The history of CEBORA goes back to 1954, when the entrepreneur Emiliano Generali established the company C.E.B. (Costruzioni Elettromeccaniche Bolognesi = Bologna Electromechanical Manufactures), manufacturing battery chargers and stick electrode welders.
Initially production is limited to machines of relatively simple technology; however the company philosophy, from the very start, is characterized by the pursuit of quality and product reliability. This sustained philosophy has along the way enabled growth, a good name and a general appreciation of the company’s products.
In 1958 Generali created a second company, O.R.A. (Officina Ruote & Affini = Workshop for Wheels and Similar Goods) to manufacture castors for industrial, home and office furnishing sectors.
In 1963 the two companies were merged in CEBORA, employing at that time 40 people, with a business turnover of 2 billion Italian Lire. (directly go to CEBORA WHEELS DIVISION)
The CEBORA brand quickly became a reference name in the welding field, both in the domestic market and in several foreign markets (particularly Europe and South America) and, already in the ‘60s and ‘70s; export is an important share of the company turnover.
Early ‘80s, CEBORA takes over the company Special Car, manufacturer of MIG welding machines of (for those years) advanced technology.
It is the start of a new period of growth and of research of new products, all destined to be a remarkable international success. In 1984, the CEBORA Technical Department, with its strong team of skilled and motivated technicians, invents the first portable MIG/MAG welding machine (Pocket MIG), which is an immediate and extraordinary sales success, both in Europe and in the USA.
It is then the turn of the plasma cutting machines - sector where CEBORA immediately takes the position of European leader. The company studies and develops not only the power source but also the cutting torch and the relevant consumables, thus obtaining a perfect system balance which is absolutely essential in this kind of product. In 1986 CEBORA presents the revolutionary Plasma Pocket, a portable power source for cutting any kind of metal, with a 4mm thickness cutting capacity: it is another big worldwide sales success.
With the coming of inverter technology, CEBORA introduces a new range of technologically advanced power sources. They feature reduced power consumption, with low weights and small dimensions.
Since 2000, CEBORA has progressively reduced the production of power sources with a more elementary technology, such as the AC MMA welding machines (the production of the battery chargers had already been stopped in the early ‘90s) and directed its efforts in research and development towards higher and higher technology sectors, such as automation, with robotics systems for MIG, TIG and Plasma Welding, creating products that quickly won the confidence of system integrators and of the worldwide leading robot manufacturers.
From 2005, CEBORA’s plasma cutting line has been enhanced by the new Plasma HQC range developed for high definition cutting on pantographs with automated control and on robots.
Thanks to a study carried out in collaboration with the University of Bologna, CEBORA placed itself at the forefront of this sector. This was achieved by offering power sources with extraordinary cutting performance, along with a remarkable service life of the torch consumables. In addition substantial gas savings are made when compared to other power sources already existing in the market.
Over the last 20 years the castor division of Cebora S.p.a. has continually invested in improving and extending its range of wheels and castors.
The first completely new range of castors developed in the 80’s, which had a higher load capacity than others available at the time, was aimed at the ‘Institutional‘ market, and was called ‘Transport Series’, From then on, this high quality series of castors proved to be very popular not only in Italy, but throughout Europe, justifying Cebora’s decision to invest and develop the range further. Nowadays with the addition of the whole range in stainless steel the Transport Series has become a prestigious and economical product, popular throughout the World.
Positive customer feedback and further demand encouraged Cebora to invest further in other new product lines. The innovative design of the integrated total stop brake from the Transport Line, was also incorporated into a new range of castors for the industrial market.
Thus in the early 2000s the new ‘X-Line’ series was born. The X-Line castors gave improved load capacities achieved by increasing the size of the fork and mounting plate thickness and incorporating a riveted head into the housings. This fulfilled a place in the market combining a high quality, durable product at a very competitive price. Volumes produced have continued to increase, again augmented by the introduction of the complete range in stainless steel.
In 2005 Cebora introduced its heavy duty range of castors available both zinc plated and in stainless steel. These castors immediately became a market leader, being particularly popular in the German market.
Cebora continues to research and design new products striving to satisfy the varied requirements of its customers throughout Europe and beyond.
Today, the two divisions (Welding and Wheels), both with their full organisational and operational independence, form a group employing over 150 people, exporting 70% of its production to more than 100 countries around the world.