Hey everybody,

I created this topic to answer anybody's question about IPON S.R.L. I visited Naples for a week. And I happened to pass by the firm. Very large company!
Btw, I dunno if anyone realized but IP from Germany in 2007 was 'Innovative Pyrotechnics' which I figured IPON stands for 'Innovative Pyrotechnics Of Naples'. Which I never knew but what does S.R.L mean? As well as Panzera, they added S.A.S to it. Even Pirotechnia Soldi put S.R.L. Confusing to be honest..

And I heard with one of my friends from Naples, his dad's friends father works at IPON. I havent asked him that question. But my friend told me, a new firm called 'Pirotechnia Manzo S.R.L' will be created by another firm related to IPON. Which is really fun, because I might move there and work as a pyrotechnician soon. Not exactly sure. But I am honestly one of the greatest enthousianstics of IPON, I had a substitute in my school in MTL who was related to Benito Pagano! I was freaking out! And I hope to God they come back in 2009, I can't wait! And as well I will be reviewng everyday if there is a reply. I hope the topic doesn't go to waste, especially for the IPON fans

All the best,
Pat

I heard that one of their factories exploded! so did you ask anything about this??

Hi guys!

I've been to Pagano when their factory was still going at Ottaviano. But since this accident, Pagano doesn't produce anymore, they buy from several small companies around Naples. So, unfortunately this makes the production very "unstable" and a shell might look different the next time you'll get it. That's why we stopped using them because of that quality-jumps.
"SRL" just means "limited company", that's the company form. The way I was told with "IPON" is that it originally stands for "Industria Pagano Ottaviano Napoli" but I think they keep on changing that

bye!
Alex

Oh does that mean that the shells they use now aren't pagano's anymore?? I loved their shells! they are so beautiful and the colors are great!! Does that mean that they won't be doing shows anymore! that would be a shame if it happened! :d i guess if that's true, it's time to look for another italian company who does fearsome finales!! I think all of them does cause they have a rule that a finale should just keep getting louder and not quieter!! It's part of their display guidelines hehehe!

vander

Hi!

No, they haven't been theirs since that happend, in 2005 or so i think it was. But honestly, their are much better shells in Italy to see than Pagano's, believe me. The real gems are to be found with small family owned companies doing their own production. I would for example mention Pannella, Romano and Liccardo from the Naples area or Bruscella from Bari. Some of the Sutatas that Pagano is using now are from Di Matteo, salutes and such things from Ferraro. But regarding the finales, all of the (southern) Italian companies would do that I'd guess The ones from Sicily too, again more the smaller companies, large ones like La Rosa or Vaccalluzzo tend to be a little bit more "business-related" (in a negative sense...). So finding a good supplier in Italy isn't as easy as it might seem. We are currently working with two small factories. And as Soldi was mentioned before here, they are good ones for example with a very good own production

stay green!
Alex

Oh yeah i get you there! i specially like romano's for some reasons hahaha but their show in turi had so much chinese shells that didn't have the best timings! but i liked their kamuro that had a smiley face in the middle! very nice effect! ! :d i like how their shell of shells look like theres salutes in the middle of the "real" breaks!! i heard good stuff about Di Matteo! I love traditional italian show's timings, at first i thought it was ugly but later on i found out that it was very nice! :d

vander

Panzera's still good.
Btw, what does a studata lambi look like? The shell itself. I've seen it in motion but not in vision. I've never seen a fireworks shell in live distance (closeup; in hand, etc.). I know it's a shell but is there any smaller shells on the side?

Speaking of fireworks accidents (you can look it up on Youtube) it's a fireworks factory accident in U.K Unbelievable!

Pat

I know it's a shell but is there any smaller shells on the side?

No, it looks like a regular cylinder shell. All the sub-shells are inside. Take a look at this IPON 10 " farfalle shell Studatas (of all types) look like that, but may be taller.

Paul.

There is idffrent kinds of studata's!?! I've learned about diffrent shells but never heard of Studata lambi's till 2006. And btw, 10" Studata's as you may say, 10" and larger are from Ramps 1 & 2, the IPON and Panzera video's show from Ramp 3. Here is a video of Panzera's 2004 Closing; http://www.internationaldesfeuxloto-quebec.com/en/virtuel/extraits.asp ?video=779. At exactly 00:46 look at the middle left you will see a firing then a bundle of salutes (is it?) that report. But it looks like it's from in front of the Mondial SAQ sign. I wish I could go there in the fireworks field what a shame. Is there anyway of being allowed? And btw, in the video during 2:31; the salutes. To you, personaly..what Ramp do you think it would be coming from? In my opinion it'd be Ramp 3 (The area in front of Ramp 4, where the roman candles and stuff are set.)

I might be wrong. Correct me on this as soon as possible.

Pat

Hi

Here's a link to the picture-page of Pirotecnica Boccia, also near Napoli.

http://www.bocciafireworks.it/foto%202.htm

There you can see some Stutata- or Fermate-type shells, also with a look inside. The small inserts (Pupadelle) are stacked in rings (Fili). Some, like Boccia here have 7 inserts per ring, some have 8, depending on the size. In our own production here in Germany we use 8, because I believe the spread is a little bit more dense - but I guess that is just a matter of choice and taste. The inserts all have a timefuse (spoletta) and are matched with some strands of bare blackmatch. This way, you can arange the timing, so that everything would go in intervalls or at once. If you would have two "mosaics" of inserts, these would then be called "Intrecci".
As for Pagano's stutatas (the 8'' ones) they have 7 Pupadelle per ring, 3 Fili high. You could make them longer, 4 Fili, 5 Fili, but the spread is not so good anymore. A "Stutata Lampi" is a Stutata with plain flash/salute-inserts, they are also used for daylight shows of course - with the only exception that this would be called "Ripresa" instead of "Intreccio". It is confusing, I know...
These type of shells are very prominent in Italy, but we make them here too because they are my favorite And in the US there is one manufacturer doing these very nicely with their own touch to it, that's Garden State Fireworks of Millington, New Jersey.

Bye and stay green!
Alex

i might have missed it somewhere, but what's your company? it's very interesting how italians do their shells! specially the formation of the stars!! do you know what a pioggio negra or nera is?? sorry i forgot how to write it but it's something like that! i heard that its a charcoal willow that has a very dark color?? do you have any videos? How important is timing in italian display and shells?? it looks like that the timing of everything is one of the most important aspect of fireworks in italy! What are your favorite italian company? What does the shells of pirotecnia morsani looks like?

Vander

Hi Vander!

Our company is "ABA Pyrotechnik". Italian-style shells is also what I like best and as far as I know we're the only one in Germany doing these kind of shells ourselves, not just importing. It's bad with the manufacturing tradition here, and I don't want this art to be lost so we keep on doing them. And, interestingly, in regard of price, we can do it here for the same prices we are paying for our imported stuff.
"Pioggia Nera" is the same as "Pioggia Oro", just two different names for the same thing - it's a charcoal-based willow basicly. Timing is one thing I consider of most importance with these kind of shells, also with the ones the Maltese are doing. You can either use carefully filled pressed Spolettas or, and this is what most Italian use and we too, a Bickford-type fuse. Main supplier for that is Martins&Martins of Portugal.
I have several companies in Italy that I admire, good friends of us are Pannella and Soldi. I'd add to that Albano&Russo, Scudo, Liccardo, Padre Pio and Paolelli. But it is hard to say, because there are many good ones, every one of them in their special field. Vallefuoco of Mugnano for example is very good, but sometimes it seems that their quality is a bit "shaky", going up and down.
As for Pirotecnica Morsani, I had no personal contact with them and I have never seen them on the local feasts and festivals in Italy, I really don't know where they shoot their shows.

bye and cu!
Alex

My guess is that either he is from WECO or IP. If he is from WECO, I've enjoyed many displays by them. What is your job? Because if you get joined into the International Des Feux Loto-Quebec, I had the craziest idea! But if your interested jut ask. But i've never seen shells made like that! It's like traditional or rare to see that type of shell. I've never knew that studata's were that large!. I know almost every shell ever made! When was IPON S.R.L funded anyways? Is it more than a one generation pyrotechnics firm?

Pat

oh ok! Oh i also admire maltese shells! their really good very different form italian shells!! I'd like to know how much does an italian shell cost? you can give me probably the average!

vander

My guess is about $260-500 for a studata lambi. Italian shell...there is many, thus if u were to give me a rendering.

Quid pro quo; Maltese shell is nearly $600 (my guess). An Italian shell can be all sorts..Roman Candles or large calibre shells like Spiders or anything else. Quid pro quo.

Thus being any sort in my opinion. The most expensive shell would be a 4 mutli-break 12" very powerful with dazzling effects that are yet to appear. Has there been any 12" Multi-Breaks in a display @ LaRonde yet?

Pat