The last foundry in Florence

In Florence, where beauty, art, culture and the perfume of the Renaissance dominate everything, in a peripheral area near the Galileo Galilei airport, just under the Ponte all’Indiano, there is a magical and single; an ancient and prestigious cast iron foundry, Omero Galardi’s foundry!
The foundry comes from a family tradition started by Enzo Galardi, Homer’s father, back in 1953. Omero has been working in the foundry since he was a child, but his greatest fear is that when he stops running the foundry, this tradition will disappear.

Omero is a person who may seem eccentric, one who never takes himself seriously, you never know if he is joking or if he speaks seriously, a man who with his goliardic spirit always manages to make you smile.
Omero is a person who may seem eccentric, one who never takes himself seriously, you never know if he is joking or if he speaks seriously, a man who with his goliardic spirit always manages to make you smile.
A tireless worker, he tells me that he took command of the company back in 1985, after the handover between his father and him.
A tireless worker, he tells me that he took command of the company back in 1985, after the handover between his father and him.
Until 1986, they melted with a traditional oven, powered by carbon coke.
Until 1986, they melted with a traditional oven, powered by carbon coke.
Then, due to pollution problems, they switched to an "oximetan" rotary kiln, powered precisely by a mixture of oxygen and methane.
Then, due to pollution problems, they switched to an "oximetan" rotary kiln, powered precisely by a mixture of oxygen and methane.
Very often work in the foundry is compared to work in the mine, in truth - says Omero - it is true that in the foundry you work in extreme conditions, but in complete safety, but it is also true that it is a job that gives many satisfactions.
Very often work in the foundry is compared to work in the mine, in truth - says Omero - it is true that in the foundry you work in extreme conditions, but in complete safety, but it is also true that it is a job that gives many satisfactions.
The creation of cast iron objects takes place through the casting technique in a metal shell.
The creation of cast iron objects takes place through the casting technique in a metal shell.
The fusion inside the shell takes place through the casting of cast iron inside metal molds.
The fusion inside the shell takes place through the casting of cast iron inside metal molds.
The mold is usually made of steel or cast iron and inside, with the use of a mixture of sand and resin, the negative of the final component is reproduced.
The mold is usually made of steel or cast iron and inside, with the use of a mixture of sand and resin, the negative of the final component is reproduced.
The shell casting process is mainly indicated for the production of small objects, with a good level of finishing and on a large scale.
The shell casting process is mainly indicated for the production of small objects, with a good level of finishing and on a large scale.
Today is fusion day! Omero explains to me the various manufacturing processes, in real time, while continuing to work.
Today is fusion day! Omero explains to me the various manufacturing processes, in real time, while continuing to work.
Cast iron casting is a manufacturing process that allows, through high temperatures, to produce and give a precise shape to objects made with this alloy.
Cast iron casting is a manufacturing process that allows, through high temperatures, to produce and give a precise shape to objects made with this alloy.
To ensure the production of high quality cast iron castings, the whole process of working the cast iron is followed step by step by Omero himself.
To ensure the production of high quality cast iron castings, the whole process of working the cast iron is followed step by step by Omero himself.
When the fusion has been obtained, the cast iron is poured and the production process ends with the solidification of the alloy inside the appropriate molds.
When the fusion has been obtained, the cast iron is poured and the production process ends with the solidification of the alloy inside the appropriate molds.
Inside the mold, the molten metal is poured by gravity.
Inside the mold, the molten metal is poured by gravity.
The process of casting cast iron in shell molds is mainly indicated for the large-scale production of small and medium-sized objects with a good level of finishing.
The process of casting cast iron in shell molds is mainly indicated for the large-scale production of small and medium-sized objects with a good level of finishing.
At the end of the whole working process, Omero tells me about all his sadness about the many obstacles he has to continually face with public institutions that ?promise and don't keep?. He does not ask for anything, he only asks as a good craftsman, that they let him work "quietly" and perhaps offer him the possibility of giving continuity to this ancient craft with training. He greets me saying: "You see, if at least they gave me the opportunity to teach this job to someone, maybe even to kids from third world countries, it would be the greatest satisfaction for me before I retire".
At the end of the whole working process, Omero tells me about all his sadness about the many obstacles he has to continually face with public institutions that ?promise and don't keep?. He does not ask for anything, he only asks as a good craftsman, that they let him work "quietly" and perhaps offer him the possibility of giving continuity to this ancient craft with training. He greets me saying: "You see, if at least they gave me the opportunity to teach this job to someone, maybe even to kids from third world countries, it would be the greatest satisfaction for me before I retire".

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