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Our story

“I was born with my window practically looking out over the company. So there was no need to explain something that was already part of my daily life. I knew dad made furniture”

Maria Cristina Piovesana,
Alf Group President and CEO

Timeline
A family story

In 1951, through the initiative of a group of young carpenters, the artisan cooperative ALF (Artigiana Legno Francenigo) was born. In 1957 Eugenio and Oliviero Piovesana took over ownership: this was the start of the story of a family firm linked to a passion for wood and an international vocation. The family tradition continues today with Maria Cristina and Piero, who steer the company along the same track laid by their father, Oliviero.

1951
A group of craftsmen in wood found ALF at Francenigo (TV)
1957
Eugenio and Oliviero Piovesana took over ownership of ALF. The nucleus of ALF Italia was born: Oliviero looked after the sales and planning side, Eugenio took care of manufacturing and technology.
1960
On the crest of the Italian economic boom, ALF Italia’s main target was the domestic market, which involved travelling continuously around Italy, “because you have to go in person”, and the trade fairs, particularly in Padua and Milan.
1970
They began to look beyond Italy to foreign countries, at large fairs and expos. This was the advent of the first trips to Cologne and Paris.
1980
The American dream: thanks to the partnership with Paul Rosner, ALF Italia began to invest in the American market.
1990
ALF Italia strengthened its position as a firm that could reinterpret Italian design for the international market, establishing itself not only in the United States but also in the Middle East, Central America, South America and Russia.
2000
The early years of the decade were critical for a company heavily involved in the export market, also because of a new currency (the euro) that detrimentally affected competition in foreign markets. The Piovesana family’s investment in technology in 2006 triggered a resurgence that lead to ALF Italia emerging from the 2008-2013 crisis unscathed.
2010
Oliviero’s passing led to the second generation definitively taking the reins of the company. Maria Cristina took care of sales and administration, while Piero concentrated on manufacturing. Flavio Da Frè, Maria Cristina’s husband, was responsible for product planning.
2020
The quest for constant improvement has led to a large expansion of the historic Francenigo site, due to be unveiled at the end of 2023. Latest-generation equipment and automation have been introduced. The focus is on offering the customer a better product, made in a sustainable way.
Today
Benefitting from over 70 years of history, ALF Italia now exports to more than 90 countries. During the 1970s, ALF Italia’s basic operating principles did not change: unwavering attention to the customer, a passion for Italian manufacture, and a family spirit.

Alf
Museum

Over the years Alf has gathered together all the tools and equipment for working with wood, in an awe-inspiring collection, created with a sense of respect and pride for the skilful world of furniture manufacture. There are 600 planes in the collection. Alf has a attentive vision of the future, based on solid foundations in the past. To showcase this, we have set up museum-style spaces in various on-site locations, displaying a collection of antique carpentry tools. The collection tells of our local history and of the tradition of Italian craftsmanship.