Where the Innovation Park stands today, the Reggiane once wrote a fundamental part of Italian history. Here, industrial development and technological innovation intertwined, as well as wars, workers' struggles, and social battles that defined an era. Each phase, from large-scale production to abandonment and rebirth, left tangible traces that tell over a century of history. Today, those pieces form a timeline that is not just memory, but the skeleton and foundation upon which the Innovation Park is built: a place where past and future coexist.
A story that began in 1901
The stages of the Innovation Park
1901
Next to the railway, in the heart of Reggio Emilia, the Officine Meccaniche Reggiane was founded by engineer Romano Righi under the name Officina Meccanica e Fonderia Ing. Romano Righi & C.
1904
The company underwent a transformation: the Società Anonima Officine Meccaniche Reggiane (OMR) was established. A large industrial area developed around the railway, with the goal of building trains, carriages, and metal structures that would shape the future of Reggio Emilia's manufacturing industry.
1912
Reggiane's growth continued with the acquisition of Società Officine Ferroviarie Italiane Anonima . In the same year, the company changed its name: Reggiane Officine Meccaniche Italiane SA , confirming its national vocation in the railway sector.
1914
The factory underwent a transformation: Italy entered the war, and Reggiane dedicated itself to military production. With cannons and war components, the factory grew and became a key component of the national economy.
1920
In the turbulent post-war climate, workers occupied the factory to defend their jobs. It was a powerful gesture, demonstrating the centrality of the plant and the profound connection between industry and the city.
1935
The Caproni aeronautical company acquires the property: a department dedicated to the design and production of aircraft is created.
1939
The Re.2000 , the first fighter aircraft entirely designed in Reggio Emilia, takes flight. The event marks the beginning of the aviation season: Reggio Emilia enters the international scene with cutting-edge technology.
1943
On March 9, during a strike against war and hunger, nine workers were killed inside the factory: the Reggiane massacre, one of the most tragic episodes of the Italian Resistance. After the massacre, the plant was occupied by the Germans.
1944
Reggiane suffered severe damage in the Allied bombings. Parts of the plant were destroyed, production ground to a halt, and the city endured difficult months under occupation.
1945
After the war, the plant attempted to restart. The military aeronautics division was abandoned, and heavy engineering returned. The factory started over from the ground up.
1950
The factory returned to the news: workers occupied the premises again for 12 months, protesting layoffs. During that period, the R60 crawler tractor was designed and built, a symbol of worker redemption and collective ingenuity. The occupation, which ended on October 8th of the following year, opened new avenues: many former workers founded businesses that would give rise to the future Reggio Emilia mechanical engineering and mechatronics district.
1960
With the conclusion of compulsory liquidation, the company resumed its historic name of "Reggiane" and, under public ownership, began a new production phase. Alongside new-generation locomotives, the construction of sugar refinery systems gained momentum.
1975
Despite the challenges of the energy crisis, Reggiane is seeking new avenues: heavy mechanical engineering and industrial plant engineering projects are complemented by international orders. The company strives to remain competitive in an increasingly global market.
1980
International competition is becoming fierce. Reggiane is progressively reducing its workforce, while some of its factories are being converted or used to build large-scale desalination plants for the entire planet.
1987
Reggiane's revitalization hinges on the construction of highly powerful and innovative port cranes. Among these, the Micoperi crane vessel stands out, used worldwide for the installation of oil platforms, a symbol of the company's ability to compete on an international scale.
1992
The Reggiane brand is acquired by the Fantuzzi Group, specializing in industrial logistics solutions, becoming Fantuzzi-Reggiane. This marks a new phase in production, with production focusing on harbor cranes for international terminals.
2008
After over a century of activity, the Reggiane manufacturing history ended with the sale from the Fantuzzi Group to the multinational Terex. This was a decisive step that marked the end of the manufacturing era and paved the way for the area's future urban transformation.
2010
An agreement is signed for the construction of the Technopole in Shed 19: the Municipality of Reggio Emilia, the Emilia-Romagna Region, the University of Bologna, and other partners are jointly launching the project for a new hub dedicated to innovation and research.
2013
The Reggio Emilia Technopole is inaugurated . It is the first building in the former Reggio Emilia area to be redeveloped, a turning point: scientific research enters a space once dedicated to industrial production.
2015
STU Reggiane Spa is established , a company owned by the Municipality of Reggio Emilia and Iren Rinnovabili. Its task is to coordinate the regeneration of the former Reggiane area.
2019
Regeneration work at Shed 18 has been completed: the city has a new space for businesses, startups, and innovative offices.
2022
The second phase of urban regeneration, with basketball courts and a skate park, was completed, and the historic Viale Ramazzini branch was reopened. That same year, the project won the Assoarchitetti Ala Award in the Dedalo Minosse competition and a mention for the Tecnopolo in the national Architettura Chi e Come award.
2023
Shed 17 is inaugurated . In the same year, the redevelopment project of Shed 18 receives prestigious national recognition: the 2023 In/Architettura Award in the “Regeneration” category, an award later confirmed at the regional level.
2024
Reggiane Parco Innovazione enters a new phase of growth: Shed 15C is inaugurated , and the redevelopment of the former Caffarri feed mill and Shed 15B is completed. In the same year , the agreement for the regeneration of the “ Cathedral ” is signed.
