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Montedison INDEL

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The factory was built in 1916 by "Società Elettrochimica Dr. Rossi", in order to manufacture calcium carbide and calcium cyanamide. Soon the plant was taken over by Società Agraria di Domodossola which provided to increase the cyanamide production for agricultural purposes. In fact, this chemical compound was discovered in 1898 as by-product of calcium carbide, same as acetylene, finding utilizations in the ammonia synthesis or just as fertilizer, a really strong one. Some years later the factory was owned by another company - S.A.P.A. (Società Anonima Prodotti Azotati - Nitrogen Compounds Company) - which became part of Montecatini Group in 1922. In the late 30s the factory of Domodossola was the second cyanamide manufacturer in Italy with a production capacity of 50.000 tons/year; in 1937 the carbide ovens capacity was about 30.000 kW. The carbide-acetylene productive chain was one of the most important in the old industrial chemistry: from acetylene it was possible to manufacture synthetic plastics, solvents, colorants, fibers, rubber and, of course, explosives. In the calcium carbide production, during the 30s, Italy was in the forefront, taking place behind Canada, Japan and Germany in the worldwide ranking.

During the war the factory was really damaged by many air raids and it set back for the complete 1945. Already in 1950 the plant worked at full speed. The calcium carbide (and acetylene) production was highly increased in the 50s because of their useful importance in the production of trichloroethylene (Trike), vynil chloride and acetic compounds. These chemicals were produced by some companies in the same region: Rhodiatoce Company produced acetic compounds in Villadossola and acetate fiber in Pallanza, while Rumianca Company produced VCM and PVC in Pieve Vergonte. Meanwhile the carbide production was growing faster and faster, the "oil chemistry" was discovering new processes in replacement of acetylene, using the cheaper ethylene. The year 1967 signed the collapse of carbide production in Italy: from then to 1972 every oven was turned off.

Actually, this kind of oven (electric arc) is easily reusable for ferroalloys production, as proved in the First World War when carbide ovens were temporarily used to produce alloys for armaments. Therefore the factory in Domodossola was converted to ferroalloys production. Montedison Group (succeeded to Montecatini) alloted the plant to a controlled company called INDEL (INDustrie ELettriche - Electrical Industries), which already had another plant in Trentino-Alto Adige. In 1973 two new ovens began to produce Ferromanganese and Ferrosilicon, the most important ferroalloys. During the 90s, the Italian ferroalloys sector entered in crisis, because of the increasing of electrical power cost and the hard foreign competition. In 1992 one of the two ovens was turned off, followed by the second one in 1995. Today in Italy only one oven is still working, instead of 49 ovens counted in 1974.

Sadly I have to say that this amazing industrial complex, which signed the century in many historical industrial productions, has been completely demolished some months ago. This is how Italy takes care of its industrial heritage.

Loading bucket (70s)

Furnace (70s)

Charging operations (70s)

Tapping with punch (70s)

Casting in ladles (70s)

Schemes of a modern ferroalloys furnace, like there were in Montedison INDEL. In the left picture are clearly visibles the three electrodes, in the hearth of the furnace; the charging car is on the left and the loading buckets in the foreground. In the upper picture it is possible to recognize the raw material bunker on the left, the oven in the middle and the tapping car on the right.