Ledraplastic S.p.A., founded in 1963, was one of the first manufacturing companies to use the rotational moulding method to work non-toxic vinyl.
In the first 20 years, the production process concentrated on the baby toys. The flagship products of these early years were the Disney puppets manufactured under license from the Walt Disney Company.
Since the mid-80s, the business has established itself in several market sectors: from toys to fitness, including physiotherapy and wellness. Our own brand, Gymnic – The Way to Move – identifies our product range on the international market and stands for quality products designed to provide movement and well-being to people of all ages.
1963
Aquilino Cosani started his entrepreneurial activity in 1950 using natural rubber for the production of puppets. In 1963, thanks to the advent of plastic and the new business opportunities offered by major American corporations, he founded the company Ledraplastic and dedicated his work to the application of this “new” material to the toys of that age.
Company founder Aquilino Cosani (sculpture by Oscar Boscolo, 2006)
1966
From 1966 onwards, the production of puppets increased significantly thanks to a wider assortment of Disney characters and the acquisition of further licenses from great American companies such as Metro Goldwin Mayer, United Artists and Larry Harmon Pictures Corp. The Disney figure toys remained part of the company’s product range until 1988.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs packaging (1969 catalogue)
1976
On May 6th 1976 an earthquake with magnitude 6,5 devastated the region of Friuli causing great damage. Ledraplastic was severely affected by this event. The plant had to be entirely demolished and rebuilt. Thanks to the help of the workforce and the whole community, production could resume after 9 months.
Ledraplastic plant during post-earthquake reconstruction (1976)
1984
Starting from the mid-80s the company introduced a new kind of toys, which we called “dynamic” as they imply a more active participation of the child compared to the traditional puppets. This is a complete change of mindset in the approach to toys. In 1984 the company created one of its most iconic products: Rody the hopping horse. Shortly afterwards, in 1987, the Hop ball made its first appearance on the market, followed by another bestseller, the Over Ball, in 1988.
First appearance of Rody hopping horse with logo “Rodeo” (1985 catalogue)
1990
The Gymnic Brand first appeared in 1990 on the first “Gymnic Ball” marking the transition to a line of products focused on the concepts of movement, well-being, prevention and interaction. In 2021 the innovative drive brought the company to develop the current range of products under the newly designed brand Gymnic – The Way to Move – which became an identifying element of our company.
The first “Gymnic Ball” (1990 catalogue)
1994
In 1994, the “Gymnic Ball,” originally designed as a physiotherapy product, was launched in the U.S. market as a fitness tool under the Fit-Ball brand. The innovative training concept immediately led to remarkable popularity, so much so that today the name Fit-Ball has become synonymous with any fitness ball.
Fit-Ball Workshop (1994)
2020
From the 1990s to today, the company has formed numerous collaborations with professionals from various sectors, particularly in the fitness and wellness industries, developing customized products to meet specific needs. At the same time, it has continued to innovate and significantly expand its product range. The latest evolution of the “Gymnic Ball” came in 2020: the Memory Ball, a fusion of the fitness ball (Fit-Ball) and the sitting ball with feet (Sit’n’Gym). The result is a minimalist ball with a double-density weighted bottom to prevent rolling.
Memory Ball (2020)
