History

140th ANNIVERSARY
An original Base Camp, set up in the courtyard of Castle of Valentino in Turin was the setting for the celebratory event to commemorate this important anniversary. A presentation was held during the evening for the book "Outdoor Design dal 1870", a volume that looks back on the company’s history, together with an original film entitled Caleidoscopio shown inside the tents and able to immerse spectators in the typical atmosphere of Ferrino’s world. The fact of reaching 140 years in business has encouraged the company to invest even more in the future, devolving increasing amounts of its resources to research and internationalisation, communicating more frequently with its fans through web 2.0 channels and supporting Responsible Tourism initiatives such as the recent Trek on Mount Kailash.
 

1870

Ferrino's history is born of intuition. In his paint shop in Via Nizza 107 in Torino, Cesare Ferrino experimented and introduced an industrial procedure for the waterproofing of fabrics. It was a revolutionary invention: In just a few years the company positions itself throughout Italy, thanks to its multipurpose waterproof coating.

1890
Ferrino is already a reference point for explorers and mountaineers who seek safe shelter in a tent. Sportsmen are not the only ones to demonstrate an interest in the evolution of materials and waterproof coverings: among their new clients is FIAT. Legend has it that Senator Giovanni Agnelli himself walked out of a Ferrino store with a "folding top" under his arm.

1910

Mass production began with a tent called Cervino: these are years of pioneering and legendary mountaineering. Years during which Ferrino focused on research and technology, becoming a member of teams that take on extraordinary challenges.

1937

The explorer and researcher, Alberto Maria De Agostini, set up the legendary "Neghelli" tent in the Tierra del Fuego in 1937.

1940

Alpinism evolved and Ferrino kept pace:: among the new models is the Alpine tent, capable of resisting extreme winds thanks to an external cloth in triplex.

 1960

Following the difficult years of World War II and the post-war period, the 1960s gave rise to a new culture of living “on the road” in the open air.

1973

Yet once again, alongside pioneers, Ferrino designed the isothermal Afghan tent, which weights only 7,4 kilograms. Next was Trekking, the first dome tent designed by Ferrino after completing studies of geodesic domes.

1984

Ferrino's research collects and elaborates input from professional users. Reinhold Messner personally designed the prototype of the tent that he used to climb Gasherbrun I and II in 1984.

1994

The year 1994 represents a true turning point in Ferrino's history. In fact, High Lab was born: an "outdoor" laboratory with its permanent location at 3585 m altitude. Here at the Quintino Sella Refuge on Mount Rosa, mountaineers, trekkers, and excursionists collaborate with the Ferrino team to perfect new hi-tech prototypes. Beginning with High Lab, Ferrino gives life to a project that reaches beyond mountaineering to embark onto the frontier of extreme exploration.

1997

The Ultima tent was a true survival cell for Borge Ousland, who crossed the Antarctic on skis for a total of 2854 km.

1998

Once again "ULTIMA" took centre stage, after being modified to allow Carla Perrotti to live 24 days as a nomad in the Chinese desert of Taklimakan.

2000

The new millennium finds Ferrino alongside the La Venta team, which conducts multidisciplinary research: from the study of glaciers in Iceland, the Alps, Patagonia, and the Antarctic, to hydrological and speleological research in the farthest reaches of the earth.

2000

Mike Horn makes his solo crossing of the Arctic: a challenging 20,000 km and 20 months of traveling in temperatures between -70°C and -15°C. Ferrino designed the M.H.L. Evolution tent especially for Mike; a mix of high technology and design tested in the Mercedes Wind Tunnel.

2004

Ferrino also climbed K2 as the technical sponsor of the "K2-50 years later" expedition, a modern day re-enactment of the great adventure experienced by Ardito Desio and his men in 1954.
It was 4:30 AM on July 30, 26 when Silvio Mondinelli exclaimed: "We're at the top!"

2006

Having always been “on the planet’s side”, Ferrino supports Responsible Tourism with the T.RES project, promoting a new, ethical, and eco-savvy way of travelling based on awareness of the environment and peoples.

Ferrino is also working alongside the La Venta team on its Naica speleological project, a three-year exploration and survey programme in the Cueva de los Cristales, Mexico.  The cave, which contains giant gypsum crystals, stands out for its high temperatures (approx. 45–48°C) and humidity (approx. 100%).  Ferrino’s technical support has played a determining role in the success of the exhibition.  Technological experiments have allowed Ferrino to create Tolomea, an ultra-technical suit that makes it possible to explore the cave for 80 minutes, in conditions in which the human body would survive for just a few moments. 

2007

Ferrino has become part of the AITR, the world’s largest network working to promote Responsible Tourism, and EOG, a group involving the European outdoor industry in the protection of unspoiled nature, through the "Association for Conservation" project.

The High Lab Pro Team Ferrino is here – a real field laboratory based on the ideas and experience of a team of mountain and outdoor professionals.

The group is comprised of alpine guides, instructors and members of the mountain rescue corps, who live the mountain experience in the “field”, every day.

Ferrino was alongside Gnaro Mondinelli with its WTS tent, backpack and sleeping bag when he summited Broad Peak on 12 July.  With this feat, Mondinelli joined the mountaineering elite, the second Italian, after Reinhold Messner, to have climbed all 14 “Eight-thousanders” without using additional oxygen.

2008

The San Mauro Torinese factory has been fitted with 396 photovoltaic modules to meet some of its power needs.

The characteristics of the photovoltaic system:

• power 67.32 kWp
• 396 photovoltaic modules
• estimated annual production: 80,584 kWh
• CO2 emissions avoided: approx. 56,350 kg/year
• fuel oil consumption saved: approx. 20,150 kg/year

In January, Ferrino purchased the Baldas brand, a name that has been synonymous with quality snowshoes for over 30 years.  All moulding and production take place in Italy.  The range of models is of the highest quality and adapts to suit the excursionist’s every need.

2009

From Tolomea, the HighLab line.

Ferrino has transferred the unique experience of the giant crystal cave to the very top of its product range and after 139 years of experience in manufacturing mountaineering items, Ferrino has created its first collection of high-tech mountain apparel for men and women.