Acerbi 1906: a leading light in shipbuilding
FROM A GENOVESE WORKSHOP TO AN INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC PARTNER
On July 1, 1906, in a Genoa swept by the fervor of industrial modernization and the winds of maritime trade, Giuseppe Acerbi and his wife, Carolina Gillio, launched an enterprise destined to last for over a century. Located in the central Piazza Portello, “Giuseppe Acerbi, Emporio di Materiale Elettrico” (Giuseppe Acerbi, Electrical Material Store) was born. It was not just a warehouse, but a workshop of ingenuity where Genovese citizens could find ultra-modern, precious, and rare items, refined lighting instruments and appliances, and unique components for shipowners in the city's flourishing shipbuilding industry.
Giuseppe was a powerhouse of ideas, and Carolina was an untiring partner. Far from being a mere presence at her husband's side, she participated actively. She accompanied him on his travels, welcomed clients, and selected—with refined taste—lamps and devices for domestic life, ranging from delicate lampshades (abat-jours) to elegant lighting fixtures for bourgeois apartments. During the 1920s, the couple traveled across Europe together, driven by the desire to discover precision instruments and electrical machinery unavailable in Italy, which they would then offer to their clientele. Together, they brought back to Genoa what no one else could provide, transforming the emporium into a workshop of wonders—a small capital of modernity in a city in full swing. Giuseppe, a man of deep listening and tireless dedication, loved to converse with anyone who walked into the shop, understanding their needs to offer not just a product, but a precise solution. A document from the era reads: "For every request an answer, for every order the utmost care and promptness in execution." Above all, it was this attention and reliability that fueled the company's growth for thirty years.
POST-WAR RESILIENCE AND THE GENERATIONAL TRANSITION
Then came the war. Bombings struck even their historic headquarters, but Giuseppe did not give up. Amid the rubble, he laid the foundations for a new beginning, demonstrating profound resilience and an unbreakable bond with the city. He became an example of redemption, a testament to how passion and dedication can reignite hope even in the darkest times. In 1958, after more than fifty years of business, Giuseppe retired. Yet, his departure was a legacy: he passed company shares down to his daughters, paving the way for a female tradition that would define the family's history. While the husbands often formally managed the business, it was the women who guarded its soul, passing down its core values and passion. Minutes from that year's shareholders' meeting state: "The family cannot but express its deepest regret for the decision he has taken, after more than fifty years of intense activity at the head of the company of which he was the creator and tireless animator, facing and overcoming extremely difficult moments."
Between the 1960s and 1990s, the company grew alongside a booming Genoa, where the shipbuilding sector was expanding relentlessly. With a watchful eye, the business specialized further in this field, passionately targeting this continuously growing market. Moving beyond mere distribution, the historic enterprise ventured into the design and installation of electrical panels, expanding abroad. Later, they introduced the production of customized electrical equipment, which quickly became the beating heart of their operations. It was no longer just about trade; every new product was studied and engineered alongside clients to meet their every need.
TOWARD NAVAL SPECIALIZATION
The 1990s were an era of consolidation and new challenges. In 1993, the company took on the name “G. Acerbi S.r.l.” and leadership passed to the fourth generation of descendants from Giovanni. During these years, the company strengthened its relationships with major cruise lines and shipping companies such as Costa Crociere, MSC, Silversea, and Carnival Corporation, securing numerous refitting contracts and lighting supplies thanks to efficient logistics and a solid reputation in the sector.
As the naval sector increasingly demanded special and niche products, a technical department was established to develop new lighting solutions. The business contributed to prestigious projects, such as studying and supplying new-technology lighting products for the Venice Port Authority, and paved the way for major collaborations with the Italian Navy (Marina Militare). In 2006, an official agreement was signed with the Navy, leading G. Acerbi to design lighting systems for frigates and aircraft carriers. This was the ultimate recognition of a professionalism honed over decades of experience.
Furthermore, the company established relationships with foreign partners specializing in lighting for the marine and military industries, selecting suppliers driven by the same quest for excellence that had inspired Giuseppe. Research and development intensified, enriched by collaborations with major design firms, allowing the historic company to open up to new markets, such as the leisure yachting industry.
ACERBI TODAY: A SOLUTION PROVIDER FOR THE NAVAL SECTOR
Acerbi 1906, as we know it today, was born with its acquisition in 2014 by the Comoli Ferrari Group, one of Italy's leading brands in the distribution of solutions for electrical and plumbing/heating systems. It was a meeting of destinies, as Comoli Ferrari was also founded at the dawn of the twentieth century by Paolo Ferrari and his wife, Maria Luisa Bignoli, who served as a trusted secretary and advisor. Two parallel stories, two families driven by the same passion, united a century later in a shared project. This alliance strengthened the brand's identity and allowed it to broaden its horizons, projecting it toward new prospects without ever relinquishing its soul.
Today, Acerbi 1906 operates as a solution provider for the naval sector, working alongside the market's main players. Shipyards, shipowners, system integrators, interior designers, and engineers find a partner capable of developing and supplying tailored solutions for a ship's entire life cycle, for both new builds and refits or maintenance. Expertise, partnerships, design, co-engineering, and services are the defining elements of the brand's century-old activity in the marine sector. All of this is the fruit of the passion and deep expertise of the people who work there: a team of professionals united by dedication and competence, who strive every day to find the right balance between the legacy of the past and the challenges of innovation.
The historic collaboration with the Italian Navy remains central. Acerbi 1906 participates in major ongoing strategic projects, from OPV patrol vessels to FREMM EVO frigates and U212 NFS submarines, delivering modular, digital solutions that fully comply with Defense specifications.
A LEGACY THAT ILLUMINATES THE FUTURE
With 120 years of history, Acerbi 1906 is registered in the National Register of Historic Enterprises (Registro Nazionale delle Imprese Storiche), an honor that celebrates over a century of uninterrupted activity. The light that Giuseppe and Carolina lit back in 1906 still shines bright today—the symbol of a company that continues to grow and innovate, remaining faithful to a moral legacy built on attention, dedication, and flexibility.