Upon the death of his father, Andrea, Ettore Ponti took the reins of Linificio and Canapificio Nazionale. During Ettore Ponti’s leadership, Linificio expanded through the acquisition and construction of new facilities. The production in Ponte a Moriano (destroyed by a fire in 1905), Lodi, and Casalecchio di Reno (where the machineries  saved from the Ponte a Moriano incident were relocated) allowed them to meet the growing demand for linen and hemp.

In 1889, the Universal Exposition in Paris took place. A century after the storming of the Bastille, la Ville Lumière became the center of the world for a few months, and under the shadow of the brand-new Eiffel Tower, inaugurated for the occasion, the company exhibited its products for thousands of visitors.

In 1913, the formation of the Commissionaria vendita filati per l’Italia, presided over by Ponti himself, began to take shape. It was an agreement among various companies in the linen sector that later, in 1915, when the country was involved in the First World War, allowed them to meet the high demand for materials by the State.

Despite the WW1, Linificio’s acquisitions did not stop: in 1917, the Barbieri & C. cordage company in Viserba was acquired.

After the conflict, Linificio  goes back thinking about the future. In 1919, Ponti worked towards the merger between Linificio and the Manifatture Italiane Riunite and the Corderia Nazionale, but the agreements were abruptly stopped by Ettore’s death in October of yeh same year. 

Linificio and Canapificio Nazionale have always been closely intertwined with history. 

Several events have influenced the course of its 150 years, but the spirit is unchanged, thanks to the strong determination to further extend the company’s journey.