History
Entrepreneurs for 3 generations
The early years
The company was founded in the 1920s by blacksmith Antonio Gatta, whose products originally included aircraft valves, wrought iron parts, bicycles and prototypes for motorcycles. The firm now operates from its own 2000 m2 site in the municipality of Samone (Turin).
Industrialisation
The second generation, represented by the founder's son Leonardo Gatta, saw the gradual conversion of the business from artisanal to industrial. Initially the main customers came from steel and metalworking, as well as the construction industry. Later, the focus shifted towards machine builders, other industrial installations and products for the cable transport sector, which led to the manufacture of cable car systems and ropeway conveyors used in quarries and mines.
Expansion
The firm's new direction required more staff and more space: hence the move in 1979 to the new plant in Colleretto Giacosa (Turin). This site, which boasts warehouse space of 6,700 m2 on a site of 20,000, is still the company's operational headquarters today. This period saw the consolidation of relations with customers from the machine building and industrial installation sector. Most of the production related to welded structures, but in some cases Gatta also manufactured bespoke installations, complete with machine assembly.
Diversification
The arrival of the third generation, represented by Marco and Silvia Gatta, saw the company seize the opportunities of the automation market. During this time the company reduced its dependence on a small number of large customers, and in 2008 the firm built a 3,700 m2 extension to house the new Precision Sheet Metal department. This was the second cornerstone of the company's operations, along with Mechanical Carpentry, which had now come to specialise in the building of electrowelded structures for the machinery and industrial installation sector. Thanks to this significant evolution, today Gatta operates from a site covering 10,000 square metres of indoor space.
Modernisation
During this period, the company focused on the development of its two departments: mechanical carpentry and precision sheet metal. To face the new challenges posed by a changing market, Gatta invested heavily in machinery, equipment and technology, with a particular focus on the introduction of a new operating system and a leaner organisational structure based on "4.0" interconnection. At this stage, the company also consolidated and grew its customer base, achieving record turnover of 16 million euros in 2022, accompanied by significant margins.
