A centuries-old history

Established in 1886, Italiana Macchi is rich in history: a history that marked the evolution of weighing systems in Italy.

Steelyards are one of the oldest and most rudimentary weighing systems. Based on the principle of levers, very few technological innovations were introduced from the period of ancient Rome until the end of the nineteenth century.

The double-pan balance scale of the 1910s represents one of the earliest technological innovations. Its variants, referred to as "precision" scales, were particularly sought after in the industrial field and in dyehouses, as well as in pharmaceuticals.

At the turn of the two world wars, the Italiana Macchi brand began to stand out thanks to its first, unmistakable logo.

In the late 1930s, Italiana Macchi began to manufacture "semiautomatic" and "single-pan semiautomatic" scales: the latter went down in history by the nickname "bilancia a scatti", meaning step balance scale, because the maximum capacity could be selected by means of a rotary knob.

Finally, the seller no longer needed the sample masses to match the weight of the goods: this improvement required more counter space and higher speed between weighing operations.

During the 1940s, Italiana Macchi began manufacturing slicing machines: ITALMA model is still a flagship of the brand's production.

In postwar Italy, express couriers did not exist; roads, moreover, were not always smooth. That is why the scales were delivered by bus: a vehicle with "softer" suspension and more comfortable than a truck, that was furthermore equipped with racks instead of seats. The side of the coachwork featured a flashy graphic with the company's logo, a primitive attempt to "promote advertising".

In 1960, the historic headquarters in Oggiona Santo Stefano were opened. Over the decades, this site underwent very few changes.

Mach 55 marks Italiana Macchi's debut in the field of electronic scales. The base still contained a lot of mechanics, but thanks to an optical transducer, the weight in binary format could reach primitive electronic boards capable of displaying weight, price and amount.

Technologically advanced for those years, Mach 82 S4 incorporates two important innovations in the electronic scales scene: printing of a receipt with the customer's bill and a 2g/division resolution.

Electronics dominated the 1980s' scenario, and Italiana Macchi's slicers also rode this trend, enjoying the greatest benefits.

In view of the law establishing the obligation to issue tax receipts (Law 26/01/1983 no. 18), Italiana Macchi introduces Mach 102 F1 on the market: a scale with integrated tax receipt, that provides two instruments for the price of one.

A cash register referred to as "timeless," because of its long life and because it would become a benchmark to create future models. The product is among the first to allow vendors in public areas to comply with the receipt requirement.

At the beginning of the 21st century, CE 9000 marks an important step for Italiana Macchi: the production of an instrument equipped with Windows CE operating system.

In 2018, Italiana Macchi joins Custom S.p.A.'s galaxy.: a development that represents an important step for the brand, thanks to the synergy with the Group's wide range of products.

In 2023, the various models of the ICONA range, Italiana Macchi's first PC-based scale, are launched on the market: a series of state-of-the-art devices that meet the needs of a variety of retail outlets.