Idra Group
Italian die casting machinery company
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Idra Group (Idra S.r.l.; originally Idra Presse S.p.A.) is a manufacturer of die casting machinery, founded in 1946 in Brescia, Italy.[1] The company is notable for producing the largest high-pressure die casting machines in the world.[2]
- Idra Presse
- Idra
- Costruzioni Idromeccaniche Bresciane
| |
 | |
| Formerly |
|
|---|---|
| Company type | Private |
| Industry | Die casting |
| Founded | 1946 in Brescia, Italy |
| Founder | Adamo Pasotti |
| Headquarters | , Italy |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Riccardo Ferrario |
| Products |
|
| Revenue | €87 million (2015) |
Number of employees | 161 (2015) |
| Parent | LK Machinery |
| Subsidiaries | Idra North America inc. - Idra Mexico - Idra Pressen GmbH - Idra China ltd. |
History
The company was originally founded by Adamo Pasotti in 1944 or 1946 with the factory located on via Triumplina in Brescia.[3]
By 1956, Idra was seeking to export its die-casting machines outside Italy.[4]
By 1971, an Idra OL-1200 S machine was being used to cast motor components weighing 7 kilograms (15 lb) for Porsche cars.[5]
In March 2024, Riccardo Ferrario retired as general manager of Idra, with the role being taken over by John Stokes.[6][7]
Hot years
During Italy's Years of Lead in the 1970s, Giovanni Maifredi worked at Idra as a warehouse worker, having been provided with a job without having any qualifications.[8] Following the Piazza della Loggia bombing in Brescia on 28 May 1974, Idra factory workers organised a fifteen-day strike action and picket line outside the Idra factory.[9]
Original site
The original factory site at via Triumplina 43 in the north of Brescia was developed into the Triumplina Retail Park, requiring construction of new roundabout junctions.[10]
Ownership
As of 2006[update], Idra was 30% owned by the Intesa Sanpaolo Bank, with 70% of the remaining shares acquired by LK Machinery, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.[1]
For the year 2015, Idra employed 161 people, and had a turnover of €87 million, with a profit of €3 million.[3]
By 2016, LK Machinery had acquired the remainder of the outstanding shares.[1]
Development
In 2000, Idra filed a patent application for die casting machine designed to produce two separate castings simultaneously from a single injection of liquid metal.[11]
On August 20, 2020, the first Giga Press installed at a U.S. electric-car-only manufacturer customer produced castings.[citation needed]
As of May 2025[update], Idra were providing sponsorship to Prema Racing starting with the Indycar 2025 Indianapolis 500.[12] The Idra-sponsored car driven by Robert Shwartzman took pole position in qualifying.[13][14]
