Varvel was established by Cesare Berselli, mech. eng., president’s father, in 1955.
The name came from the joining of the first three letters of the words VARiators and VELocity, and the trade-mark became a "V intersecting a gear".
Varvel operated in downtown Bologna during its first years and in the mid sixties moved to new premises of 2500 sq.m in Anzola Emilia nearby Bologna.

Francesco Berselli, the present president, joined the enterprise in this period and expanded the export trade that is now the main market of the company.
Varvel experienced a constant growth until the eighties but in the nineties with the introduction of the first lines of worm boxes Series “RS” started a fast-growing period that compelled the building of larger head offices.
During these years, Varvel started building up a series of business connections with strategically close enterprises: in 1989, a 30% stake in a gear cutting supplier then increased by a further 10% in 1998 and 5% in 2008.

At the beginning of 2000, Varvel moved into the present premises of Crespellano, also in the province of Bologna and only 5 km far from the old location of Anzola Emilia, with 20,000 sq.m land, 4,400 sq.m factory and 1,000 sq.m offices.

Also in 2000, a new thrust was given by the introduction of the second family of worm boxes, Series “RT”.

At the end of 2001, an additional building of 2,500 sq.m besides the new premises, was acquired where the machining department and the partially owned gear cutting company were moved.
Besides the product line expansion, in 2002, Varvel started a series of investments in the product range, introducing the first unattended robotized machining centre for gearbox housings with 72 hour endurance.

In 2003, the new line of helical gearboxes Series “RD” is exhibited at the International Hanover Fair.

At the end of 2004, Varvel implemented a specific software for logistic process automation running the whole goods flow, from receipt of semi-finished product to finished product shipment.
At the beginning of 2007, Varvel acquired 40% of a supplier specialized in gear grinding and in the same period, acquired another building of approx. 1600 sq.m, where this last participated enterprise moved.
In April 2007, four new lines of gearboxes: shaft mount with hollow shaft, parallel shaft Series “RN”, bevel/helical horizontal Series “RO” and vertical Series “RV”, and reduced backlash planetary gearboxes Series “RG” were exhibited at the International Hanover Fair.

On 2008 beginning, Varvel acquired 40% of a supplier specialized in turnery.

In February 2008, Varvel bought a building of approx. 1800 sq.m where in July the finished product warehouse and Packaging and Despatching Departments were moved.

On 2009 beginning, the supplier specialized in turnery moved in a building of approx. 2100 s.q.m. contiguos to Varvel’s headquarters.

In February 2010, Varvel acquires 40% of a supplier specialized in gearbox assembling.

Besides the typically industrial investments, management care was directed to introducing new professional figures to enhance the organization with the scope of making it stronger to face an environment more and more turbulent and unstable. Therefore, new departments were created: Information Technology, Production Planning, Management Auditing, Quality-Safety-Environment Management Systems and Human Resources.

In March 2010, Varvel starts a feasibility study to open a branch in one of emerging countries: India. In August 2010, a new company MGM-VARVEL Power Transmission is started in Chennai (ex-Madras), South-East of India. Company‘s capital participation is 50% and other 50% is held by an Italian company, leader in brake-motor manufacturing, company with which Varvel is in business from a long time.
The new company assembles the products delivered in kit form to India and distributes them nationwide from February 2011. The investment in capital and stock counts half million Euro.

In February 2011, Varvel acquires a new building of approx. 4200 sq.m next to product stock and Packing/Shipping Department.

In June 2011, one of the gearbox assembly partners moves to half of this building.

Today’s figures: 75 people and € 24.7 millions (2010 turnover).