Italian manufacturer ADR is celebrating it’s 70th anniversary, having first started in Uboldo, not far from Milan, in a 50sq m garage.
Giovanni Radrizzani and Antonietta Airoldi established the firm, first manufacturing pipettes with brass coverings for gas stoves.
The business underwent an important change in 1960 as it moved to its current location on Via A.M. Ceriani. A second generation also joined the firm, further expanding the production of wheels.
Additionally, the business ventured into new avenues, exploring the manufacturing of wheelbarrows, diverse trolleys, and accessories for the construction industry. Notably, this period also witnessed the production of the first semi-axles for the transportation of construction cranes.
Over the next decade, the company solidified its position as a manufacturer of axles, semi-axles, and complete suspensions for construction, agricultural, and special transport applications. By 1970, ADR had started exporting products to Germany, Holland, and France.
Continuing to establish itself, the business has acquired several companies since the 1970s. The first was the French firm Colaert Essieux, which firmed up ADR’s position in the European market. In the 1990s, this was followed by the acquisitions of Tyremart in England, which became ADR UK, and ATW in Poland, which transformed into ADR Polska.
The company also set up a subsidiary in South America, ADR Brazil, to capitalise on the strong agricultural market in the area. This would be followed by similar setups in China, the United States and Australia.
In the 2010s, the Group continued to grow with the acquisition of SAE – SMB, a historic French company. This move allowed ADR to enter the road axle market. The establishment of ADR India completed the Group’s presence in countries and markets that demanded both axles and suspensions.
For more information go to www.adraxles.com