From the late nineteenth century to early twentieth century, alongside the large industrial companies, a form of “miscellaneous” mechanical engineering of extraordinary value for the country’s economy had spread throughout Italy. Some examples include: agricultural tractors, cutlery, precision scientific instruments, radio equipment, small metal parts, and locks.

1914

The 33 companies that founded the National Association of Mechanical Engineering and Related Industrialists” aimed to establish a “specific body to study, sponsor and promote everything of interest and utility to mechanical engineering and related industries, and, above all, to protect their common economic interests.” The Association drew the attention of major figures from the emerging industry. The Founding Partners included: Agnelli, Augusta, Braibanti, Breda, Fiat, Marelli, Macchi, Necchi, Olivetti, Riva, Salmoiraghi, and Tosi.

In the first years of its existence ANIMA carries out an action aimed at having a customs tariff adopted that would defend national mechanics from foreign competition, given that the protection policy made the purchase of raw materials extremely onerous and therefore the Made in Italy products not very competitive.

1945

On 25 May 1945, in the aftermath of World War 2, ANIMA resumed its journey with 53 companies reconstituting the Association of Italian Metallurgical and Mechanical Industries (A.I.M.M.I), which was later renamed ANIMA. On a functional level, the Association became a national representative organisation for mechanical engineering companies, thus serving as a reference point for the entire sector nationwide, protecting its interests, while at the same time promoting growth, development and technological updating.

The 1960s

From 312 members in 1950, ANIMA grew to include over 500 members in just 10 years, and went on to have approximately 1,000 member companies.

1988

ANIMA changed from a “Business Association” to a “Federation of Associations and Unions” within the framework of Confindustria: a decisive step that placed a modern “system” for achieving new domestic and international goals at the disposal of its member companies, which boasted over 60 different production specialisations.

2014 

We celebrated our centennial to commemorate the Federation’s constant commitment to Italy’s mechanical engineering companies.

• 34 associations
• 1,000 member companies
• 60 product sectors
• 55.5 € billion in sales
• 60% exports on sales
• 222K employee

The companies represented by Orgalim employ 10.3 million employees. The industrial sector that it represents accounts for 28% of the European Union’s total production and one third of its exports. The former president of ANIMA, Sandro Bonomi, served as president of Orgalim from 2012 to 2016.

Orgalim Member Federations / Associations

FMMI - FEEI (Austria), AGORIA (Belgium), BASSEL (Bulgaria), DI (Denmark), The Federation of Finish Technology Industries (Finland), Alliance TICS - FIEEC FIM (France), VDMA - WSM - ZVEI (Germany), BEAMA - EAMA - GAMBICA (Great Britain), IEEF (Ireland), ANIE - ANIMA - FEDERMACCHINE (Italy), Association of Mechanical Engineering and Metalworking Industries of Latvia (Latvia), LINPRA (Lithuania), ILTM (Luxembourg), Norsk Industri (Norway), FME/CWM - METAALUNIE (Netherlands), Federation of the Economic Chambers of the Electromechanical Industries (Poland), AIMMAP, ANEMM (Portugal), GZS-MPIA (Slovenia), CONFEMETAL - SERCOBE (Spain), TEKNIKFORETAGEN (Sweden), and SWISSMEM (Switzerland).

Functions

• To guarantee members updated information regarding the activities of the European Union and the European institutions of specific interest to Orgalim.
• To collect and coordinate the opinions of European industry and to influence the decisions of the European Union’s political bodies and other international bodies.
• To promote relations between the member Federations and the Associations.