Bringing Light to Material

Every great project begins in the shadow of an idea and takes shape in the light of day. Discover how we turn insight into solid reality, step by step.

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The Origins of Sampa

Our story began in 1939 in the province of Novara, at a time when plastic was still a frontier to be explored and working with Bakelite required absolute artisanal care. From these solid roots, founded on thermoset molding, we built a body of knowledge that has evolved alongside the demands of the market.
Without ever betraying our tradition, we gradually expanded our technical horizons by introducing thermoplastic materials (such as PP, ABS, and Polycarbonate) and advanced compounds for structural applications. This natural evolution has allowed us to become an international reference point for the most demanding sectors, from automotive to hydraulics, combining the experience of the past with the technology of tomorrow.

Design: When Plastic Becomes Art

Over the years we have cultivated a constant and innovative collaboration with some of the most forward-thinking entrepreneurs. For the masters we worked with, aesthetics could never be separated from functionality: a challenge that required careful design, advanced processing technologies, and the selection of the most suitable materials.

This synergy gave rise to fundamental chapters in Italian design. Particularly fruitful was the collaboration with Olivetti and its key figures: from Giorgio Soavi, head of design, to masters such as Ettore Sottsass and Marcello Nizzoli (long-standing collaborators since 1958), and even the visionary genius of Bruno Munari, who inspired an art conceived to interact with the lived environment.

Alongside these figures, it is also essential to mention Enzo Mari, with whom Sampa developed a rich and long-lasting collaboration that led to the creation of objects that have become true references in the world of design.

Sampa’s versatility has also proven capable of embracing major industrial transformation. During the years of the mobility boom, we worked alongside Piaggio on two revolutions: the birth of the first “CIAO” moped, for which we produced the distinctive high-density polyethylene side panels of the bodywork, and the mass production of the Vespa, manufacturing the iconic handlebar cover of a vehicle loved worldwide.

This universalization of production, however, never led us to abandon our long-standing passion for the excellence of design that makes Italy admired around the world. Even when the era of “disposable” plastics began, our attention to beauty and functionality remained unchanged: Sampa produced the cups designed by Joe Colombo for Alitalia, bringing authorial design even to the skies.

Sampa Today

Today Sampa represents the perfect synthesis between over 85 years of experience and the vision of Industry 4.0. Our facility is a technological ecosystem where fully automated presses and SIMATEC centralized feeding systems ensure continuous-cycle production without compromise. Precision is no longer just a goal, but a measurable certainty: in our metrology room, scanning arms and 3D scanning technologies verify the conformity of every geometry, ensuring that ISO 9001:2015 certified quality becomes a tangible reality in every component. Technology alone, however, is not enough. The true driving force of Sampa remains our team: highly qualified people who transform technical challenges into solutions. We look to the future by investing in research and sustainability, maintaining transparency as a core value to build collaborations that last over time.