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Created in Italy

An exhibition featuring the landscape of Italian industry within the framework of Cultural and Economic Promotion and Innovation

Abet Laminati — Super-surfaces ALPI — The reinvention of wood Brembo — From 300km/h to 0 in 3.79 seconds Coex — Naturally fireproof Crea Concrete Design — Mono-material landscapes Cressi Sub — First underwater Dainese — Lifesaving design Directa Plus — Cleaning the sea with graphene Eumakers — 3D multi-color Falci — The farmers’ multinational Fizik — 3D-printed biomechanical saddles Fontana — Technological supercar trimming Foscarini — Fishing for lamps GAM — Montessori materials Gemar — U.F.O. Unpolluting Flying Objects Grivel — High Altitude Safety K-Array — New shapes of sound Kong — Inventing the carabiner Landucci — Infinite pasta shapes Limonta — Sustainable textile Magis — Enzymatic industrial management Nonino — High craftsmanship spirit Novamont — Designed to rebirth Omnicos Group — Make-up makers Pedrali — Engineered wood Petroceramics — Superpowers of materials Plastitalia — Admirable underground fittings Springa — Autonomous robotic Tecno Tessile Adler — Safety Cell Terre Davis — Ground Hero Vibram — Down side up
Created in Italy

18 — Kong

Inventing the carabiner

Monte Marenzo, Lombardia

https://www.kong.it/

Kong is a leading maker of carabiners and safety equipment, used in climbing, rescue, speleology, sailing and altitude work. The brand was created in 1977 to carry on the experience gained over the years by the Bonaiti family’s mechanical workshop, specialised in the production of wire-derived articles such as nails, buckles, chains and farm tools. Located in the Lecco mountains, on the road formerly known as the iron and timber way, the firm has been active since 1830. Kong built its reputation for inventing and developing the standard of safety equipment.

Photo Matteo Della Bordella

Photo Matteo Della Bordella

Kong entered the history of mountaineering after joining the evolution of safety gear. It started from the invention of the D-shaped carabiner, when the legendary climber Riccardo Cassin asked Felice Bonaiti to perfect pear-shaped hooks used by the Munich firefighters which the climber Otto Herzog had adopted to climb the south face of Schüsselkarspitze around 1914.

Over the years, this output extended to other rescue articles such as the Lecco stretcher which became a standard part of mountain rescue work. In this field, Kong is now a landmark name in rescue and safety training practices.

Il problema del moschettone

Today Kong’s core business is safety and rescue. Mountaineering techniques have been been adopted in construction, where, in order to observe accident prevention regulations, workers use suitably-modified equipment, originating from the world of mountaineering. The range of products has been adapted to the standards required for work at height.

In the 2000s an area of the factory area was equipped to provide professional training; no longer just a product, but also pre and post sales support and training. Today there are several tens of thousands of hours of training provided regarding personnel from the armed forces, emergency first aid (FIRE BRIGADE, Civil Protection, etc.) and ordinary and extraordinary medical assistance (118, Red Cross and miscellaneous assistance works) as well as private operators and enterprises.

KONG. Connectors in every shape and type. From the top, Ovalone DNA carabiner with twisted body for “misaligned” loads. The Heavy Duty Plus can lift 6 utility vehicles. Argon S is the smallest carabiner easy to use with one hand. Panic is a carabiner with automatic closure and an extension to reach remote points. Frog (Kong patent 1998) is an automatic connector modelled on the pistol trigger. Photo Max Rommel

KONG. Connectors in every shape and type. From the top, Ovalone DNA carabiner with twisted body for “misaligned” loads. The Heavy Duty Plus can lift 6 utility vehicles. Argon S is the smallest carabiner easy to use with one hand. Panic is a carabiner with automatic closure and an extension to reach remote points. Frog (Kong patent 1998) is an automatic connector modelled on the pistol trigger. Photo Max Rommel