The company
Our history, our presentFor seventy years
ICAR is one of the leading manufacturers of electrical capacitors and systems in low and medium voltage. Established in 1946, it bases its reputation on 70 years of experience in research, design, development and production of high-performance capacitors, an area where we still maintain an undisputed leadership.
Always at the forefront
First company in the world, ICAR started developing capacitors in metallized polypropylene at the beginning of the 60s. Furthermore, from the beginning we also realized the importance of developing our own metallization systems in order to control the production process from the polypropylene film right to the completed capacitor and systems.
In Italy and in the world
The 6 plants located throughout Europe, which are strongly integrated at a vertical level, allow us (something which is rather rare throughout the world) to directly control the entire production process of polypropylene capacitors: from raw material to finished product.
1946
ICAR was established by Ettore Conti. The building of the new factory, still ICAR headquarter. is designed by the famous architect Piero Portaluppi
1947
ICAR starts producing smoothing capacitors for high voltage dc systems. Such devices are used on the transmission lines of RAI (Italian National Broadcaster) and on those of other foreign broadcasters.
1950
Production of the first LV Power Factor Correction capacitor using the "paper&oil" technology.
1951
The production of special capacitors takes off: ICAR soon becomes one of NATO's leading suppliers. First production of power electronics capacitors for electric traction and other applications with ac/dc conversion.
1952
First production of "Impulse formation lines". Such applications, with special capacitors, are used for radars, synchrotrons (CERN Geneva, CESI Milan, CNEN Rome) and other applications requiring strong energetic impulses.
1953
The production of film foil technology capacitors for MV Power Factor Correction systems begins.
1954
Production of CVTs begins. Hundreds of CVTs for networks up to 420kV will be manufactured.
1960
The company starts producing capacitors for household electrical appliances.
1965
ICAR is the first manufacturer in the world to produce metallized polypropylene film capacitors. Polypropylene wound capacitors are nowadays the global standard for LV electrotechnical applications. Leading companies in the world are officially licensed by ICAR to build polypropylene capacitors.
1988
ICAR provides ENEL with a 1 million Volt CVT for Suvereto experimental transmission line.
1990
Studies on slope metallisation for polypropylene film take off. This new technique enables to remarkably increase capacitance, and hence energy per unit volume, stored by capacitors.
1995
Acquisition of ORTEA, a company specialized in the production of voltage stabilisers. Acquisition of Kopafilm Gmbh, a company specialized in the production of polypropylene film for capacitors. ICAR becomes one of the few company worldwide to produce finished capacitors starting from raw material.
2004
"Export" turnover exceeds "domestic" turnover for the first time.
2015
New opening of motors and lighting capacitors production plant ICAR Romcap
2018
Power Quality Mission: Icar Group integrates low voltage Power Factor Correction in Ortea SpA![fondatore[1]](https://icar.ortea.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/fondatore1.jpg)
Our founder
Our values
Our offer
Our know-how
Research and development
Laboratories
TESTS
Research and development
ICAR’s R&D department is endowed with comprehensive product knowledge concerning the dielectric material employed, the metallization, the electrical, thermal and mechanical design thanks to a full vertical integration of all capacitor production stages.
Our technicians can also tune the intermediate processing stages the end product must undergo to reach the level of performance, quality and reliability required by our customers.
ICAR’s R&D department adds outstanding skills when it comes to testing the outcome of design, development and production stages.
As a matter of fact, ICAR can fully develop exclusive capacitor automated testing equipment, compliant with current regulations and/or with specific “custom” tests agreed with the customers.
Also LV power factor correction systems and LV voltage stabilisers are designed and developed by in-house specialised technical teams.
LABORATORIES
The laboratories are located in production plants in order to have an immediate feedback on the production and technical expertise specialized by type of production.
The indoor testing laboratories are arranged over more than 1000 sqm. Monza premises host a facility exceeding 600 sq m of such surface.
In detail, the testing laboratory at Monza site is IMQ certified according to EN ISO IEC 17025 standard, 2005 edition.
TESTS
• EN60871 (HV static power factor correction capacitors)
• EN60252 (Motor run capacitors)
• EN60831 ((LV static self-healing power factor correction capacitors)
• EN61048 -EN61049 (capacitors for fluorescent lighting and similar applications)
• EN61071 (Capacitors for power electronics)
• EN61881 (Rolling stock equipment – capacitors for power electronics)
Performed tests include:
• AC 50Hz voltage tests up to 350kV;
• DC voltage tests up to 250kV;
• AC / DC endurance tests with test temperature from -50°C to 110 °C;
• Short-circuit tests;
• Measurement of inductance and internal series resistance;
• Capacitance and tan δ measurement with frequencies up to 100kHz;
• Tests with predefined impulsive currents;
• Thermal tests with traditional thermal recording and/or thermal imaging recording;
impulse tests: 3/15kV and up to 250kV;
• High frequency tests up to 100kHz;
• Thermal cycles from -50°C to +110°C with humidity up to 95%.