Our History
The SOL Group was founded under the management of Giovanni Annoni and Aldo Fumagalli, with two initial plants for the production of oxygen and acetylene based in Livorno and Ancona.
Alessandro and Renzo Annoni, Giulio and Ugo Fumagalli Romario, the second generation, launched an ambitious project for the innovative development of SOL: these were the years of the first technical gas production plants, located close to the Group’s major key customers, such as steelworks and glass-makers.
SOL became a leading player in the sector in Italy thanks to the transition from a regional market strategy to a national one. This was made possible by embracing the major transformations taking place in the technical gas industry at the time due to the development of technologies for the storage and distribution of gases in cryogenic liquid state.
The Group also began to grow in Europe, creating plants, branches and joint ventures in most European countries over the years, also seizing opportunities offered by the opening of new markets in south-east Europe.
SOL was one of the first companies in Europe to introduce a new form of treatment, developed in the US, for patients affected by serious respiratory disorders. This treatment involves significant quantities of oxygen and a highly specialist Home Care service. In 1989 VIVISOL was established, a company dedicated to developing this market.
In order to be more competitive on the international markets, the Parent company SOL Spa was listed on the Milan Stock Exchange. The arrival of the third generation of the Annoni and Fumagalli Romario families at the helm of the company, together with a young executive management team from outside the families, allowed the Group to pursue its internationalisation strategy.
The Group entered the renewable hydroelectric energy production sector, acquiring and developing hydroelectric power plants in Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Macedonia and Slovenia.
Building on its experience in the creation and management of cryobanks for the preservation of biological material, the Group entered the biotechnology sector in 2010.
With the acquisition of the German company SKS, SOL became one of the most important players in the market for CO2 production in Germany.
The Group acquires two companies in Poland specializing in home respiratory services and palliative care. In Italy, a cutting-edge center for the testing and maintenance of cylinders and cylinder bundles is established, aiming to increase the safety and quality of the containers.
The Group strengthened its international presence in the home care sector: in Brazil, by acquiring the majority of P Par Partecipacoes, heading Global Care Assistencia Domiciliar, Unit Care Servicos Medicos and DN Global Homecare, in Germany with Intensivservice Wanninger and in Switzerland with Spitex Perspecta.
The Group provides an effective contribution to the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic by developing and producing rapid serological tests and molecular kits for COVID-19 identification in Italy. It also launches a complete service for analyzing molecular and rapid antigen swabs performed at home.
The Group makes its entry into Shanghai, strengthening its international presence in the medical gas and healthcare services sector.
The Group strengthened its presence in the orthopaedic sector thanks to a majority partnership with ITOP Spa OFFICINE ORTOPEDICHE, a leader in Italy in the design and production of custom-made aids, prostheses and orthoses. The Group expands its presence in India thanks to a partnership with BHURUKA GASES Ltd, the leading company in the production of pure and specialty gases and in the production of gas technical gases with energy from renewable sources.
The Group consolidated its international presence in South America with its entry into the technical gas sector through a strategic partnership in Ecuador and Peru.
The Group strengthens its presence in the home healthcare sector in Brazil by acquiring PRONEP.