Rivarossi was founded by Alessandro Rossi in Como at the end of 1945. Rossi, a Regio Esercito young army officer who had always been enthusiast about railways models and Meccano products, after his studies at the Politecnico di Milano, managed to develop his hobby into his real working activity.

In the 1950's, thanks to the economic boom and above all to an innovative entrepreneurial spirit, Rivarossi affirmed internationally with its first participation to Norimberga fair.

1960's represented the commercial explosion into the American market. In fact, Rivarossi became exporter of 80% of the US production.

In 1990s Rivarossi acquired Lima, an historic Vicenza-based company active since 1955 in the market of railway models.

In 2000 the takeovers of Arnold, German brand, and Jouef, French brand, led to the birth of a new company: Lima S.p.A. Five years later, the group became part of the British company Hornby. A curiosity: Meccano, which fascinated Rossi so much during his childhood, was invented by Hornby.