Aristide Merloni (24 October 1897, Fabriano – 19 December 1970, Fabriano), was an Italian businessman, and founder of the Merloni industries. He started his entrepreneurial adventure with the production of scales. In the following decades, he developed a large range of products, from gas cylinders to water heaters, from bathtubs to household appliances and kitchen furniture. From his name, Aristide, the company drew inspiration to create its historical, most famous trademark, Ariston.
Upon his death, the various activities were divided into three companies, one for each one of his sons. Two of these companies are still in business: Ariston Thermo Group and Indesit Company.
Biography
Coming from a family of workers, he attended the "Istituto Tecnico Industriale Statale Montani" in Fermo, from which he graduated in 1916, when he was drafted for the First World War.
When he returned to Albacina (AN), he participated with Lamberto Corsi, Tersilio Fida, Romualdo Castelli, don Agostino Crocetti and don Erminio Petruio in the Catholic trade unions’ and in the Popular Party.
In 1919 Aristide started his career in the entrepreneurial world as a draughtsman in a plant of Pinerolo (Piedmont, Italy) and in ten years he became the general manager of the company. After moving to Piedmont he still maintained his membership in the Popular Party. He got married in 1921 and had four sons: Ester, Francesco, Antonio and Vittorio.
His inspirational principle was always the corporate social responsibility: “There is no value in the economic success of any industrial initiative unless it is accompanied by a commitment to social progress”. Following the social philosophy of the Christian Democrat Party, he believed that in order to realize authentic human and social promotion, industrial and manufacturing development had to take place gradually, without creating rifts in lifestyles and customs, in traditions and values, drawing inspiration from the pragmatic assumption of respect for individuals.
On 20 July 1930, Aristide Merloni set up a small activity in Fabriano for the production of scales, which changed its name to S.A.M.A. (Società Anonima Merloni Aristide) in 1933.
By 1938 the company had grown bigger, with a turnover of 500,000,000 Liras - a value equivalent to approximately 250,000 Euros - and 70 employees. In the fifties, Merloni was the first Italian company in the field of weighing instruments, with a 40% market share.
Sources
- E. Sori - Merloni: da Fabriano al mondo - Milano, EGEA, 2005
- M. Bartocci, C. Crialesi, E. Sparisci - Aristide Merloni per la sua gente: l'impegno politico e sociale - Urbino, QuattroVenti, c1999
- AA.VV. - Aristide Merloni - Cento Anni 1987-1997 - Conerografica SNC, CAMERANO, 1997
- C. Galliano, D. Pilati, E. Sparisci con interventi di A. Forlani e F. Merloni - Aristide Merloni: l'uomo, il cattolico, l'amministratore - Fabriano, Centro studi Don Giuseppe Riganelli, 1991
- C. Barberis - Aristide Merloni: storia di un uomo e di un'industria in montagna - Bologna, Il Mulino, 1987