In 2026, Fantini Cosmi celebrates 95 years of history.
A journey spanning nearly a century, made not only of products and technological innovation, but also of places: factories, offices, and research and development laboratories that have accompanied the company through the different stages of its growth.
Retracing the locations that have hosted Fantini Cosmi over the years means telling the story of the evolution of an Italian company that, despite crises, wars, industrial transformations and market changes, has always maintained strong production roots in Italy.
Milan, 1931: the birth of the company
The story begins in Milan in June 1931, when the Fantini family founded the “Società Anonima Officine Alberto Fantini & C.” in Via Giovanni da Milano.
The company was established on the basis of a previous entrepreneurial experience and focused on the production of industrial electrical switching and control devices. Success came quickly: the attention to quality and the ability to interpret the needs of the industry allowed the company to establish itself immediately in a rapidly evolving sector.
These were the years in which the industrial culture that would characterize Fantini Cosmi for decades began to take shape: technical innovation, engineering expertise and strong entrepreneurial spirit.
War and resilience: the move to Soresina
In 1943, World War II hit Milan hard. Bombings damaged the company’s plant, making it necessary to move production outside the city.
Fantini Cosmi relocated to Soresina, in the province of Cremona, where production was set up in a former silk mill adapted for industrial activity. It was a difficult period for many Italian companies, but Fantini Cosmi demonstrated remarkable resilience.
In 1952, a fire destroyed this facility as well. Once again, Fantini Cosmi was forced to start over and rebuild.
This ability to react to adversity, reinvent itself and move forward would become one of the strongest traits of the company’s identity.
The return to Milan and the years of economic growth
In 1954, Fantini Cosmi returned to Milan, establishing its new headquarters in Via Mecenate 75. This marked the beginning of a period of strong industrial growth, supported by the economic expansion that characterized post-war Italy.
In the following years, the facility continued to expand and evolve. In 1974, the headquarters were completed with a new office building, a clear sign of a company that had become solid and well established.
By the 1980s, Fantini Cosmi employed more than 350 people. The production organization was highly integrated: almost every activity was carried out in-house, from galvanizing to painting, from toolmaking to turning, from metal stamping to assembly.
Catalogues, price lists and advertising materials were also printed internally, thanks to the presence of printing machines and a dedicated graphic department. Even logistics had a handcrafted dimension: for overseas shipments, wooden crates were produced directly within the company, thanks to an internal carpentry workshop.
This was the hallmark of a complete industrial enterprise, capable of managing diverse skills internally and building strong production know-how.
1992: the move to Caleppio di Settala
With the evolution of markets and production needs, in the early 1990s Fantini Cosmi took another important step.
In 1992, the company moved its production facilities and laboratories to Caleppio di Settala, in the province of Milan. This became the company’s current headquarters: a functional space designed to support technological development and industrial growth.
This facility soon became the core of Fantini Cosmi’s activities, a hub for design, manufacturing and development of solutions dedicated to indoor comfort.
And it is still here today that the company’s main operations are concentrated.
A manufacturing heart that has always remained in Italy
Despite the many transformations of the market and the challenges faced over the decades, Fantini Cosmi has always kept its production heart in Italy.
Even in the most complex moments—from wartime to economic crises—the company has continued to invest in its territory, enhancing the skills, people and know-how developed over time.
In 2007, with the acquisition of the ventilation company Aspira, the Fantini Cosmi Industrie Group was created, further strengthening the company’s presence in the indoor air quality and comfort sector.
A story that continues
Today Fantini Cosmi continues to grow and develop increasingly advanced solutions for comfort, energy efficiency and air quality.
While expanding in international markets, the company has preserved its nature as a dynamic and innovative family business, without ever giving up the “Italian heart” that has characterized it since 1931.
The places where Fantini Cosmi was born, grew and transformed tell much of this identity: a story made of resilience, adaptability and entrepreneurial vision.
A story that began almost a century ago — and that continues to evolve day after day.
Read the story of Fantini Cosmi directly through the words of President Angelo Brambilla.
FANTINI COSMI’S HISTORY – PART I
FANTINI COSMI’S HISTORY – PART II
