History

In 1949, brothers Stefano and Guglielmo Marzocchi founded Marzocchi, driven by their exceptional technical skills and valuable experience gained at Ducati. The company’s journey began in the basement of their home on Via Zannoni in Bologna, where they started manufacturing suspension systems for large-displacement motorcycles.
Thanks to the post-war motorcycle boom, the company experienced rapid growth in its early years, encouraging the brothers to pursue their entrepreneurial vision and lay the foundation for what would become a renowned name in motorcycle suspension technology.

By 1953, Marzocchi’s production had reached 200 units per day, and the team had grown to 25 employees. The original basement workshop on Via Zannoni was no longer sufficient to support the company’s rapid development. This marked the beginning of plans for a much-needed expansion, setting the stage for the next chapter in Marzocchi’s industrial journey.

In 1957, Marzocchi moved its operations to a more suitable facility in Casalecchio di Reno, marking a significant step in its industrial evolution.
During the mid-1950s, as motorcycle production experienced a sharp decline, the Marzocchi brothers decided to diversify their manufacturing activities. They revisited a gear pump project originally developed at Ducati during World War II, laying the groundwork for a new chapter in the company’s history.

Recognizing the need to diversify production, the Marzocchi brothers established two separate companies to support the growth of their distinct business areas:

• Marzocchi Pompe S.R.L., dedicated to the design and manufacturing of hydraulic gear pumps
• Marzocchi S.P.A., focused on motorcycle suspension systems

This strategic decision marked a turning point in the company’s evolution, allowing each division to specialize and innovate within its own field.

After 1965, the second generation of the Marzocchi family joined the company:
Adriano, son of Stefano, and Paolo, son of Guglielmo.

Their arrival marked the beginning of a new era, continuing the legacy of innovation and industrial excellence initiated by their fathers.

Marzocchi’s entry into the world of competitive racing was a testament to the technological excellence of its products.
Successes soon followed in the Motocross World Championship for Marzocchi S.P.A., and in rally racing for Marzocchi Pompe, confirming the company’s ability to perform at the highest levels of motorsport.

To meet the growing demand for gear components from Marzocchi Pompe, a new company named Lavin was founded. Its mission was to produce all gears following a “ready-to-assemble” concept, using state-of-the-art machinery and testing equipment.
Lavin would later be integrated into Marzocchi Pompe in the year 2012.

Marzocchi Pompe continued to develop cutting-edge technologies, enabling the creation of high-performance pump models for an increasingly wide range of applications. This growth positioned the company among the leading global manufacturers in terms of both innovation and production volume.
To support its international expansion, the Marzocchi Group entered the U.S. market by opening a commercial subsidiary in California, strengthening its presence and customer reach across North America.

In 1995, Marzocchi Pompe began collaborating with leading automotive component manufacturers to develop hydraulic pumps for power steering systems and automatic and semi-automatic transmissions.
The company was selected for its engineering excellence and the outstanding performance of its Microhydraulic product range, known for high mechanical and volumetric efficiency—key qualities for demanding automotive applications.

Marzocchi entered into a joint venture with a multinational company to produce a new generation of electric motor-driven power steering pumps.
This strategic partnership marked a significant step forward in the company’s automotive innovation journey.

The shares were sold to the partner company in 2002, concluding the joint venture and allowing Marzocchi to refocus its efforts on core technologies and markets.

To meet the need for specialized aluminum die-cast components, Marzocchi Pompe entered into a joint venture in 1999 with Fonderia Montirone, located in San Giovanni in Persiceto (Bologna), acquiring a 35% stake in the company.
Today, Montirone supplies all die-cast components used in Marzocchi pumps and is a certified supplier for companies in the automotive, furniture, and home appliance sectors. The foundry is equipped with modern, high-tech machinery and testing systems, ensuring top-quality production standards.

In September 2008, Marzocchi Sospensioni was sold to the American multinational TENNECO, a company specialized in automotive shock absorbers and known for the MONROE brand.
Following this strategic move, the ownership reaffirmed its focus on gear pumps and motors, launching an ambitious program of development and investment to strengthen its core business and drive future innovation.

In 2009, Marzocchi Pompe moved its American Division, Marzocchi Pumps U.S.A., from its original headquarters in California to its new headquarters in Elgin, Illinois, just a few kilometers from Chicago's O'Hare Airport. The decision was made to increase sales by locating the branch more centrally within the North American hydraulic market. The Elgin facility maintains a well-stocked warehouse of finished products and spare parts, allowing for fast, often same-day, shipments.

The collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Bologna was further strengthened to support the development of new products.
In particular, the unique gear profile used in Marzocchi Pompe components was studied in partnership with the DIEM Department of the University, leading to the creation of a dedicated design software.
This research effort resulted in the filing of two patents, marking a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to technological innovation.

The first prototypes of the low-noise, low-pulsation gear pump were developed.
ELIKA, Marzocchi Pompe’s new solution for the gear pump market, was designed to meet the needs of applications requiring exceptionally quiet operation.
The product launch included a full range of displacements, from Family 2 to Family 4, available in both single and multiple configurations, marking a major step forward in hydraulic innovation.

In 2012, Marzocchi Pompe participated with its own booth at Expo 2012 in Stuttgart, a leading trade fair for automotive components. This marked the company’s return to independent operations targeting Tier 1 suppliers in the automotive industry.
That same year, the company installed its first 3D printer, launching a rapid prototyping program aimed at significantly reducing product development and launch times.

A new assembly and testing line was installed for the E05 pump, specifically designed for automotive applications. In the same year, Marzocchi Pompe obtained the ISO/TS certification, the key quality standard for companies operating in the automotive sector, further confirming its commitment to excellence and compliance with industry requirements.

A new 9,000 m² production site was inaugurated in Zola Predosa, just 5 km from the historic headquarters in Casalecchio di Reno.

The new facility brings together the entire Marzocchi gear production under one roof. The Zola Plant also includes a dedicated area for assembly and testing of projects in the automotive sector, reinforcing the company’s commitment to innovation and operational excellence.

Marzocchi Pompe began strengthening its collaboration with its long-standing distributor in Shanghai, which soon led to the creation of Marzocchi Symbridge, a joint venture with a 45% stake held by Marzocchi.

This strategic move marked a significant step in expanding the company’s presence in the Chinese market, reinforcing its global reach and commitment to international partnerships.

In 2018, Adriano Marzocchi stepped down from Marzocchi Pompe.
Paolo Marzocchi became the majority shareholder, while a minority stake was acquired by several senior managers.
Paolo assumed the role of Executive President, and his son Carlo Marzocchi joined the Board of Directors, marking the entry of the third generation into the company’s leadership.

At the same time, Gabriele Bonfiglioli was appointed Chief Executive Officer. Having previously worked within the Marzocchi Group for sixteen years in various leadership roles, his return brought valuable experience and continuity to the company’s strategic direction.

On July 16, 2019, Marzocchi Pompe S.p.A. was officially admitted to trading on the AIM Italia market of the Milan Stock Exchange (now known as EGM – Euronext Growth Milan).

This milestone marked a new chapter in the company’s history, opening up opportunities for growth, transparency, and broader investor engagement.

In 2019, Marzocchi Pompe celebrated its 70th anniversary, marking seven decades of innovation, growth, and industrial excellence.
The company commemorated this important milestone with a festive event held at its Zola Predosa headquarters, bringing together all employees during the Christmas season to honor its legacy and shared achievements.

Between 2022 and 2024, Marzocchi Pompe acquired three buildings within the same industrial area as its Zola Predosa headquarters.

The renovation of the first building led to the inauguration of a new unified Shipping Warehouse, marking the beginning of a broader plan to consolidate operations under one roof.

In 2025, Marzocchi Pompe took another step toward full consolidation by launching two new assembly and testing lines for the ELI1P and ELI2 families.
This investment not only supports the unification of all operations at the Zola site but also aims to increase production capacity for the company’s flagship product line, Elika.