Iron and Metalworking

The scarcity of raw materials and high energy costs were the limits of the industry at the beginning of the nineteenth century, aggravated by the persistence of old technologies and organisational systems which were typical of the alpine ironworks in the ancient régime. It was necessary to proceed with complete modernisation, which would combine the availability of productive factors to an adequate extent, their efficient processing and their subsequent placement in a wider market. The entire Lombardy economy and steel processing in particular, one of its most deeply rooted sectors with centuries old mountain traditions, had to face the challenges of changing production, organisation and markets. Chapter eighth discusses the structure of the sector which led to an accentuated specialisation. At the same time this process fostered imitation from competitors, a precondition of the overall modernisation carried out during the nineteenth century. This aspect of the narrative and a wider overview of international competitors and similar areas will be developed.