Our history

History: A short chronicle of a long journey

Design characterised by linearity of shapes and colours, versatility of the proposals and scrupulous attention to materials and finishes place Rifra products at a high quality level, adhering to the tastes and requests of an expert and demanding costumer.

Rifra's history can be chronologically traced back to a series of significant stages whose ideal starting point is represented by Giovanni Rivolta who, in the 1930s, started a small carpentry workshop in the industrious surroundings of Milan (precisely in Macherio, Frazione Torrette).

1930

Around 1930, Giovanni Rivolta started his own carpentry workshop.

1945

The Second World War ends; about two years later, Giovanni and his brother Emilio found the Fratelli Rivolta Company.

1950

In 1950 Giuseppe Rivolta, the first of Giovanni's six sons, starts working "in the workshop", following in his father's and uncle's steps.

1958

In 1958, Giovanni was forced to retire for serious health reasons and the company took the name Rivolta Emilio e Nipoti sdf. The company continued to produce carpentry in general and complete furnishings for third parties, destined above all for industries in the sector that require a product of accurate execution and particularly reliable in terms of quality. In recent years, in fact, furniture is seen more than ever as a durable good, destined to follow a family for at least one generation.

1970

In 1970, with the desire to characterise the company name, RI-FRA MOBILI (Rivolta Fratelli) was founded. In 1977 the company moved to Gerno di Lesmo (Milan). The activity is concentrated on the production of shoe cupboards (45,000 pieces in seven years) and small storage furniture for the bathroom. Production, still on behalf of third parties, expanded to include real furnishing compositions, with types that included built-in washbasins, mirrors with lighting, vanity units and wall units.

1983

Rifra evolves from a contract manufacturer into an independent industry that designs, manufactures and markets quality bathroom furniture. Success for Rugiada and Aurora products, points of reference in the field of modern concept modular furniture.

1986

Production of further collections began and the facilities were expanded with modern UV coating lines using high-performance coatings.

1992

The Gamma collection, characterised by its lacquered finish, was born: the know-how relating to the varnishing and lacquering phases.

1993

Rifra starts the collaboration with Tarcisio Colzani and Castiglia Associati. Country and Sintesi series, followed by Woodline.

1995

The UV varnishing plant is replaced with a latest generation robotic plant.

1998

Regent and Zenit followed by Fonte.

2001

Construction of a new warehouse and office building.

2003

Development of Fonte as a system of modular bathroom furniture. First participation in the Salone del Mobile in Milan. Founders of the Vivendum consortium (Album, Concept, Lema, Lualdi Porte, Matteograssi, Rifra, Schiffini) with the opening of a showroom in Soho, New York.

2004

Opening of the first single-brand showroom in Lucerne (CH). Modus collection, the new absolute design by Castiglia Associati.

2005

Status, the first Rifra bathtub. Implementation of the painting department with a new latest generation robotic sander and a new painting robot. Rifra offers the market 55 standard colours between matt embossed and glossy lacquered and 4 wood finishes.

2006

Modus wins the prestigious "Home Beautiful Awards" and the "People Choise Awards" in Melbourne Australia. Modus is exhibited at the Sydney Powerhouse Museum. Presentation at the Salone of the Less collection, Design Castiglia Associati.

2008

Contract sales channel development with prestigious high-end projects in international markets. Presentation of B2K, Nest and Fly at the Salone de Mobile in Milan.

2009

Zero, the programme with integrated handles.

2010 - 2012

Intensification of trade fairs (Milan, Brussels, Moscow). Production is modernised with the purchase of new machinery to increase product quality.

Presentation of the company's new general catalogue.

2013 e 2014

Presentation of the new Kitchen collections at the Paris trade fair and the Milan Furniture Fair.

Introduction of new material finishes such as cement and clay.

2015 e 2016

Restyling of the brand, creation of the visual with the iconic double island kitchen and the Payoff "Kitchen and Baths direct from Milano", created in the USA by the branding company "Ries&Ries".

Presentation of the kitchen and bathroom collections at the Salone del Mobile in Milan. The FLY kitchen wins the "Archiproducts Design Award" as "Best of Category".

2017

Opening of the RiFRA flagship store in Milan, Italy.

Presentation of the new K.KUBE bathroom furniture collection at the Batibouw fair in Brussels.

2018

Presentation of " Design On-Line ".

Presentation of the KUBE kitchen collection at the Salone del Mobile in Milan.

2019

New machinery in the joinery and modernisation of the painting line.

Inauguration of the RiFRA Store in Rome.

2021

Restriction of the focus on the B2C sales channel (direct sales to the end consumer), with employment of dedicated staff.

2022

Inauguration of the RiFRA Store in Locarno, Switzerland.

Presentation of the new material finishes such as decorated raw lime.