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. The company is notable for producing the largest high-pressure die casting machines in the world.[1]
History
The company was originally founded by Adamo Pasotti in 1944 or 1946 with the factory located on via Triumplina in Brescia.
By 1956, Idra was seeking to export its die-casting machines outside Italy.[2]
By 1971, an Idra OL-1200 S machine was being used to cast motor components weighing 7 kg for Porsche cars.[3]
In March 2024, Riccardo Ferrario retired as general manager of Idra, with the role being taken over by John Stokes.[4][5]
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. 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.
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.
Ownership
As of 2006, 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.
For the year 2015, Idra employed 161 people, and had a turnover of €87 million, with a profit of €3 million.
By 2016, LK Machinery had acquired the remainder of the outstanding shares.
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.
On August 20, 2020, the first Giga Press installed at a U.S. electric-car-only manufacturer customer produced castings.
As of May 2025, Idra were providing sponsorship to Prema Racing starting with the Indycar 2025 Indianapolis 500.[6] The Idra-sponsored car driven by Robert Shwartzman took pole position in qualifying.[7][8]
Further reading
External links
References
- Mario Conserva. Idra Thinks Big: Growth, New Strategies and an Order for the Largest Press in the World Alluminio & Leghe, PubliTec, 11 June 2019, retrieved 16 January 2022^
- Machinery: Italy Foreign Commerce Weekly, United States Department of Commerce, 12 November 1956, retrieved 15 January 2022^
- Pubblicità IDRA Costruzioni Idromeccaniche Bresciane Fiera di Milano, January 1971, retrieved 15 January 2022^
- Management change at Idra Group Foundry-Planet, 2024-03-26, retrieved 2024-04-15^
- IDRA announces that as of March 31 John Stokes will be stepping into the role of General Manager Idra Group, 2024-04-12, retrieved 2024-04-15^
- PREMA Racing announces Indy 500 partnership with IDRA Group Prema Racing, 2025-05-17, retrieved 2025-05-19^
- Ellen J. Horrow. Robert Shwartzman becomes first rookie driver to win Indy 500 pole since 1983 USA Today, 2025-05-19, retrieved 2025-05-19^
- Nick DeGroot. Rookie Robert Shwartzman earns shock Indy 500 pole with Prema Racing Motorsport.com, 2025-05-19, retrieved 2025-05-19^
- Idra baut Führungsposition aus Giesserei, 8 November 2016, retrieved 25 October 2021^
- , since withdrawn. Pressure die-casting machine^
- Idra, un bilancio 2015 da record Brescia Today, 6 June 2016, retrieved 25 October 2021^
- Brescia Autunnocaldo, 31 October 2019^
- Mauro Brutto. Il missino Degli Occhi di nuovo interrogato a Brescia Diecci ordini di cattura per gli attentati nel centro-Italia L'Unità, 4 June 1974, retrieved 25 October 2021^
- Pietro Gorlan. Strade e rondò, rigenerazione a nord: L'ex Idra porta lavori per 3,2 milioni Corriere della Sera^