Fornara
Fornara S.p.A. is a privately held Italian manufacturer, founded in 1979 in Borgomanero, that produces brass ball valves, press-fittings, manifolds, multilayer pipes, and heating valves for residential and industrial hydro-thermo-sanitary applications, selling both its own Fornara-branded line and OEM/white-label products to international installers, distributors, contractors, and brands.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersBorgomanero, Italy
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Fornara does
Fornara S.p.A. is a privately held Italian manufacturer of brass components for hydro-thermo-sanitary systems, headquartered and operating from a 6,200+ square meter facility in Borgomanero (Novara). Founded in 1979 and now in its second generation of family ownership, the company produces ball valves, press-fittings, manifolds, multilayer pipes, and thermostatic and manual heating valves using certified Italian raw materials including brass alloys (CW617N, CW614N, CW612N), DZR anti-dezincification brass (CW602N, CW625N), EPDM peroxide, and PTFE. Its proprietary ForPress press-fitting system features leak-before-press technology and inspection windows for visual verification of tube insertion, and is compatible with F, TH, U, H, and B pressing profiles. Products are sold across civil/residential and industrial applications and are certified to ISO 9001:2015 (since 1997), DVGW (Germany), KIWA Gastec (Netherlands), VTT SFT (Finland), PTC (Russia), and VA (Denmark) standards, with REACH SVHC compliance documented from 2021.
Fornara operates a dual business model. The first stream is direct sale of branded "Linea Fornara" components to installers, distributors, and contractors through a sales-led motion supplemented by an e-commerce storefront, trade show presence at MCE Milano, and downloadable PDF catalogs. The second stream is OEM/white-label manufacturing for both large international brands and smaller local companies, covering basic components as well as complex finished products built to customer performance specifications or supplied designs. Pricing is quote-based, with per-SKU minimum order quantities ranging from 10 to 500 pieces per box. Distribution is global for OEM and regional (with international certifications enabling selective export) for branded products. The company has no subsidiaries, no disclosed external investors, no public listing, and no disclosed AI, API, or mobile product surface; its competitive positioning rests on regulatory certifications, manufacturing flexibility across small and large production runs, and over four decades of specialized brass component know-how.
Fornara firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fornara
- Legal name
- Fornara S.p.A.
- Website
- https://fornaraspa.it
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Fornara S.p.A. is a privately held Italian manufacturer, founded in 1979 in Borgomanero, that produces brass ball valves, press-fittings, manifolds, multilayer pipes, and heating valves for residential and industrial hydro-thermo-sanitary applications, selling both its own Fornara-branded line and OEM/white-label products to international installers, distributors, contractors, and brands.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fornara industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Brass Plumbing & Heating Components
- NAICS
- Other Metal Valve and Pipe Fitting Manufacturing (332919), Metal Valve Manufacturing (33291), Fabricated Pipe and Pipe Fitting Manufacturing (332996), Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing (33272)
- SIC
- Screw Machine Products (3451)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pipe Fittings, Couplings & Connectors (IMADALAD)
Keywords
Where Fornara is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Borgomanero
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Fornara business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Fornara Line Branded Products: Sale of proprietary branded components (ball valves, fittings, manifolds, heating valves) under the Fornara brand through direct sales to installers, distributors, and contractors in heating, water, and gas sectors.
- OEM/White-Label Manufacturing: Custom manufacturing of ball valves and brass fittings for third-party brands, including both basic component supply and complex finished products ready for sale. Offers production based on customer performance requirements or supplied designs.
- Multilayer Tubing and Accessories: Sale of PE-Xc multilayer tubing with aluminum core, available in standard and pre-insulated versions, along with pressing tools and accessories.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Valves and fittings priced by dimensions and quantity per box |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Nipples and connectors with bulk pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Fornara product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fornara S.p.A. designs and manufactures brass valves, fittings, manifolds, and press-fit piping components used in hydro-thermo-sanitary installations (heating, domestic water, gas). The company sells finished products under its own Linea Fornara brand via distributors, trade, and B2B e-commerce, and produces custom brass components on an OEM/private-label basis for other brands and industrial customers.
Product overview
Fornara SpA is an Italian manufacturer of brass components for hydro-thermo-sanitary systems, founded in 1979. The company operates two main product lines: Linea Fornara (their branded products) and OEM Production (white label manufacturing for third-party brands). The product portfolio consists of four main categories: (1) Fittings for Multilayer Pipe and Accessories including compression fittings (raccordi a stringere), press fittings (ForPress series with leak-before-press technology), and multilayer PE-Xc/Al/PE-Xc pipes in standard and pre-insulated versions; (2) Manifolds and Thermo-hydraulic Fittings including brass manifolds (2-6 ways), electrothermal actuators, check valves, air vent/safety valves, and boiler drain valves; (3) Ball Valves and Taps including mini standard, full bore, gas-specific, DZR brass for high salinity water, washing machine, and under-sink variants; and (4) Thermostatic and Manual Heating Valves including manual valves/detentors, thermostatic radiator valves with liquid sensor heads, and H-valves for two-pipe systems. The company also offers Rems pressing tools as accessories. All products are 100% made in Italy with certified materials and ISO 9001 quality management since 1997.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Linea Fornara: 100% Made in Italy product line of components for hydro-thermo-sanitary systems including fittings for multilayer pipes, manifolds, ball valves, and heating valves.
- ForPress
Products and services
- Ball valves Brass ball valves used to block fluid flow in hydro-thermo-sanitary systems for installers, distributors, and industrial buyers.
- Fittings Brass fittings that connect piping elements in hydro-thermo-sanitary installations for residential, civil, and industrial customers.
- Manifolds Brass manifolds that distribute fluid flow in heating systems for installers and distributors serving residential and commercial buildings.
- ForPress press-fit system Proprietary press-fit brass piping system incorporating leak-before-press technology for faster, verifiable installation of hydro-thermo-sanitary lines by professional installers.
- Heating valves Brass heating valves (including motorised/actuated variants) used to control flow in heating installations for installers, distributors, and industrial buyers.
- Thermo-electric actuators Actuators used with manifolds and valves for automatic temperature control in radiant floor and hydronic heating systems.
- Combi valves Combination brass valves designed for use in multi-component hydro-thermo-sanitary installations.
- Manual and thermostatic radiator valves Brass radiator valves, both manual and thermostatic, for residential, civil, and industrial heating installations.
- OEM / private-label brass component manufacturing Contract manufacturing of brass hydro-thermo-sanitary components for third-party brands and catalogues, drawing on in-house mold design, manufacturing capacity, and quality control.
Companies that use Fornara
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Fornara technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Fornara partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- MCE ExpocomfortminorAnnual participation in MCE (Mostra Convegno Expocomfort) international trade fair in Milano, a key industry event for HVAC and plumbing sector. Participation enables networking with industry professionals, discovering new trends, and connecting with existing and potential customers.
- International OEM CustomerscoreFornara serves as an OEM manufacturer for large international manufacturers and small local companies, producing ball valves and brass fittings under white-label arrangements. They offer both basic component supply and complex finished products ready for sale, working with brands in various international markets.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Fornara competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Comap Group: French-headquartered manufacturer of thermostatic radiator valves, manifolds, and fittings for heating and plumbing. Directly comparable to Fornara in product mix (TRVs, manifolds, press-fittings) and serves overlapping European OEM and distribution channels.
- Valvosanitaria Bugatti S.p.A. Italian brass valve and fitting manufacturer founded in Bergamo, producing ball valves, gate valves, and fittings for plumbing and heating. Closely comparable to Fornara in Italian-made positioning, brass component focus, and product overlap in valves and fittings.
- Caleffi S.p.A. Italian manufacturer of components for heating, water, and air-conditioning systems including valves, manifolds, and fittings. Closest comparable to Fornara: same geography (Italy), same customer segments (civil and industrial HVAC/plumbing), and overlapping product families (ball valves, thermostatic valves, manifolds, press-fittings).
- Rubinetterie Giacomini S.p.A. Italian OEM manufacturer of valves, manifolds, and fittings for plumbing and heating, including radiator valves, ball valves, and press-fittings. Direct competitor to Fornara with similar product breadth, Italian manufacturing base, and B2B distribution to installers and OEMs.
- Conex Bänninger: European manufacturer of compression and press fittings, valves, and brass plumbing components with operations across UK, Germany, and continental Europe. Comparable to Fornara in compression/press fitting categories, brass manufacturing, and B2B/OEM go-to-market.
Broad incumbents
- Watts Water Technologies: US-listed global manufacturer of water and plumbing products including valves, fittings, manifolds, and brass components. Larger incumbent with much broader portfolio; directly comparable to Fornara in residential/commercial plumbing fittings and brass ball valves.
- Reliance Worldwide Corporation: Global manufacturer of plumbing and water flow products including SharkBite push-to-connect fittings, valves, and brass components. Comparable to Fornara in brass plumbing components but operates at much larger scale with global distribution and consumer-brand presence.
- IMI Hydronic Engineering (IMI plc): Global hydronic and flow control specialist under IMI plc, offering valves, actuators, and balancing solutions for HVAC and plumbing. Broader incumbent with deeper portfolio and global scale; comparable where their hydronic valves, thermostatic controls, and manifold systems overlap with Fornara's product range.
- Uponor Corporation: Finnish-listed manufacturer of plumbing and heating solutions including multilayer pipe systems, manifolds, and press-fittings. Comparable to Fornara in multilayer pipe products, manifold systems, and European plumbing/heating OEM channels, but with larger scale and broader PEX system offering.
- REHAU Industries: Global polymer and building solutions company producing multilayer pipe systems (RAUTITAN), manifolds, and underfloor heating components. Comparable to Fornara in multilayer pipe, press-fittings, and heating manifold categories, but operates at significantly larger scale across multiple industries.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Fornara social profiles
Digital presenceFornara compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Fornara financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fornara leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Fornara funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fornara M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fornara
What does Fornara do?
Fornara S.p.A. designs and manufactures brass valves, fittings, manifolds, and press-fit piping components used in hydro-thermo-sanitary installations (heating, domestic water, gas). The company sells finished products under its own Linea Fornara brand via distributors, trade, and B2B e-commerce, and produces custom brass components on an OEM/private-label basis for other brands and industrial customers.
Is Fornara a public or private company?
Fornara is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Fornara founded?
Fornara was founded in 1979. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Fornara based?
Fornara is headquartered in Borgomanero, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does Fornara make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Fornara Line Branded Products are the primary driver. The others are OEM/White-Label Manufacturing and multilayer Tubing and Accessories.
Who are Fornara's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Comap Group, Valvosanitaria Bugatti S.p.A., Caleffi S.p.A., Rubinetterie Giacomini S.p.A. and Conex Bänninger. Broad incumbents are Watts Water Technologies, Reliance Worldwide Corporation, IMI Hydronic Engineering (IMI plc), Uponor Corporation and REHAU Industries.
Does Fornara have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fornara.
What industry is Fornara in?
Fornara's product category is Brass Plumbing & Heating Components. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADALAD, Pipe Fittings, Couplings & Connectors. Its NAICS code is 332919 and its SIC code is 3451.