Historical Trademarks of Made in Italy: Elevatori Magazine

This month’s column tells the story of Elevatori Magazine, one of the most authoritative technical publications dedicated to the world of vertical transportation and an international benchmark for the elevator industry. It is a distinctly Italian story that, for over fifty years, has promoted innovation, knowledge, and technical expertise far beyond national borders.

Founded in 1972 by engineer Giuseppe Volpe, who remains its Editor-in-Chief to this day, Elevatori Magazine was created with the goal of providing a source of information and in-depth analysis for all professionals in the industry. Over the decades, the magazine has chronicled the evolution of the elevator industry, covering its technological, regulatory, and industrial transformations.

Today, it serves as a meeting place for engineers, architects, designers, contractors, installers, maintenance technicians, condominium managers, certification bodies, and regulatory agencies, addressing topics ranging from design to construction, from installation to maintenance of systems, all the way to regulatory developments and new technologies.

One of the key distinguishing features of Elevatori Magazine is its strong international focus. Published in two languages—Italian and English—the magazine is distributed in 62 countries and is currently the world’s second-largest publication in terms of circulation and scientific content dedicated to vertical transportation.

Its credibility is further enhanced by a Technical Committee composed of university professors, engineers, and experts from some of Italy’s most prestigious universities, including the Polytechnic University of Milan, the Polytechnic University of Turin, the University of Pavia, the IUAV in Venice, and the University of Messina.

In addition to its print edition, Elevatori Magazine has developed a significant digital ecosystem over the years. The website and its presence on major social media channels are complemented by an online historical archive comprising over 350 volumes—a veritable record of the evolution of the international elevator industry—which is freely accessible to professionals and scholars.

The magazine also plays a leading institutional role. It is, in fact, the official journal of the International Association of Elevator Engineers (IAEE) and a media partner for major international events such as the Elevcon Congress, Interlift, the Global Elevator Exhibition, and Lift Expo Italia, reaffirming its role as a bridge between the manufacturing, academic, and research communities.

In 2024, Elevatori Magazine was recognized by the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy as a “Historical Trademark of National Interest,” in recognition of its long-standing contribution to highlighting Italian excellence and promoting companies in the sector internationally. Today, the magazine is also a member of the Association of Italian Historical Trademarks, sharing its mission to protect and promote the nation’s entrepreneurial heritage.

However, the magazine’s commitment is not limited to providing information. Elevatori Magazine has always invested in the technical training of the next generation and industry professionals. One example is the “Come funziona | How it works” series, a collection of publications dedicated to the operation of elevator systems, which today serves as an important educational tool—one that has also been adopted by specialized training schools established in recent years in Italy. The latest volume, published in 2025, addresses the topic of sustainability in the elevator industry, reaffirming the magazine’s focus on the challenges of the future.

Also in 2025, the magazine launched a new initiative to foster dialogue among companies, designers, maintenance technicians, and condominium managers through a series of roundtable discussions focused on the modernization of Italy’s elevator fleet—a highly relevant topic both in Italy and across Europe. The first event took place on July 10 at the Politecnico di Milano, launching a substantive dialogue among all stakeholders in the industry.

The story of Elevatori Magazine demonstrates how even a technical publication can become an ambassador for “Made in Italy” around the world. Through information, scientific outreach, and international dialogue, the magazine continues to highlight the expertise of Italian companies, supporting an industry that today faces critical challenges such as sustainability, digitalization, safety, and technological innovation.

Historical Trademarks that, for over half a century, have been shaping the present and helping to build the future of vertical transportation, confirming that knowledge is one of the most valuable assets of Italian industrial excellence.

Stay with us to find out about the next star of Historical Trademarks of Made in Italy.