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Our history

“I was born with my window practically looking out over the company. So there was no need to explain something that was part of my daily life. I knew dad made furniture”

Maria Cristina Piovesana,
Chair and CEO of Alf Group

Timeline
A long history

In 1951, in an area traditionally linked with working with wood, through the initiative of a group of young carpenters, the artisan cooperative ALF (Artigiana Legno Francenigo) was born. In 1957 the two Piovesana brothers took over ownership, transforming it into an industrial concern. In the ‘80s, with the acquisition of the Da Frè company, the distinctive characteristics of Alf DaFrè today were consolidated: a company rooted in the local area, founded on skilled cabinetmaking, and orientated towards aesthetic research.

1951
A group of craftsmen in wood found ALF at Francenigo (TV)
1955
Rovilio DaFrè founded the company of the same name in Brugnera (PN)
1957
Eugenio and Oliviero Piovesana took over ownership of ALF
1960
Boom years and the first Padua and Milan trade fairs
1969
Alf presented Gulliver, one of the first examples of a modular bedroom
1975
Fiocco, an iconic Da Frè product, was born, featuring its distinctive pantographing. It was one of the first examples of a wardrobe with sliding doors in Italy
1983
DaFrè presented I Dadi, a collection with exquisite inlay and an innovative design for the time
1988
Alf acquired DaFrè
2005
The design philosophy of the Alf group was extended to the world of kitchens: Valdesign was born
2008
Pre-empting market requirements, an in-depth rebranding process led to the birth of Alf DaFrè. Alf, the industrial heart, met DaFrè, the design soul.
2016
Alf Da Frè production plants were equipped with the UNO System, meaning Alf DaFrè modular products can be customised to the centimetre at no extra cost. Craftsmanship was permanently blended with industrial efficiency.
2022
Today
Benefitting from over 70 years of history, Alf DaFrè now exports to more than 90 countries. Offering a furniture range that’s in line with the needs of today, Alf DaFrè integrates the customisation and versatility of a modular range with the innovative design of its complements and furnishings.

Museum
Alf

Over the years Alf has gathered together all the tools and equipment for working with wood, in an awe-inspiring collection, created with a sense of respect and pride for the skilful world of furniture manufacture. There are 600 planes in that collection. Alf has an accurate picture of the future with a solid base in the past. So we have set up the concourses of our companies like museums, with a collection of antique carpentry tools. The collection shows the history of our land and the tradition of Italian know-how.