75:, based company of which one of the Valsella founders, Cristofano, was an attorney. In 1980 Valsella Meccanotecnica Spa was formed from the two companies, Valsella SpA and Meccano Tecnica MT SpA. Meccano Tecnica was a company, based in Castenedolo, that produced furniture, chairs and plastic containers especially for televisions. Meccano Tecnica was founded in 1962 but put into liquidation in 1979 just prior to its joining with Valsella. Meccano Tecnica was 50% owned by the Redon Trust.
191:
illegal trading with Iraq. The allegations were related to the estimated 9 million anti-personnel mines that were sent to Iraq via
Singapore. These mines were used by the Iraqis during the war with Iran, the Gulf war and the attacks on the Kurds. The defendants plea-bargained at their 1991 trial; although they acknowledged having committed irregularities, the Supreme Court acquitted the managers of the serious crimes of illegal arms trade and violation of currency regulations.
99:, was formed and sold to a former Valsella employee, Ludovico Fontana, and renamed to Tecnovar Italiana SpA. In 1993 the then owner, Vito Alfieri Fontana (who inherited the business) had concerns as to the impact of his business as a mine manufacturer. He started a program of restructuring the company away from certain weapons, and in 1997 shut the company.
544:
111:
In 1977, Misar SpA, also
Brescia based, was founded by technical staff of Valsella in conjunction with SEI, SocietĂ Esplosivi Industriali. Misar was incorporated into the Fiat subsidiary Whitehead SpA in 1990 (now part of the Fiat subsidiary, BPD Difesa e Spazio which since 1996 is now wholly part of
216:
By 1995, only a fraction of
Valsella's sales were for military production. Through to 1997 its production collapsed. Its military production was decommissioned and migrated to civilian use. In 1999, Valsella moved to complete civil production of engineering and vehicle projects. Prior to bankruptcy,
199:
In 1994 Fiat announced that (via Fiat Ciei SpA) that it had ended its participation on the board of directors of
Valsella, and in 1994 Fiat Ciei was merged with Whitehead SpA. In 1995, the land and sea mine production of Misar (which was already incorporated into Whitehead in 1990) was sold to
190:
In 1991 the
Valsella's managers, consultants, and administrators – Antonio De Cristofano, Mario Fallani (director of Casalee Italia), Gabriel van deuren (manager of Cofitec), Cesare Somigliana, Calista Calisto, Paulo Jasson, Paolo Torsello, Vito Taddeo, and Peter Kurt Maier – were charged with
120:
In 1982, Valsella
Meccanotecnica Pte Ltd (Singapore) (Valsella Pte Ltd) was formed as a subsidiary of Valsella via its finance companies Finabel SpA and Dukan sas. The finances were managed by Rimon Srl, Falcom Spa, and Unione Fiduciaria Spa. The mines were provided by Valsella, and along with
156:, obtained 100% of the capital of Meccano Tecnica (and thus of Valsella Meccanotecnica). This gave full control of both Valsella and Misar to Fiat. For a time Fiat effectively took over control of Italy's mine industry; a position that it consolidated in 1988 with the purchase
212:
In 1994 the
Italian Government adopted a moratorium on antipersonnel mine production and trade. The manufacture of mines and related technology ended in Italy following Italian legislation (Law 374/97) which specifically banned the manufacture, sale and use of these weapons.
45:
Valsella ceased production of mines in 1994 due to the
Italian Government's moratorium on production of anti-personnel mines. In 1999, prior to bankruptcy, it moved to complete civil production of engineering and vehicle projects. It ceased to be a separate company in 2005.
78:
Valsella owned 50% of a Milan-Rome company, Valtec, which was responsible for sales, and 32.4% ownership of
Motomar, a Milan-based manufacturer of marine motors. Overall, Valsella, via the Redon Trust was controlled by a Swiss-based Italian,
102:
In 1976, following a legal dispute, the
Valsella founder, Francesco Rena, resigned from Valsella and joined SocietĂ esplosivi industriali SpA (SEI), the company that Valsella used to fill their mines with explosives.
545:"Tobacco firm accused of Iraqi arms deal: French TV programme alleges mysterious international company was key player in shipment of 9 million anti-personnel mines, which were used in the Gulf War"
424:
Misar's land and sea mine production line was sold to Societa Esplosivi Industriali (SEI), which is now controlled by the Paris-based Societe Anonyme d'Explosifs de Produit Chimique (SAEPC).
42:, Italy. The three companies of Valsella, Tecnovar Italiana SpA, and Misar SpA (both the latter started by former Valsella employees) together were the centre of Italian mine production.
335:
330:
667:
389:
200:
Società esplosivi industriali SpA (SEI). SEI ended up with 30%, with the remaining 70% controlled by Societé Anonyme d'Explosifs et de Produit Chimique (
672:
174:
Valsella sales though fell through to 1986. In 1987, exports were stopped when an investigation by Swedish customs was leaked by the French weekly,
132:
In 1983 Valsella sold its shares in Valsella Meccanotecnica to Meccano Tecnica. Meccano Tecnica is controlled 90% by Valsella and 10% by Dukan Sas.
472:
623:
517:
662:
657:
126:
171:(of Fratelli Borletti). In September 1986, Borletti purchased 50% of the company. Cesare Somigliana was president from 1987–(?).
642:
341:
295:
204:); however, later in 1995 SEI became mostly (70%) owned by EPC Groupe with the remaining owned by the Sorlini in Brescia.
371:
602:
588:
407:
313:
393:
499:
161:
307:
145:
60:
168:
597:], O.P.A.L. – Osservatorio Permanente sulle Armi Leggere e Politiche di Sicurezza e Difesa, Brescia
627:
80:
64:
153:
565:
445:
178:, causing an Italian investigation into the company and another company Tirrena Industriale (
112:
Fiat Avio). In 1995 the Misar sea and land mine product line was sold from Whitehead to SEI.
317:
259:
225:
84:
458:
149:
651:
626:[I, the former Valsella worker: Valsella's "Valmara 69" Mine]. Archived from
301:
157:
72:
59:
Valsella was formed in 1969–1970 by Brescia-based entrepreneurs, Francesco Rena and
289:
271:
253:
247:
35:
31:
283:
277:
265:
241:
201:
27:
360:
Landmine monitor report, International Campaign to Ban Landmines, pg 721
229:
218:
179:
39:
624:"Io, lavoratrice della ex-Valsella: La mina Valmara 69 della Valsella"
122:
68:
141:
96:
167:
From May 1986 – September 1987 the president of Valsella was
262:, anti-tank mines including the Sh-55, Valsella's first mine
148:(which was subsequently 100% owned by a Fiat subsidiary
436:
S.E.I. SocietĂ Esplosivi Industriali S. p. A. "MISAR".
274:, plastic bodied scatter-able anti-personnel blast mine
63:, with ties to the Italian Ministry of Defence and the
336:
Singapore support for Iraq during the Iran–Iraq war
217:it was taken over in 1999 as a production site for
87:, Switzerland, until the arrival of Fiat in 1984.
331:Italian support for Iraq during the Iran–Iraq war
590:Valsella – Storia di una conversione controversa
30:. The Company's headquarters initially were in
595:Valsella – Story of a controversial conversion
26:) was one of Italy's largest manufacturers of
566:"Unknown (registration required, in Italian)"
316:man-portable single tube launcher system and
310:, a vehicle-mounted mine-laying system (1987)
8:
224:The company finally merged into the company
129:in Singapore for export out of Singapore.
609:. International Campaign to Ban Landmines
414:. International Campaign to Ban Landmines
520:[Nine Million Mines to Saddam].
475:[An Empire Grown with the War].
607:Landmine & Cluster Munition Monitor
412:Landmine & Cluster Munition Monitor
374:[War is a perverted business].
353:
152:in 1985) and via another Fiat company,
543:Blackhurst, Chris (18 November 1993).
454:
443:
95:In 1971, Valsella Sud Srl, located in
668:Italian companies established in 1969
7:
473:"Un Impero Cresciuto Con La Guerra"
268:, plastic cased anti-personnel mine
244:, plastic cased Anti-personnel mine
372:"Krieg ist ein perverses Geschäft"
370:Zeiske, Kathrin (7 October 2009).
342:Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei
116:Establishing presence in Singapore
34:. It had two production plants in
16:Italian manufacturer of land mines
14:
622:Faita, Franca (2 February 2006).
500:"Mine Sales Draw Italian Inquiry"
498:Schmetzer, Uli (17 August 1987).
298:, illumination mine (and VS-T-86)
127:Chartered Industries of Singapore
304:, scatterable anti-tank landmine
673:2005 disestablishments in Italy
518:"Nove Milioni di Mine a Saddam"
292:, bounding anti-personnel mine
286:, bounding anti-personnel mine
280:, bounding anti-personnel mine
160:which purchased the assets of
91:Formation of Tecnovar Italiana
1:
314:GRILLO-128 (mine dispenser)
228:Srl in 2005, now a part of
20:Valsella Meccanotecnica SpA
689:
663:Defence companies of Italy
186:Iraq mine sales court case
125:, these were assembled by
320:helicopter mine dispenser
658:Ammunition manufacturers
643:Globalsecurity@landmines
603:"ITALY: Mine Ban Policy"
408:"ITALY: Mine Ban Policy"
162:Bombrini-Parodi-Delfino
479:. Milan. 11 March 1988
308:Istrice (mine-laying)
146:Fratelli Borletti SpA
61:Antonio De Cristofano
176:Envenement du Jeudi
169:Ferdinando Borletti
587:Cottini, Michele,
524:. 12 February 1991
440:. Trademarkia.com.
195:Withdrawal by FIAT
107:Formation of Misar
453:Missing or empty
376:Neues Deutschland
680:
639:
637:
635:
618:
616:
614:
598:
574:
573:
562:
556:
555:
553:
551:
540:
534:
533:
531:
529:
514:
508:
507:
495:
489:
488:
486:
484:
469:
463:
462:
456:
451:
449:
441:
433:
427:
426:
421:
419:
404:
398:
397:
396:on 20 July 2011.
392:. Archived from
386:
380:
379:
367:
361:
358:
260:VS-N fuzed mines
256:, anti-tank mine
250:, anti-tank mine
121:explosives from
688:
687:
683:
682:
681:
679:
678:
677:
648:
647:
633:
631:
630:on 22 July 2011
621:
612:
610:
601:
586:
583:
578:
577:
564:
563:
559:
549:
547:
542:
541:
537:
527:
525:
516:
515:
511:
504:Chicago Tribune
497:
496:
492:
482:
480:
471:
470:
466:
452:
442:
435:
434:
430:
417:
415:
406:
405:
401:
388:
387:
383:
369:
368:
364:
359:
355:
350:
327:
238:
210:
197:
188:
150:Magneti Marelli
138:
118:
109:
93:
57:
52:
22:(also known as
17:
12:
11:
5:
686:
684:
676:
675:
670:
665:
660:
650:
649:
646:
645:
640:
619:
599:
582:
581:External links
579:
576:
575:
570:L'Unione Sarda
557:
535:
509:
490:
464:
428:
399:
381:
362:
352:
351:
349:
346:
345:
344:
338:
333:
326:
323:
322:
321:
311:
305:
299:
293:
287:
281:
275:
269:
263:
257:
251:
245:
237:
234:
209:
206:
196:
193:
187:
184:
140:Through 1984,
137:
134:
117:
114:
108:
105:
92:
89:
56:
53:
51:
48:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
685:
674:
671:
669:
666:
664:
661:
659:
656:
655:
653:
644:
641:
629:
625:
620:
608:
604:
600:
596:
592:
591:
585:
584:
580:
571:
567:
561:
558:
546:
539:
536:
523:
522:La Repubblica
519:
513:
510:
505:
501:
494:
491:
478:
477:La Repubblica
474:
468:
465:
460:
447:
439:
432:
429:
425:
413:
409:
403:
400:
395:
391:
385:
382:
377:
373:
366:
363:
357:
354:
347:
343:
339:
337:
334:
332:
329:
328:
324:
319:
315:
312:
309:
306:
303:
302:VS-SATM1 mine
300:
297:
294:
291:
288:
285:
282:
279:
276:
273:
270:
267:
264:
261:
258:
255:
252:
249:
246:
243:
240:
239:
235:
233:
231:
227:
222:
220:
214:
207:
205:
203:
194:
192:
185:
183:
181:
177:
172:
170:
165:
163:
159:
158:Simmel Difesa
155:
151:
147:
143:
135:
133:
130:
128:
124:
115:
113:
106:
104:
100:
98:
90:
88:
86:
85:Collina d'Oro
82:
76:
74:
73:Liechtenstein
70:
66:
62:
55:The beginning
54:
49:
47:
43:
41:
37:
33:
29:
25:
21:
632:. Retrieved
628:the original
611:. Retrieved
606:
594:
589:
569:
560:
548:. Retrieved
538:
526:. Retrieved
521:
512:
503:
493:
481:. Retrieved
476:
467:
437:
431:
423:
416:. Retrieved
411:
402:
394:the original
384:
375:
365:
356:
223:
215:
211:
198:
189:
175:
173:
166:
139:
136:Sale to FIAT
131:
119:
110:
101:
94:
83:resident in
81:Paolo Jasson
77:
58:
44:
23:
19:
18:
438:Legal Force
290:VS-JAP mine
272:VS-MK2 mine
254:VS-1.6 mine
248:VS-HCT mine
65:Redon Trust
36:Castenedolo
32:Montichiari
652:Categories
613:19 October
550:19 October
528:19 October
483:19 October
455:|url=
418:19 October
348:References
340:(Italian)
284:Valmara 69
278:Valmara 59
266:VS-50 mine
242:TS-50 mine
202:EPC Groupe
28:land mines
390:"Unknown"
296:VS-T mine
154:Gilardini
446:cite web
325:See also
236:Products
144:via the
24:Valsella
634:22 July
506:. Rome.
230:Bremach
219:Bremach
208:The end
180:Pomezia
164:(BPD).
50:History
40:Brescia
318:VS-MDH
226:Pro.De
123:Bofors
69:Schaan
593:[
38:near
636:2011
615:2012
552:2012
530:2012
485:2012
459:help
420:2012
142:Fiat
97:Bari
67:, a
182:).
654::
605:.
568:.
502:.
450::
448:}}
444:{{
422:.
410:.
232:.
221:.
71:,
638:.
617:.
572:.
554:.
532:.
487:.
461:)
457:(
378:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.