Fiocchi Munizioni

Fiocchi Munizioni (Fiocchi Ammunition) is one of Italy's largest and oldest manufacturers of ammunitions.The Company's headquarters and main production plant are in Via Santa Barbara in Lecco, Italy.

History

Fiocchi Munizioni was founded on 3rd July 1876 in Lecco, Italy, by accountant Giulio Fiocchi.

In 1876, Giulio Fiocchi took over the ammunition production part of a weapon and ammunition company already based in Lecco, which worked on the production of small caliber ammunitions, making of the Fiocchi final product the best on the market.Fact|date=November 2007

At that time a radical change was introduced in firearms: the newly developed breech-loader employing ammunition and components (especially cases) of modern concept replaced the traditional muzzle loader.Fiocchi started manufacturing cases with primers suitable for reloading; in the early 1890's the production was extended to complete cartridges loaded with bullets or shots. At the same time Fiocchi gave up the production of black powder as it was no more profitable.

Fiocchi has always designed and made its own production equipment.Fact|date=November 2007 Such a strategy has always enabled Fiocchi to guide production with up-to-date technology matching with its manufacturing configuration.Fact|date=November 2007

At the beginning of 20th century, Fiocchi introduced a product diversification and successfully entered a new field of activity -snaps- made using the off-cuts of production. This brought to the creation of Fiocchi Snaps in 1903.

Snaps business assumed an important role to counterbalance the trend of the ammunition market and at the end of 80's was so attractive that, upon Fiocchi decision to focus ammunition as core business, the snaps factory was taken over by the European leader in this field of activity.

During its long life Fiocchi has manufactured all kind of ammunition for guns rifle or pistol: from fire pin shotshells and cartridges, to all kind of cartridges and cases either rimfire or centrefire.

Crucial dates in the history of the Fiocchi Group

*1876 Year of foundation
*1877 Start of ammunition production
*1903 Product diversification: snaps
*1930 Beginning of export
*1940 Development of social policy in the territory of Lecco
*1945 Bombing of the plant in Lecco
*1946 Re-building of the plant
*1970 Attack on the European markets
*1980 Start of .22 Super Match production
*1985 New quality inspection unit
*1985 Start of "leadless" primers production
*1989 Nato qualification of the cartridge 9 mm Parabellum
*1990 Impulse to world-market expansion
*1990 Quality System Certificate in accordance with the stardands NATO AQAP-1
*1991 Start of production of ammunition with frangible bullets
*1993 New loading department for .22 cartridges
*1994 New flexible manufacturing line for centerfire ammunition
*1994 Automatization line for cases production
*1995 New line of products: "Official" clay shooting cartridges
*1996 New line of Spas Mil and Law Enforcement ammunition
*1999 New line of hunting cartridges
*1999 Nato qualification of the cartridges 5,56 mm Ball
*2003 Environment Management System Certificate in accordance with the standards UNI EN ISO 14001: 1996
*2003 Quality Management System Certificate in accordance with the standards UNI EN ISO 9001: 2000

Recent History

Fiocchi Munizioni is a world-leader in small gauge ammunition and offers a very wide range of products suitable to meet all demands from shooters or hunters. Its presence and production sites are also in the United States and in Hungary. Furthermore, Fiocchi is also expanding in Great Britain, where Fiocchi UK is opening this year.

Qualifications and Certifications of prestige attest the level of quality achieved by the company:

*NATO AQAP-110 Certification

*ISO 14001: 1996 Certification of the Environment Management System

*UNI EN ISO 9001: 2000 Certification of the Quality Management System.

Furthermore, Fiocchi shooting cartridges have contributed to several World Cups and Olympic triumphs, as the Games in Athens in 2004.

Fiocchi Munizioni S.p.A. is still entirely owned by the founder's Family. After 130 years, Fiocchi Munizioni is still entirely owned by private capital heading to the Fiocchi Family.

Products

Fiocchi's product range includes:
*Clay Target
*Hunting
*Centrefire
*.22
*Blank and Flobert
*Special Law Enforcement

External links

* [http://www.fiocchigfl.it Fiocchi Munizioni S.p.A. website]

* [http://www.fiocchiusa.com Fiocchi of America Inc. website]

* [http://www.nike-fiocchi.hu/kezdolap.htm Nike-Fiocchi Sporting Ammunitions Ltd. website]

* [http://www.chuckhawks.com/carlo_fiocchi.htm A visit with Carlo Fiocchi of Fiocchi USA, interview]
* [http://www.zoominfo.com/Search/PersonDetail.aspx?PersonID=925870950&QueryID=4826d09a-52a5-4765-9b61-b6c7ebf1f449 Giulio Fiocchi's Profile from zoominfo.com]
* [http://www.zoominfo.com/Search/PersonDetail.aspx?PersonID=641833560&QueryID=4826d09a-52a5-4765-9b61-b6c7ebf1f449 Carlo Fiocchi's -President of Fiocchi USA- Profile from zoominfo.com]

See also

* List of rifle cartridges
* List of handgun cartridges
* Ammunition column
* Reloading
* Rotation of ammunition
* Armor-piercing shot and shell
* Teflon coated bullet
* Hollow point bullet
* Full metal jacket bullet
* Rheological Ammunition
* Dum dum
* Explosive
* High Explosive Incendiary
* Leadshot
* Ammo dump
* Tracer ammunition
* Fuze for ammunition
* Proximity fuze
* Tubes and primers for ammunition
* Bullet
* Cartridge (firearms)
* Howitzer
* Shell (projectile)
* Hatton round
* DEMIRA Deutsche Minenraeumer e.V. - German Mine Clearer

ee also

*Antique Guns
*Artillery
*Militaria
*Military technology and equipment

Gun technology and science

*Ballistics
*Firearm action
*Gunsmith
*Optics
*Physics of firearms
*Rheological fluids based firearms mechanisms
*Suppressor
*Terminal ballistics

Guns and society

* Gun law
* Gun politics
* Gun safety
* Concealed carry

Gun-related terminology

*Saturday-night special
*Small arms
*Gauge (bore diameter)
*Muzzleloader

Lists of firearms

Types

*List of firearms
*List of pistols
*List of submachine guns
*List of assault rifles
*List of shotguns
*List of sniper rifles
*List of aircraft weapons

Manufacturers

See List of modern armament manufacturers.