Giuseppe, Cesare and Luigi Parenti
1968
The construction boom of the 1960s revolutionized the work of iron-workers at construction sites. The demand for reinforced concrete had become so high that that kind of work needed to be carried out at special facilities.
Lafer Ferro, which was established in the summer of 1968 and is still in business, processes and markets all kinds of iron.
1986
Since the 1980s, the heat treatment of steel began to develop on a global scale.
Lafer decided to focus on this new market and the first CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition) coating machine went into operation on 11 August 1986.
This event marked the official birth of Lafer Rivestimenti.
1991
The 1990s marked a turning point in Lafer’s history.
The decision to carry on with CVD coatings was reconsidered in favour of PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) coatings – a more versatile technology with huge application potential.
When the second PVD machine went into operation, in 1995, early trials with titanium- and aluminium-based coatings were launched in-house – those coatings would trigger a revolution in the gear-cutting industry.
1996
Another important target was achieved between 1996 and 1998, when Lafer decided to dismantle all machines in its washing department that used FREON – a chemical solvent used for the cleaning of parts, which releases fluorinated gases in large quantities – in order to embrace an environmentally sustainable philosophy.
The system in use until that moment was replaced with a fully automatic washing machine, a forerunner of the vacuum washing systems we still employ today, which were installed for the first time in 2000.
1997
In 1997, the company took part in a European project that enabled it to patent a new coating, devised and developed in-house – Superlattice Lafer (SLC).
That same year, an automated shot peening machine was installed to remove bubbles from sharpened tools and residues of past treatments. This was the first step in the process that, years later, would become known as the Lafer Method – in other words, our R&D department’s in-depth study of the surface to be treated.
2000
As at 2000, Lafer had eight PVD machines in operation.
In less than a decade, Lafer had managed to become one of the most advanced companies in the coating market. The skills and expertise of our R&D department’s technicians had made it possible to master cutting-edge equipment and technology in order to provide an increasingly tailored service.
2008
After the achievements of Superlattice, in the early 2000s we launched new trials in the field of tribology with a view to developing two carbon-based coatings.
Between 2008 and 2010, Lafer expanded its range of coatings by introducing CarbonLafer WC/C and DLC (Diamond Like Carbon).
2020
For over 30 years, Lafer has offered excellent and high-quality services by constantly improving its range of coatings.
Our technical and research team has built a surface engineering department that enables us to ensure continuous specialisation in the study of each parameter that affects the final performance.
Lafer’s commitment and dedication have led us to develop three coating lines which share the same common denominator.
Today, Lafer’s coating centre has the highest concentration of coating machines.