From the earliest days to aeronautical production

1822
On September 5, Enrico Piaggio finalises the purchase of a tract of land at Sestri Ponente (Genoa) for the establishment of a wood working plant to supply the ship building industry. His son Rinaldo soon joins him in the project.

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1887 - 1889
Rinaldo breaks away from his father to create Piaggio & C, the principal activity of which is going to be ship interiors. The company is modern, efficient and highly mechanised. The year 1889 marks the entrance of Attilio Odero, and the company’s debut into the railroad sector as well as the acquisition of a new workshop at Finale Marina.

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1916
Aeronautical production begins. The social function which Rinaldo Piaggio wants for his firm soon becomes clear: to contribute to national employment growth and to the direction of national economic development. In 1920 the company is restructured with Attilio Odero becoming company President and Rinaldo Piaggio Managing Director. Firmly convinced about pursuing the aeronautical strategy, Rinaldo Piaggio takes on engineers Giovanni Pegna and Giuseppe Gabrielli and assigns them the task of producing a first prototype of the aircraft “Rondine” (Swallow).

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