HACVR and energy plant, engineering and

HACVR AND ENERGY PLANT, ENGINEERING AND CONTRACTING

“Cefla Plant Group is the Engineering and Contracting Division of the Italian Cefla Group, headquartered in Imola in the Italian province of Bologna. It is the oldest of the Cefla Divisions, established 80 years ago and with a 2012 consolidated turnover of €90 million – one quarter of the total Cefla Group’s turnover,” said Mr Gaetano Tagliaferri, Cefla Plant Group managing director.

From its origins, the Holing Cefla Group has never stopped growing and now operates in several different regions throughout the world: in 2012 Cefla reached a consolidated turnover of €360 million. More than 50 per cent of its projects are abroad, with production plants and offices in Europe, USA, Russia and China.

The other group divisions include industrial manufacturing for dental equipment (leader in Europe), robots for wood finishing (global leader) and furniture for malls and shopping centres (leader in Italy).

Cefla Plant Group acts as a general contractor specialised in the supply of turnkey plant and equipment in two different areas, construction and energy, in particular: - HACVR systems (heating, air conditioning, ventilation and refrigeration systems), Sanitary systems, Electrical Plant and Special systems (security, video, access control) - Power, cogeneration and trigeneration plant, turbine or endothermic engines powered with gas and by renewable sources, such as biogas, solid biomasses and agricultural and urban waste.”

In each of these diversified fields it offers a full service to its customers, from the feasibility study to the preliminary and executive design, from project execution to the full maintenance services following plant handover and through its entire lifetime.

“In particular, the range of after-sales services we provide to our customers is what makes us stand out from the crowd. It is a global service supplied by highly skilled staff and it amounts to about 35 per cent of Cefla Plant Group turnover. A team of 60 qualified technicians are involved in the maintenance activity with different operation sites throughout the Italian territory,” said Mr Tagliaferri.

Activities and geographical presence

The activities of the Cefla Plant Group are focused on different applications. “In the civil field, we supply our HAVCR, Sanitary Systems, Electrical and Special Plants to realestate companies, schools, hotels, hospitals, historical buildings and shopping centres. We sometimes provide both furniture solutions, from our sister company, and engineering systems,” explained Mr Tagliaferri.

“Cefla has proudly been involved in prestigious projects in each specific area for full design, construction and maintenance systems. Projects we have recently completed include: the new headquarters, for around 4500 employees, of the UNICREDIT Bank Group in Porta Nuova, Milan, commissioned by the HINES International Real-Estate Company; new headquarters, for around 1000 employers, of UNIPOL INSURANCE and FINANNCE GROUP in Bologna; the revamping of historical buildings such as la Scala theatre and Sforzesco Castle in Milan; and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

“In the energy sector, on the other hand, our clients are usually consumers of heat and electrical energy who request power provided by a cogeneration plant: the ceramic, paper, food, pharmaceutical industries (normal gas and biogas); agro – livestock farms (biogas from agricultural by-product) and multi-utilities and waste energy companies. Cefla has produced cogeneration plants for a total capacity of around 300 megawatt and has actually under its operation maintenance plants for 260 megawatts.”

In the Energy sector Cefla’s maintenance activity is very important and not limited to power plants but also extended to the closed sector of oil & gas both up- and downstream. The ENI Group recently awarded the Cefla Plant Group with a contract for the maintenance, over a two-year period, of 260 engines of varying brands (Caterpillar, VM, Waukesha and so on) located at different ENI operation sites, on all national territory.

According to managing director Mr Tagliaferri, “The business of the Cefla Plant Group is mainly carried out within Italy itself where, despite the Italian economic crisis, Cefla has been able to face these difficult times thanks to the diversity of the sectors in which it operates. Governed by our headquarters in Imola/ Bologna, our branch offices and operation sites are spread from the north to the south of Italy: Milan, Campobasso, Rome, Matera/ Taranto. Up to now we have approached the foreign markets by following only specific marketing opportunities in the ceramic sector (Thailand, Turkey, Colombia) and hydroelectric plants (Laos). Last year we started dealing with foreign markets more methodically by carefully selecting the area, client and products. In particular, our business abroad is focused on the provision of systems and plants for the energy sector. North Africa is a real interesting opportunity, even if the present socio-political situation is not the most favourable one for business. On the other hand, we are involved in eastern Europe, and in the Gulf area.”

Recent investments

A large portion of Cefla Impianti’s investment strategy is focused on human resources, which represent the really added value of the division. “This is typical of engineering companies, where human capital is crucial to the success of all activities along the chain supply, from design to the after-sales maintenance operation,” explained Mr Tagliaferri. “Moreover, we invest significantly in technological innovation in both our production process and products. In particular, in the civil sector, Cefla is focusing on the production of special systems, such as closed circuit and safety systems and IT systems; in the energy sector, we are aiming to strengthen our systems fuelled by renewable sources, such as biogas, biomasses and agricultural and urban waste.”

Future goals

“Our three-year business plan 2013–15 is aimed at the further consolidation of our role as general contractor in the civil and industrial and energy sectors, operating in partnership with a civil contractor. Over the past year, Cefla has been working with this aim and the latest result of this effort is a joint venture with the Italian Civil General Contractor Maltauro Group for the construction of the new airport in northern Italy, for which Cefla is responsible for the design, procurement, erection and testing of all HACVR systems and of the annexed cogeneration plant of 7.5 MW capacity, for a total worth €45 million,” said Mr Tagliaferri.

“Another aim is to expand our turnover in the energy sector in Italy and abroad, by technological innovation in our focus sector, customised site erected power plants, and extending our presence in the area of industrialised pre-assembled systems of small-tomedium size.”

The company’s main suppliers include Ferroli and ICI for boilers; Carrier, York Gruppo Johnson for frigo-absorbers; Siemens, Schneider and ABB for regulation & control and electrical panels and KSB for valves. RIGHi Elettroservizi SpA is a subcontractor. Other suppliers include Ingersoll Rand, SIAT, KSB Italia, T.C.F., Ecoline, Fiorini, Flaktwoods, Tranter International, EnviTec Biogas Italia, Comex Group, Sagemis International and Guentner. The Cefla Plant Group, considering its long mutual cooperation with suppliers and that trust which has been built up over the years, is looking forward to many more years of successful partnership. n

Via Zampeschi 119, 47122 Forlì (FC) – Italy www.fiorinigroup.it ; e-mail: comm@fiorinigroup.it

FIORINI INDUSTRIES, a steady and virtuous growth.

Fiorini Industries Group is the largest European producer of hydronic systems for heating, air conditioning and one of the most innovative companies in the field of heat transfer, renewable energy, solar thermal, low-enthalpy geothermal hybrid systems.

With a 2012 consolidated turnover of €25 million, the Group currently consists of several companies and works with different brands (Fiorini, My Clima, Ebner Energietechnik, Abc, Ttt, Euroverniciatura), which operate in numerous countries throughout the world.

Fiorini Industries is involved in important projects, such as the building in Saudi Arabia of world’s largest aluminium production factory and of a great gas treatment plant in Abu-Dhabi.