OUR HISTORY
Four generations of passion, precision, and Italian engineering.
IMS is a family business leading the production of filters and shower screens for coffee machines. Giulia and Emanuele Monti represent the fourth generation of the company. They grew up playing with steel parts in a courtyard where the company was on one side and their grandmother's house and office were on the other.
The indelible bond with coffee began in childhood, smelling the aroma of freshly opened coffee bean bags in their grandmother's kitchen.
The Origins: 1946
The story began in the early 1900s with great-grandfather Nullo Dandolo Monti. The company was officially founded in 1946 by Nullo Dandolo and his son Francesco Ferruccio Monti. Initially named "Industria Pavese Materiali Stampati", it was later renamed IMS.
As the very first espresso machine manufacturers were emerging, they actively contributed to the study and development of filters and shower screens. After their premature passing, grandmother Elia led the company until her two sons, Massimo and Claudio Monti, took over.
In the 1990s, the company moved to its current location in Torre d'Isola, building a new manufacturing facility.
Innovation & The New Generation
Massimo and Claudio were technological innovators and visionary entrepreneurs for their time. They invented the exclusive patented IMS perforation technology that still distinguishes the company globally today. They also revolutionized the market by replacing alpaca (a tin and copper alloy) with 304 stainless steel, which is harder to work with but much more performant and rust-resistant.
Since the 1970s, they maintained a strong ethical focus on workplace safety and ecology. They implemented an eco-friendly cleaning system using ceramic inserts, water, soap, and a drying process with corn cobs (tutolo del mais) and hot air, a system still used by IMS today.
Giulia and Emanuele joined the company between 2004 and 2008, bringing a modern vision while honoring their parents' teachings.
Innovation & Teamwork
One of the first major changes led by Giulia and Emanuele was a profound cultural shift towards continuous innovation. They heavily invested in R&D and advanced manufacturing technologies, fostering a visionary environment where precision engineering meets the art of coffee.
This new era is entirely driven by teamwork. The "IMS Competizione" line wasn't just a response to the World Barista Championship standards, but the result of a collective effort: our internal team working closely with international coffee experts. We believe that true innovation is a shared journey—born from listening, collaborating, and pushing the boundaries of extraction together.
In 2016, this shared vision led to the creation of "E&B Lab" (Espresso and Brewing Laboratories). It represents our creative playground and a continuous investment in the future: a dedicated space where our team’s expertise expands beyond espresso into alternative brewing methods, serving the global coffee community.
A Global Family
In addition to a 100% Made in Italy production, IMS internally designs and builds all of its machinery. The Research and Development department seamlessly combines product study with the engineering of the very machines needed to manufacture it.
The IMS family has grown over the years, not only in the number of employees but also thanks to a network of consultants worldwide. They constantly provide new ideas and insights on how coffee filtration can be further improved or innovated.