The company was founded as a small mining business in
Montecatini Val di Cecina operating a copper
pyrite mine in 1888. The production increased and a shift from
copper ore production to pyrite production as a starting material for
sulfuric acid production when
Guido Donegani was made director in 1910. Large amounts of
sulfuric acid are used for the production of
superphosphate fertilizers and therefore Montecatini expanded into this business. By 1920 the company had acquired the two largest phosphate fertilizer producers
Unione Concimi and
Colla e Concimi. The company became dominant in chemical industry of Italy during the time of
Fascist Italy. Montecatini collaborated with
RIAP of Bergamo and together developed an extrusion machine. Montecatini was also involved in the creation of
Lake Reschen which submerged the village of
Graun. ==See also==