In the beginning, there was a relay. Not just any relay, but a sealed unit: today it may seem ordinary, but back then it was anything but. As the name suggests, MZ Electronic was founded around the design and development of electronic equipment for the boating industry. Relays, of course, but also chain counters, control panels, and other devices to integrate electronics into navigation. It was a different world—or rather, the dawn of the world we know today, where high-tech is taken for granted in boating. It was 1993 when Luigi Fossati founded MZ Electronic in Monza. Today, under this name, several leading marine brands come together, with a catalog ranging from windlasses to propellers, from chain counters to steering systems, supplying recreational, commercial, and military vessels up to 90 meters in length.
From marine electronics to anchoring mechanics: the evolution of MZ Electronic
In the 1990s, this Brianza-based workshop produced chain counters, control panels, foot switches, and other custom electronic products—items that MZ Electronic still manufactures today. “Our journey into the mechanical side of the boating sector began in 2007, with a key initial partnership with Orvea – explains Alessandro Fossati, son of founder Luigi and now head of the Lombard company – Orvea is a company founded in 1947 that produced everything from hatches to fuel fillers, all the way to winches”.
“It was precisely this collaboration with Orvea that gave us the foundation, in 2008, to launch the Italwinch brand. At the beginning, we produced windlasses for boats up to 10–15 meters at most. Meanwhile, the partnership with Orvea continued, leading to the acquisition of the company in 2011. That was the key step that allowed us to move into the production of winches for vessels up to 35 meters”, Alessandro explains.
The integration of electronics and mechanics thus moved entirely in-house, starting with the launch of the well-known Italwinch line of windlasses for small and mid-sized boats, and soon expanding to the production of winches for full-fledged yachts following Orvea’s entry into the group. As we’ll see, Orvea was only the first of several strategic acquisitions for MZ Electronic, which quickly expanded to cover an increasingly broad range of needs.
Windlasses up to 90 meters: the acquisition of Officina Navale Nanni
When major shipyards look for suppliers for their yachts and vessels, they seek reliability, innovation, quality, and ideally the ability to work with a single partner across multiple processes. Considering all these factors, MZ Electronic has achieved an enviable market position, becoming an international reference point for winches, propellers, and marine electronic accessories.
This has also been made possible by the 2017 acquisition of Officina Navale Nanni. “A small company we had known for a long time, mainly focused on the Tuscan shipbuilding sector, but with a leading position in the production of windlasses for vessels up to 90 meters – Alessandro explains, adding that “although acquired, the company is still firmly operating from its historic headquarters in Viareggio”. MZ Electronic’s leap into the segment of vessels up to 90 meters thus came with this second acquisition, marking the culmination of a rapid growth path in the marine winch sector.
Custom propellers, as well as shaft lines and rudders: Progetto Elica joins the group
Industry insiders are all familiar with SBM, the historic propeller manufacturer founded in 1963. “Hit hard by the 2008 crisis, SBM shut down, and Progetto Elica was born from its ashes, formed by employees of the historic brand. Technically very strong and with enormous expertise within the team, this company struggled commercially”, Alessandro explains. Recognizing the team’s value, he decided to acquire Progetto Elica in 2021.
Today, MZ Electronic can offer the production of custom propellers, both submerged and surface-piercing, along with shaft lines and rudders for boats up to around 45 meters. These propellers can reach up to one and a half meters in diameter and are built case by case, based on careful analysis of each vessel’s specific characteristics, including vintage boats. “With the exception of mold production, which we outsource to trusted partners, every step is handled in-house, from mechanical design to final testing”, Alessandro adds.
Craftsman and Italwinch thrusters
As mentioned, large groups are increasingly interested in manufacturers capable of supplying multiple systems and components. This strengthens relationships while ensuring compatibility and consistency across onboard equipment. It’s no surprise, then, that MZ Electronic’s extensive expertise has also been applied to the world of thrusters.
More specifically, Alessandro explains: “we distribute Dutch-made Craftsman thrusters for small and medium-sized applications—units designed for boats up to about 16 meters. For larger vessels, we offer our Italwinch thrusters, entirely produced in Italy, with aluminum motors, steel housings, and Nibral propellers”. Available in both electric and hydraulic versions, Italwinch thrusters can be installed on boats over 50 meters in length.
Can Italwinch windlasses be managed from the chartplotter?
Today’s trend is clearly toward managing everything from a single—often large—onboard display, giving users full control of every system at their fingertips. And yes, MZ Electronic products can be fully integrated with navigation systems. “MZ-Link is an important and well-received electronic innovation that enables full integration, eliminating the need for separate devices such as chain counters”, Alessandro explains. This makes it possible to control windlasses, chain counters, and thrusters from the main chartplotters available on the market.
The latest innovations from MZ Electronic
Innovation within the MZ Electronic group has been continuous, with ongoing developments aimed at ensuring reliable anchoring, easy maneuvering even in tight spaces, and complete control. The company’s strong focus on meeting a wide range of owner needs is evident in particularly smart devices, such as the new SC-030 Radio—a remote chain counter that can be installed on the helm by simply connecting power. Communication is handled via radio, eliminating the need to rewire the boat during refits.
Other recent additions include the new RT range of mooring winches for recovering tenders, already set up for webbing strap connections. Their power ratings reflect the weight of luxury tenders on maxi yachts, with a maximum instant pull of up to 1,800 kilograms—enough to comfortably bring even the heaviest service boats back into the garage.
More recently, the MZ Electronic catalog has also expanded with new vertical Italwinch windlasses from the CL line, designed for boats from 10 to 16 meters. These units are compact above deck and can be equipped with motors up to 1,000 W.
Flexibility, limitless customization, and top-level technical support: the strengths of MZ Electronic
The presence of MZ Electronic systems on vessels of all sizes around the world is no coincidence. In Monza, the company combines strong craftsmanship with an impressive mix of advanced technologies and an unwavering passion for innovation—qualities that allow the group to offer shipyards complete, customized, and fully certified solutions.
“Our goal is always to ensure a high level of flexibility. The size of our group—around 35 employees—allows us to handle major supply contracts while continuing to offer a tailored approach, with solutions designed ad hoc, especially for larger vessels, including refits”, Alessandro concludes. This, combined with the ability to act as a single point of contact for a wide range of products and processes, makes MZ Electronic a key player in the industry.
