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Our Heritage

A rich heritage that guides our present and shapes our future.

First steps 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s Early 2000s 2010s 2020s Today

First steps

The foundation of Ariston Group

1930

The history of Ariston Group begins in Albacina, Italy, when Aristide Merloni, who emigrated in Piedmont in search of stable employment, returns to his hometown to establish a factory for industrial scales. The first scale is manufactured on July 20th. The spirit of the enterprise – which arises from the desire to fight the depopulation of the area – will become the seed of the group's industrial culture.

1933

S.A.M.A. – Società Anonima Merloni Aristide – is officially founded, consolidating the artisan initiative in the industrial scale sector.

1950s

Ariston Group’s first development

1954

The company begins producing liquefied gas cylinders during the years of the economic boom. Francesco Merloni, Aristide’s eldest son, who had recently joined the company, expands the production to meet the changing demand and seize new market opportunities. At its peak, the company produces up to 10,000 cylinders per day, conquering 60% of the Italian market.

1957

With hot water becoming a fundamental necessity in all homes, the company further diversifies its production towards water heaters: it’s the result of a simple but decisive intuition to combine an electric heating element with a gas cylinder. In the same year, a new factory to produce gas stoves and cookers opens in Albacina.

1959

1960s

Aiston: the birth of our global brand

1960

1963

1964

1970s

The beginning of our international expansion

1970

Upon the death of founder Aristide, the company is structured into three divisions – Merloni Termosanitari, Merloni Elettrodomestici and Ardo – and Francesco takes over the leadership of the heating and plumbing division, accelerating in terms of technological innovation.

1973

The company inaugurates its new headquarter in Fabriano, Italy, designed to accommodate all employees in a functional and comfortable space.

1974

In Arcevia, Italy, the company opens a new factory to produce heating elements and thermostats for water heaters. It will become the main production base for the group's components division, later Thermowatt, a globally recognized player.

1978

The company opens its first plant outside the Marche region, in Namur, Belgium, dedicated to the production of water heaters. This will be followed by the opening of other sites in Europe, accompanying a period of rapid growth and penetration into new markets.

1979

The company is the first in Italy to publish a Social Report. Issued by the Battelle Institute in Geneva, Switzerland, the report analyzes activities carried out during the 1975-1977 three-year period, assessing the social impact on employees, consumers, and local communities, alongside financial assets.

1980s

The entry into the heating sector

1980

1981

1987

The company acquires a small production unit in Osimo, Italy, and begins manufacturing wall-hung boilers. Not far away, it will inaugurate a state-of-the-art facility for the production of heating solutions aimed at the main European markets, which in 2024 will be awarded the silver medal in World Class Manufacturing.

1990s

The expansion into the Asian market

Anni '90

1992

1995

1997

Early 2000s

M&A and managerialization: pillars of the transformation

2001

With the acquisition of Elco, Chaffoteaux, Cuenod, Ecoflam and Rendamax, the company doubles in size, reaching a turnover of almost 1 billion, and strengthens its position in the heating sector in Europe.

2004

2006

2010s

With the generational transition, a new phase of development begins

2011

Paolo Merloni takes on the role of Executive Chairman, with Francesco Merloni becoming Honorary Chairman. In th same year, the group begins to implement the World Class Manufacturing methodology, based on the principles of operational excellence, continuous improvement and people involvement.

2013

The company inaugurates its new headquarter in Milan, Italy, to fully seize the development opportunities offered by a dynamic, internationally oriented city. Through the acquisition of DhE, which will become Thermowatt Professional, it completes its range of components with heating elements and systems for professional and industrial applications.

2014

The company acquires Atag, the Dutch leader in high-quality heating solutions. It also enters the South African market through the acquisition of a local player active in the heating sector and opens a new water heater factory in Bắc Ninh, Vietnam.

2015

The company enters the Danish market with the acquisition of Gas-Tech Energy, operating in the domestic and industrial heating and service sectors. In the same year, it acquires SPM, a French manufacturer of burners and components.

2016

With a strong presence in Europe and Asia, the company enters the North American market through the acquisition of NTI, a Canadian company specialized in the production of high-efficiency condensing boilers.

2017

The company expands in North America with the acquisition of HTP, a manufacturer of heating and hot water solutions in the United States.

2018

The company acquires and reindustrializes the historic Albacina site to inaugurate a center of excellence for renewable solutions, essential for the decarbonization of buildings. At the same time, it structures its approach to sustainability by defining objectives to be monitored annually and a dedicated governance framework.

2019

The company consolidates its position in the Americas by pursuing its external growth strategy: it completes the acquisition of Calorex, a manufacturer of water heating solutions for the residential and commercial segments with a strong leadership position in Mexico.

2020s

Stock market listing, to accelerate growth

2021

The company changes its name to Ariston Group and, in November, gets listed on Euronext Milan. The IPO marks a milestone in the group's development, enhancing its profile and brand recognition. Already equipped with level governance, the group also redefines its ESG strategy.

2022

With the acquisition of Chromagen, a leader in solar thermal solutions, the group enters the Australian market and strengthens its position in Israel. In the same year, it announces its merger with Wolf-Brink, a cutting-edge company in natural refrigerant heat pumps with a solid presence in Germany and the DACH markets.

2023

The group joins forces with Wolf-Brink in the largest operation in its history, strengthening its position in Europe as well as its portfolio of sustainable brands and solutions for climate comfort. In the same year, it launches Road to 100, its ESG plan for 2030, identifying the objectives and initiatives necessary to fully integrate sustainability into its development strategy.

2024

The group inaugurates a new production line for premium water heaters in Cerreto d'Esi. In the same year, in Cairo, Egypt, it acquires a water heater factory, and in Niš, Serbia, it starts the construction of a site dedicated to the production of cylinders for thermal comfort solutions.

today

Solid roots, the foundation of our future

We pursue our long-term vision, moving towards the hundredth anniversary of our foundation.

Discover who we are

Ariston Group invests in technological and industrial innovation, focused on its customers and people. In 2025, it signs a joint venture with Lennox to launch Lennox-branded water heaters in North America. That same year, it opens its first electronics factory in Arcevia and announces the construction of a new site in Albacina for the production of next-generation water heaters, enabled by a digital and intelligent ecosystem.