Pasteurization

60'S

In 1961, Fabio Grappoli founded the APE Company in Verona, dedicated to the oenology sector.

In this important period, during which the sales of the wine in bottle occurred, the pasteurization process takes more and more importance in the bottling process.

From 1962, date of which APE deposited its first patent, the company is dedicated to the development, design and production of pasteurizers, some of which are still in operation today, and their technical innovation set them apart. 

Automation

70'S

In the late 60’s the consumption of wine in bottles becomes mainstream.

With the distribution in iron baskets and plastic crates, the "packaging" is a fundamental part of the production process.

1974 marks the birth of the first automatic case packers “Regina”, conceived by APE as a result of a brilliant intuition: making possible, for the first time, to automate the insertion of the product inside the packaging.

In the 80’s a decisive milestone in APE’s story took place: the company is joined by the son of the founder, Franco Grappoli. An important change within the beverage sector occurs during this period. The cardboard packaging starts to being used within the packaging processes.

Once again, Fabio and Franco Grappoli have sensed the magnitude of the change. In a very short time they develop various types of machinery that transform APE into a company that manufactures complete packaging lines of automatic depalletizers, case erectors, case packers, partition inserters, case sealers and palletizers.

Thanks to these discoveries and innovations, the whole packaging process becomes automatic.

In the 90’s, the market becomes global.

In this period APE creates and develops a network of distributors worldwide, and structures itself around spare parts supply and customer care services.

To tackle this challenge, the company, with all of its various business units, is devoted to design, develop and build machines, lines and systems for the leading companies within the beverage sector in Italy and Worldwide.

The industrialization
of the Production

2000'S

A new production site in Zevio, near Verona, is inaugurated in 2001.

The company moved from its historical site of Negrar in order to meet its production needs. With 4,000 square meters, and soon more, APE takes on an industrial dimension.

Hundreds of machines are designed and build every year thanks to the work and dedication of dozens of employees, and these machines are then installed and deployed in wineries, distilleries and breweries around the world.

Ape Packaging France is founded in 2014 as the French branch of APE, in order to meet the increasing demands of Customers, and offers a 360° service, from sales to customer care.

APE reinforces its presence worldwide with thousands of active machines.

After over fifty years of history, a further step towards the future takes place with the entrance in the company of the third generation, in the person of Francesco Grappoli.

Today as Yesterday, along with all the people who are part of APE, we design, build and install machines and complete packaging lines.

Today as Yesterday, along with all our Customers, we invest, develop and innovate to provide our Customers with the best solutions.

Today as Yesterday, and Tomorrow.