Busto Arsizio - Mario Crosta Srl celebrates a century of business in Busto Arsizio, focusing on batteries and fishing equipment - Economy - Varese News

Mario Crosta Srl , a Busto Arsizio-based company specializing in fabric finishing, has celebrated its 100th birthday . A century of activity for a manufacturing company that, since its founding in 1925, has represented a global benchmark in the specific sector of textile finishing machinery: the final phase of the fabric production cycle, also known by operators as " finishing " due to the high aggregate value it brings to the fabric.

More precisely, those created by the Bustocca company are machines intended for the clothing and furniture sectors , which give the final touch, the sensation to the touch, The identity of a fabric. Those that give the fabric a "peach-touch" effect, for example, velvet, chenille, but above all "fleece," the soft and velvety fabric, technically called "polar fleece."

It was precisely this Busto Arsizio company that, in collaboration with the American company Malden Mills and other industry players, pioneered the "fleece" in 1993, revolutionizing sportswear and streetwear trends worldwide. This invention also contributed to Mario Crosta Srl's global fame.

The celebration of these hundred years of the company took place this evening, Friday, October 24, 2025, at the Roggie House in Magnago, with the participation of approximately two hundred people including collaborators, friends, customers, and suppliers. Also in attendance was the Mayor of Busto Arsizio, Emanuele Antonelli . The evening was accompanied by music from the Tramonti-Crosta Bersaglieri band , named after the founder of Mario Crosta, of which Cavaliere Mario and then his son Emanuele were honorary presidents.

The event was an opportunity to celebrate the company's history, but also to thank those who believed in the company and who, with their trust and collaboration, contributed to its growth and overcoming significant challenges. First and foremost, two generational transitions.

Difficult but formative passing of the baton

The company was founded in 1925 thanks to the vision and entrepreneurial ambition of its founder, Mario Crosta . "He was already flying high in the skies in the 1930s, promoting his machines worldwide. He was an Italian pioneer of business ventures abroad, which were not available to everyone at the time," says CEO Marco Crosta , the third generation at the helm of the company. He, along with his sister Laura, Head of Service and Assistance , has taken over from his father Emanuele and, before that, from his grandfather Mario.

"Then in 1974," Marco Crosta continues, "our grandfather passed the baton to our father, who remained in charge until 2004, another tragic date for the company, which suffered the loss of its owner and found itself facing difficult times. It was then that we realized we had no choice but to roll up our sleeves and rebuild everything, step by step. It was a watershed experience. That's why we look to the fourth generation with pragmatism and hope. We firmly believe that our children will first have to build their skills abroad or at least outside of our family environment, and only then will they be able to contribute to the success of our company."

Two strategic assets: digitalization and market research

One hundred years after its founding , Mario Crosta Srl is a case history of entrepreneurial longevity, but not only that. "If we've reached the centenary, it's because we've pursued two important trajectories: digitalization and market research," CEO Marco Crosta emphasizes. Ninety-five percent of turnover is exported , with a widespread presence in Asia.

We are particularly convinced of the importance of monitoring distant countries with local structures; this is why for years we have been building a network of sales agencies and service offices in every country we sell to. Collaborations with Polartec (formerly Malden Mills), with whom we developed Polar Fleece, are crucial, as are brands like Decathlon, Nike, Adidas, and Levi's, which rely on us to standardize their repeatability and production quality . It is therefore important that identical products, but created in different countries, have the same feel. This is why, to standardize the quality of fabrics produced in factories around the world, we focus on standardizing machinery. Innovation is a constant throughout this process, including in the revival of historic technologies, revisited with a modern twist to meet the needs of an ever-evolving market. Another key focus of our Research & Development departments is the commitment to creating machinery and processes with reduced environmental impact, with sustainability and energy savings at the forefront.

To learn more about Mario Crosta Srl's corporate history, read the article on www.varesefocus.it