Pioneering digital coating technology

The Cefla Group of Italy is a global leader in the supply of turnkey plant and equipment for the construction and energy industries. Other Group divisions include industrial manufacturing of dental equipment and wood finishing products. Philip Yorke reports on a company that continues to extend its global reach and to grow its HVACR, (Heating, Ventilation, Air-conditioning and Refrigeration) business systems.

Cefla was founded in 1932 as a cooperative specialising in the development of electrical and thermo-hydraulic systems. Over the years the company has seen continuous growth as a result of its commitment to innovation and diversification. In the 1980s Cefla entered the energy field, developing efficient energy recovery systems and energy production plants and taking its clients through all the phases of each individual project from early studies to construction, commissioning and lifetime plant maintenance.

Cefla operates four distinct business units; however, all combine the skills and capabilities to achieve important goals in their respective markets. The company’s original Plant Solutions have been complemented by advanced finishing lines for painting, wood ennobling, glass, plastics, metal and fibre cement and finishing.

The company also designs and markets medical and dental products under the brand name Cefla Medical Equipment. This is in addition to producing furniture solutions for large retailers under its Cefla Shopfitting brand.

“Today Cefla is undergoing a major evolutionary process. Changes in the business world and market developments have led us to introduce organisational changes, streamlining and the strengthening of the various Group companies. Cefla Impianti has now become Cefla Plant Solutions, a name that expresses our historical direction, our goals and our orientation towards new global markets,” said Roberto Cocchi, managing director of Cefla Plant Solutions.

unmatched finishing technology

Cefla Finishing is a global leader in surface finishing and decorative solutions for a wide range of industrial applications. Exploiting the potential of digital personalisation and applying this to high-definition printing on large formats is only possible thanks to a programme of continuous research and unmatched expertise by Cefla.

The company’s new inkjet printing platform, known as J-Print MP, allows users to make ultra-high definition reproductions of any pattern or photograph on glass surfaces and countless others. The platform covers a considerable range of sizes that can meet any individual requirements. The graphics software features a user-friendly interface that lets operators process the image in terms of both shade and resolution. It can also divide the image into separate frames where surfaces are made up of multiple elements. The unique printer uses a verifiable ink that can be tempered at high temperatures and ensures high colour stability over long periods of time. Furthermore, the ink is resistant to the abrasion that can result from contact with other materials and also offers excellent resistance to weathering.

Flexible technologies

Décor Leader is an Italian company that specialises in the decoration of panel edges. This successful Italian company has selected Cefla as its technological partner for the development of production lines, which are oriented towards digital printing and high-precision finishing. In view of the growing demand for customisation in the field of decorative finishes, being able to recreate materials such as stone or wood with vein patterns of different types and colours is vital in order to meet these new market challenges.

The company’s most pressing need was to acquire the most flexible technologies possible to enable it to create perfect edges for the furniture produced by its customers and to manage small production batches more successfully. “Cefla has developed the technologies that are crucial for our needs. After in-depth analysis of the Italian and

overseas markets, we chose Cefla because its organisation combines a series of technologies of crucial importance for what we wish to achieve. This involves digital printing and coating solutions, as well as being able to utilise the in-house software department, which is essential for the development of advanced digital printing,” explained Mr Daniele Martelloni, co-founder of Décor Leader.

The state-of-the-art production lines that Cefla has installed at the Décor Leader plant include a ‘Smartcoater EVO2’ for the roller application of primer and finishing coatings and a J-Print SP single-pass digital printer. The latter is able to operate at a speed of 60 linear metres/ minute and is capable of printing on any type of substrate, thus making it the best possible solution to the company’s needs for flexibility and modularity. The new lines conclude with Cefla UV-R ovens, which combine all parts of the drying process in a single module.

Focus on energy

Cefla continues to consolidate its leading position in the industrial energy sectors and has recently been working with the Italian Malturo Group in a joint venture for the construction of a new airport in northern Italy. Here, Cefla is responsible for the design, procurement, erection and testing of all HVACR systems and of the annexed generation plant of 7.5 MW capacity.

The Cefla Group plans to extend its presence in the energy sector both in Italy and abroad through technical innovation and customised, site-erected power plants and continues to increase its involvement in industrialised pre-assembled systems. Cefla’s main suppliers include Siemens, Schneider and ABB for regulation control and electrical panels, KSB for valves, Ingersoll Rand, SIAT, KSB Italia, Ecoline, Fiorini and Flakwoods. n