Xploration date 02/01/2025
This historic north Italian factory was constructed in 1924 and produced materials used in automotive brakes. The factory currently lies in abandonment since 1991.

Asbestos-based powders used to coat brakes were produced in this factory and in the late 1930’s the family that owned this production plant started merging with a brakes company from the Liguria region of Italy. This later company still exists today and maintains the historical brand of the old factory for some of its products.

In 1991 the factory was closed. The family which owned the company decided to close the business in light of an imminent change in law that would ban the use of asbestos in Italy.

A horizontal water mill powered this old factory. The mill (which is still intact) is currently covered in a thick layer of mud. Although principally water powered, at some stage the factory was modernized and received electrical power. Conveyer belts and gears are scattered throughout the factory, most probably powering the old (and now non existent) machinery. Only a green silo remains, ominously guarding the room it stays in. During the explore, no documents or anything really could be found. Only a few tables and signs.

Massive in size, the production site mirrors many other factories from early the 20th century Italian industrial age. Strangely enough, the structure is well preserved. Walls are intact, windows still closed (albeit with some broken glass) and basically all metal that is present is rusty. As an extra bonus, there is little to no graffiti, extremely strange for an abandoned factory of such size and position in a city.

Presently the future of the abandoned site is uncertain. the local city council has tried countless times to requalify the area, citing the need for environmental clean-up, each time failing to reach a conclusive decision on how to proceed.

One day, this factory will have a better future, but until then, it will remain a testament to an industrial age long gone.