Fiam (also known as Fabbrica Italiana Ascensori Montacarichi, or translated as Italy Elevator (Lift) Factory in English) was an Italian elevator and escalator company based in Milan, Italy. It was one of the two major Italian elevator companies that has managed to sold its products overseas, the other one was Sabiem. Both of these companies were acquired by Kone; Sabiem in 1985 and Fiam in 1987.
History
Fiam was founded in 1939 by Guglielmo Coppola. The company installed its first escalator in 1960 at the Milan Trade Fair in Milan, Italy. In 1966, Mauro Coppola, son of Guglelmo Coppola, succeeded the company. The company remained independent until 1987 when Kone acquired the company. The brand was then used by Kone for next few years until it was retired; notable example was an O&K-Fiam branded escalator.[1] Both of these brands were owned by Kone and so, it's actually a Kone product.
In 1995, almost ten years after the acquisition, Mauro Coppola formed a brand new elevator company called TECNO. The new company became multinational in 1997 when it expanded its presence to Asia.
Distributors
Italy
In Piombino, Fiam elevators were distributed by Biagi Ascensori (Biagi S.R.L.), a local elevator company founded in 1970.[2] In Genoa, Fiam elevators were distributed by Calì Ascensori which began in 1963.[3] In Rome, Fiam elevators were distributed by Auros in 1965.
Overseas
In Hong Kong, Fiam elevators were distributed and serviced by the Hong Kong subsidiary of General Electric Company (GEC plc) from the 1960s until the late 1980s or early 1990s. They were commonly found in private apartment buildings, industrial building, public housing estates and some government buildings. GEC was also the distributor and sole agent of Express Lifts in Hong Kong. Since Express Lifts was acquired in 1997 and GEC's Hong Kong subsidiary was acquired by Otis in 1999, most of the remaining Fiam elevators in Hong Kong are now maintained by Otis. Some others equipped with TMS controller are maintained by Kone and even generic elevator companies.
Similarly, Fiam elevators in Singapore and Malaysia were also distributed by General Electric Company. They were distributed from the 1970s until the 1980s.
List of notable installations
- Main article: List of notable Fiam elevator installations
Fixtures
- Main article: List of Fiam elevator fixtures
Trivia
- In Switzerland, almost every Fiam elevators installed are branded as FIAM Ascensa.
- Many Fiam elevators installed in Italy are branded as Fiam/Iman.
Gallery
