Global presence, Italian roots Bitron

GLOBAL PRESENCE, ITALIAN ROOTS

Headquartered in Turin, northern Italy, Bitron Industrie SpA is a privately owned multinational group and leader in the research, development and manufacturing of mechatronic devices and systems for the automotive, household appliances, HVAC and renewable energy sectors. Its focuses are quality, competitiveness, integrity and energy efficiency, writes Barbara Rossi.

Bitron has a consolidated supply relationship with some of the most important names in the household appliances and automotive sectors and today it is organised into four business divisions: automotive, household appliances, HVAC and renewable energy. Some of the main products manufactured for the household appliances sector are solenoid valves, pressure switches, manual and electronic programme timers, user interfaces, thermostats, temperature and pressure sensors, water softeners, aqua-stop valves, integrated detergent and rinse-aid dispensers, hydraulic groups, micro-switches, push button switches, door interlocks and other components specifically demanded by its customers. For the automotive sector, Bitron is a leading global supplier of mechatronics products for automotive interiors (pedals, switches, sensors, control panels and displays) and power-train components, as well as for the commercial vehicle, motorcycle and scooter industries. Components and systems for boilers, heat pumps, water heaters and other applications (including hydraulic groups, electronics components and heat exchangers) are produced by the HVAC division. The Endana devices for the optimisation, monitoring and safety of photovoltaic panels and systems are the specialism of the renewable energy division.

Bitron employs about 5300 staff worldwide, operating from 13 manufacturing plants and 10 marketing and sales offices. Its most recent turnover exceeds €600 million, with a significant share being reinvested in R&D every year, an area to which the company dedicates about 9 per cent of its workforce. While most research is conducted internally, partnerships are also in place with some universities for particular projects, such as for renewable energy products.

Milestones

The origins of the company go back to almost 60 years ago, specifically 1955, when three brothers – Enrico, Giovanni and Carlo Bianco – set up as manufacturers of household appliance components. Significant growth took place over the years, and the company expanded both in terms of geographical scope and market segments served, also aided by a series of acquisitions. In 1992 there was the decision to create a new corporate identity, and thus all the companies of the group were renamed Bitron.

Geographically, the first international milestone was reached in 1968, with the

establishment of the Spanish plant, followed by a Brazilian site in 1985 and the acquisition of a French company in 1989. The following years saw the arrival of Bitron Poland in 1998, Bitron China in 2002 and Bitron Turkey in 2011. An important year was 1975, when the company entered the automotive market and started supplying Fiat; in 1969, with the acquisition of entryphone specialist Bitron Video, the company had already made the first step into electronics. In order to enter new markets in the new millennium the company commenced production of components for the HVAC industry. In 2004 this activity was extended to the production of complete hydraulic systems for boilers and, within a few years, Bitron reached the status of Italian leader in this field. This led to the creation of a business unit dedicated to the HVAC market, called Bitron HVAC systems.

Although operating in a truly international dimension, the company is well-rooted in Italy where, as well as its headquarters, it has eight manufacturing plants. Alongside these, there are the international production facilities located in Spain, Poland and Turkey as well as two Chinese factories. As well as in Italy, sales and marketing centres are situated in France, Spain, Germany, the USA, Brazil and China.

Innovative, reliable, sustainable

The company employs a vertical production model, thanks to which it has developed expertise in several different advanced manufacturing technologies. Together with its partners, Bitron has developed highly automated, flexible assembly and test processes ensuring product competitiveness and quality.

Always attentive to innovation, and expanding its product range, in recent years the company has also started producing components for the renewable energy market. Sustainability is regarded as being of high importance and is implemented in terms of processes, packaging and energy requirement levels. The company helps its customers to build energy, water, fuel and chemical-saving products which can be easily dismantled and recycled at the end of their lives and is continuously working on the development of increased energy efficiency products. The Bitron manufacturing processes are designed to optimise energy usage and minimise environmental impact, and all the packaging employed can either be reused or recycled. The company’s newest facility is a highly efficient cogeneration plant ensuring cost-effective environmentally friendly generation of energy and thermal power (by producing 3MW of electrical power and 3MW of thermal power).

Innovative products and high technology will continue to be central to future growth. The group has recently opened a new technical centre in Germany, engaged in advanced R&D activities, as well as in technical assistance, for appliance components. The rationale behind this operation is to strengthen Bitron’s leadership in innovation and further to increase its focus on customer support. The choice of location, Amtzell (Baden-Württemberg), has been strategic, as Europe is the excellence centre for the household appliance sector. Here Bitron will develop new electromechanical components for washing machines and dishwashers, such as detergent dispensers, water softeners, air breaks, drying units and flow meters, as well as refrigerant and water valves for refrigerators and other appliances. This new centre – designing, prototyping and testing components – employs highly skilled engineers with decades of experience in different appliance component fields and will cooperate with the other Bitron competence centres in developing new approaches to components and systems. With regard to the automotive sector, last year Bitron – which already supplies all the major car manufacturers – was awarded core supplier status by PSA Peugeot Citroën. n