From Guzzino to global: The journey of LOVATO Electric
Every great company starts somewhere.
For LOVATO Electric, that journey began in 1922 in Bergamo, Italy, with a pioneering entrepreneur, a small electromechanical workshop, and a commitment to innovation that still drives the business today. Over a century later, LOVATO Electric products are available in more than 100 countries worldwide, supported by international subsidiaries, global logistics, and a worldwide customer network.
But long before global supply chains, international travel, and modern transport fleets, there was a much simpler form of mobility behind the business: a humble motorcycle.
In the 1950s, one of LOVATO Electric’s first delivery vehicles was a Moto Guzzi Motoleggera 65 “Guzzino” Modello B – a lightweight motorcycle that became a symbol of practicality, resilience, and post–war Italian industry.
Today, that small motorcycle represents more than just transport. It symbolises the evolution of two iconic Italian manufacturers that helped shape modern industry in very different ways.
Two Italian giants born a year apart
Moto Guzzi was founded in 1921 by Carlo Guzzi, Giorgio Parodi, and Angelo Parodi, following ideas developed during World War I by a group of aviation enthusiasts and engineers. Carlo Guzzi, born in 1889, would go on to become one of the most influential motorcycle engineers in Italian history.
Just one year later, in 1922, Maria Faccio founded Officina Elettromeccanica Lovato & C. in Bergamo, Italy. At a time when engineering and manufacturing were overwhelmingly male-dominated industries, Maria Faccio built a business producing air-break and oil-break switches – laying the foundations for what would become LOVATO Electric.
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Both companies were born during a transformative period for Italian manufacturing. Both embraced engineering innovation. And both evolved from small, specialist workshops into internationally recognised brands.
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The similarities don’t stop there.
Like Moto Guzzi, LOVATO Electric has remained deeply connected to its Italian roots while continuously adapting to technological change. Where Moto Guzzi became known for engineering excellence, innovation, and reliability on the road, LOVATO Electric earned its reputation in industrial automation, motor control, and energy management.
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The motorcycle that helped keep business moving
Post–war Italy was a country rebuilding itself.
Affordable, lightweight transportation became essential for businesses, workers, and families alike. One of the standout vehicles of the era was the Moto Guzzi Motoleggera 65 – more affectionately known as the “Guzzino.”
Introduced in the late 1940s, the Guzzino was designed to provide practical, economical transport at a time when resources were limited but mobility was vital. Despite its compact size and modest 65cc engine, the motorcycle became hugely popular across Italy.
For LOVATO Electric, the Guzzino represented efficiency and practicality. It allowed the company to deliver products, travel between customers, and support business operations during a period when agility and reliability mattered enormously.
Much like LOVATO Electric’s products themselves, the motorcycle was engineered to be dependable, efficient, and built for everyday performance.
It is easy to imagine the streets of 1950s Bergamo: electrical components carefully loaded onto the rear of the motorcycle, deliveries made to local businesses, and customer relationships strengthened face-to-face – one journey at a time.
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Innovation through the decades
While the Guzzino represented simplicity, both LOVATO Electric and Moto Guzzi continued pushing engineering boundaries.
Moto Guzzi became famous for technical innovation in motorcycle design, including the development of one of the world’s first motorcycle wind tunnels in the 1950s. The company also built a legendary reputation in motorsport and performance engineering.
At the same time, LOVATO Electric was evolving from a local manufacturer into a major industrial technology business.
Key milestones included:
- Transitioning from switches to contactors in 1948
- Expanding production and headquarters facilities in the 1960s
- Introducing electronic product lines in the 1970s
- Opening international subsidiaries from 1979 onwards
- Expanding into automation, energy management, and software solutions
- Reaching customers in over 100 countries worldwide today
What once required a single motorcycle and local road network now involves international freight, advanced manufacturing facilities, global logistics operations, and worldwide technical support.
From one motorcycle to a worldwide network
The contrast between LOVATO Electric’s early transport methods and its modern operations highlights just how far the company has come.
In the 1950s:
- Local deliveries by motorcycle
- Regional customer visits
- Small–scale production
- Primarily domestic operations
Today:
- Global supply chain management
- International freight and logistics
- Worldwide customer support
- Overseas subsidiaries and import networks
- Products distributed across more than 100 countries
Modern LOVATO Electric teams travel internationally by road, rail, sea, and air – visiting customers, supporting partners, attending exhibitions, and managing operations across global markets.
Yet despite the scale of today’s business, the same core principles remain:
Engineering excellence
Reliability
Innovation
Long–term customer relationships
Italian manufacturing heritage
The Guzzino may have been small, but it played its part in a much larger journey.
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A shared legacy of Italian engineering
Both Moto Guzzi and LOVATO Electric demonstrate the enduring strength of Italian engineering and entrepreneurship.
One created iconic motorcycles that became symbols of freedom and innovation on the road. The other built industrial technologies that help power automation, control, and energy management around the world.
More than 100 years after their foundations, both businesses continue evolving while staying true to the craftsmanship and engineering culture that shaped their origins.
And in many ways, that little Moto Guzzi delivery bike perfectly captures the spirit of LOVATO Electric itself: practical, dependable, forward–thinking, and always moving forward.
Discover the future of industrial automation with LOVATO Electric
From its beginnings in Bergamo in 1922 to becoming a global organisation operating in more than 100 countries, LOVATO Electric continues to deliver innovation for modern industry.
Explore the latest solutions in:
Automation & Control
Motor Protection & Control
Energy Management
Circuit Protection & Isolation
Control and signalling
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