Benelli
From Free net encyclopedia
Benelli is an Italian firearm manufacturer most well known for high quality shotguns used by military, law enforcement and civilians all over the world. Particularly famous is the Benelli M3 12 gauge, used extensively by American SWAT teams. Benelli recently introduced the Benelli M4 Super 90, an unusual gas operated semi-automatic shotgun intended for military use in urban warfare.
Most Benelli shotguns utilize a unique inertia operating system; it is a simple and reliable design.
The Benelli Super Black Eagle, a favorite of waterfowlers, was one of the first semi-automatic shotguns capable of firing the 2.75, 3, and 3.5 inch shotgun shells.
Benelli shotguns are a favorite of athletes, often appearing in the Olympics skeet shooting event.
Benelli motorcycles was established in Pesaro, Italy, in 1911. Teresa Benelli, a widow, sank all of the family capital into the business, in the hope that it would offer stable work for her six sons: Giuseppe, Giovanni, Francesco, Filippo, Domenico and Antonio or "Tonino".
In the beginning, it was just the "Benelli Garage" which only repaired cars and motorcycles, but was already able to produce all of the spare parts needed for repairs.
In 1920 the company built its first complete engine in-house, a single-cylinder two-stroke 75 cc model, immediately adapted to a bicycle frame. A year later in 1921, Benelli built its first motorcycle with its OWN engine which had by then become a 98 cc model.
Two years after that, using a version specially designed for competitions, Tonino the "terrible" took to the track. He displayed an extraordinary natural talent as a rider and embarked on a very successful career which confirmed the company's exceptional capacity for development and production.
Riding a Benelli 175, Tonino Benelli won 4 Italian championship titles almost consecutively, in 1927, 1928 and 1930 with the single overhead camshaft version, and in 1931 with the double overhead camshaft version.
Unfortunately, a bad crash during a race in 1932 cut short his brilliant career and on 27 September 1937 Tonino died following a "silly" road accident.
In 1962, Benelli and Motobi (established by Giuseppe Benelli in 1949 after disagreements with his brothers, but later attached to the parent company when the family problems were resolved) produced around 300 motorcycles per day and had 550 employees. Towards the end of the 1960s, the arrival of Japanese manufacturers caused an unprecedented crisis in the European motorcycle industry.
Benelli changed ownership but despite its continued innovations in the motorcycle sector - for example, the incredible in-line six-cylinder engines introduced in the mid-60s - it was still losing important market segments, overwhelmed by Japanese competitors. This led to a temporary break in production.
In 1989 there was hope of a revival with the backing of Pesaro-based manufacturer Giancarlo Selci. But the time still wasn't right for a real comeback.
In 1995 revival of the brand with the glorious history became a real possibility when Andrea Merloni took charge. Results were fast in coming with the launch of the marvellous Tornado 900 Tre super sport bike in 2002 and the current launch of the TNT, the explosive roadster.
Benelli is now part of motor Group Qianjiang which is a corporation located in southeast China at Wenling, 480km from Shangai, whose 14.000-plus workforce produces more than 1.200.000 powered two-wheelers each year, as well as in excess of two millions engines, in an ultra modern city-sized factory occupying 670.000sq.m of covered space and equipped with sophisticated machine tools imported from Germany, Italy and U.S.
Benelli Q.J.is located in Pesaro where the previous propriety based the facilities, keeping the whole workforce previously working at Benelli s.p.a.