the 1990 World Cup in Italy, subsequently continued with a complex maintenance operation in 2014.

In the 1980s, with its expansion into international markets, the Donelli Group completed a prestigious restoration and coating project for the Ramses Hilton in Cairo. This was just one of many projects that would have contributed to consolidating the Donelli name in the industrial sector and in the restoration of cultural heritage. Since then, significant restoration projects have been completed in places of great historical value, while maintaining an unbreakable bond with the company’s early days and with its local community and the city of Legnano. These include the Basilica of San Magno, the Canossian Institute Barbara Melzi, and the Church of Santa Rita.

Today, the Donelli Group is a European-sized business consisting of eight operating companies, two of which are located abroad (in Albania and Mozambique), and with over 315 employees. Although the Group has evolved into an increasingly managerial and technologically advanced enterprise, its commitment to quality and attention to detail remains the hallmark that continues to distinguish its work. In addition, the Donelli Group is actively involved in social and cultural responsibility initiatives through pro bono collaborations with FAI (the Italian Fund for the Environment) and the restoration of numerous historical and artistic assets.

Today, through the collaboration of two generations of Donellis and the care with which the ownership has been extended to new partners, the Donelli Group continues its tradition of excellence and innovation. At the same time, the Group has embraced a sustainable vision aligned with the most advanced technological developments, aware of the importance of a healthy relationship with the communities in which it operates and with the values that have always distinguished its work, with particular reference to a long-term agreement with its employees.

OUR COMPANIES

Impresa Donelli

Expertise and professionalism, from offshore platform maintenance to complex hydroelectric projects.

Donelli Alexo

Four facilities in continuous evolution specializing in coatings for heat exchangers, valves, tanks, vessels, and structures of all sizes and weights.

Donelli Eos

Specializing in coating and fire protection for large structures at its Ravenna plant and its customers’ prefabrication yards.

BerSud

Expert in maintenance, fire protection, and safety signage for chemical and petrochemical plants.

Donelli Mozambique

Established in 2015 to develop activities in the SADC area and support customers in the hydroelectric, energy, and emerging local oil & gas industries.

Donelli Sh.p.k.

Active since 2008, serving the Oil & Gas and energy sectors in Albania. A coating facility is also under construction at the Durrës industrial port.

Pro.Ma.R.

A well-established company in the construction, renovation, and maintenance of both industrial and civil structures, including those of historical value.

OIKIA

Specializing in completion and finishing work for civil, office, commercial, and industrial buildings.