Founded in Milan in 1872 by Giovanni Battista Pirelli, at its beginning it was specialised in rubber and derivative processes, and effectively its activities of still now major evidence regard the production of tyres and cables (for energy and telecom).
In the 1950s Alberto Pirelli required the building of a famous skyscraper in Milan in the area in which the first factory was in 19th century: see Pirellone.
See also: List of Italian companies