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History
The foundation, beside the Istituto Rizzoli
Bologna, Italy, 1896: The story of Rizzoli Ortopedia S.p.A., previously known as Officine Ortopediche Rizzoli, started when the Orthopaedic Institute was established, by the will of notorious orthopaedic surgeon Francesco Rizzoli. Quite soon, the name "Rizzoli" became one of the most renowned internationally, a synonym of efficacious cures and innovation in the field of experimental research. Guided by Professor Putti's therapeutic indications, the Officine devised several typologies of prostheses and braces, tailored to the patients' needs. In this period, for instance, the Gonistat device was created; it enabled users to block the knee joint up to 90° with a movement of their shoulders. After the Second World War, a radical change in the materials used to assemble prostheses and in the processing methods made it possible to obtain light and accurate sockets. In the Sixties the quality of skeletal lower and upper limb prostheses improved constantly, thanks to the use of new plastic materials, light alloys borrowed from the aeronautical sector and new types of steel.
By means of constant research on innovative products and materials, in the Seventies and Eighties new advanced solutions involving components for lower and upper limb prostheses and braces could be projected and applied.
In 1984 the Officine Ortopediche turned into a joint stock company (S.p.A.), though they were still being controlled by the Public Authorities, and a deep technological renovation was started. In that period, the scientific prestige of the company was strengthened by its participation in national and international research projects. Within the framework of these projects, Rizzoli devised products improving deambulation in patients with neuromuscular impairments, materials for bio-reabsorbable implantations, traumatological applications and orthopaedic surgery.
Privatisation
In 1996 Officine Ortopediche was privatised and became the largest Italian private company in this sector, as well as the only one in Italy with a network of branches and partners and over 100 service centres located in hospitals, clinics and rehabilitation centres.
In 2003 the Officine was renamed Rizzoli Ortopedia and, in 2004, the company was acquired by the Seconda Investimenti group.
Rizzoli Ortopedia today
Nowadays the company provides professional services in three macro-segments:
- research, planning, manufacturing and marketing of the whole range of customised products for Technical Orthopaedics;
- marketing of the largest range of Applications for Rehabilitation by exploiting its consolidated commercial partnerships with the world's main producers;
- marketing of all the Medical-Health products for both "over the counter" products and for products subject to prescription, the latter group including the innovative line of Rizzoli_Sidas Plantars.
The company owns a 5,100 square-metre modern production facility with regulatory offices, located in Budrio, in the District of Bologna, endowed with a centralised system exploiting CAD-CAM technologies, as well as a Centre for Product Innovation (C.I.P.), a centralised Logistic centre (outsourcing from the company Geodis -Züst Ambrosetti), a Marketing Services centre, Administration offices and the Regulatory centre. In addition to this, all over the national territory the company can count on 15 direct branches and a growing number of Affiliated Third Companies belonging to a stimulating Partnership project.
The excellence of the Services provided by Rizzoli is ensured by over Eighty Technicians constantly exploiting up-to-date techniques, thanks to mandatory refreshment courses (both ECM and alternative), as well as occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Podologists. (also see the Job-Search section)
Associated to:
- Assortopedia (Associazione Nazionale Aziende Ortopediche)
- Assindustria Bologna - Confindustria