optimising ‘cold-chain’ efficiency Epta Group

oPTImIsInG ‘CoLd-ChaIn’ EffICIEnCy

The Epta Group is a global leader in the development and manufacture of eco-friendly, commercial refrigeration cabinets and systems. The company continues to see strong growth thanks to its unrelenting drive to improve efficiency and eco-sustainability, as Philip Yorke reports.

The origins of the multinational Epta Refrigeration Group are endowed with the inspirational and entrepreneurial skills of its founder, Luigi Nocivelli. Following an apprenticeship in his father’s workshop, he established the leading electrical appliances company ‘Ocean’, and in the 1970s became the CEO of Ercole Marelli. It was not until the new millennium that he founded Epta. With Luigi Nocivello at the helm, Epta became a truly global player specialising in commercial refrigeration, and thanks to the strategic acquisitions of leading Italian and overseas brands Epta is able to offer a breadth of experience and product diversity that is unparalelled in the industry.

Today the management of the global refrigeration group is in the capable hands of Marco Nocivelli, a second generation family member who continues with the well-established ethical values of the company. These include: Order, Humility, Delegation, Resilience and the Ability to let others lead. Today the Epta Group is in a strong position to build on its rich history of innovation, quality and customer care.

Innovation and diversity driving sales

The Epta Group continues to expand its global business through a combination of strategic acquisitions and the development of many innovative technologies. Its core business is the manufacture of complete commercial refrigeration systems for multinational retailers. Epta offers an infinite range of solutions for the preservation and display of fresh and frozen food products. These advanced eco-friendly solutions are specifically designed to meet the needs of retailers who prefer to rely on a single multinational partner for their specialised, turnkey refrigeration systems.

The company’s product portfolio is extensive and ranges from traditional refrigeration cabinets, positive temperature vertical and horizontal counters and plug-in cases, as well as medium and high-capacity systems and cold rooms. ‘Eptology’ is a term which has been adopted by the company to sum up its dedication to the promotion of sustainable development, which in turn is used to leverage the four pillars of its business: Experience, Efficiency, Excellence and Evolution. Today the Epta Group employs over 5000 people worldwide and in 2017 recorded sales of more than €850 million.

Advanced global solutions

The strategic acquisition of leading companies in its sector has guaranteed the Epta Group an eminent place at the top table of the industrial refrigeration industry. Its many famous brands include Costan (1946), Bonnet Neve (1930), Eurocryor (1991), Misa (1969), IARP (1983) and Knudsen Køling (1961).

In both the domestic and international market sectors, Epta is the only partner capable of producing and marketing complete, turnkey refrigeration systems. This is made possible thanks to the integration of its many individual, high-tech product lines and unrivalled expertise gained in a broad spectrum of international markets.

“Our well established group companies are all leaders in their respective fields and all are recognised for their dedication to innovation, reliability and outstanding product design. These brands enhance the traditions and values of the parent company. The unique synergies between each brand allow Epta to offer well-balanced turnkey solutions that meet the diverse market needs in the retail and HoReCa sectors as well as in the fast growing Food and Beverage industry,” commented Marco Nocivelli, chairman and managing director of Epta SpA.

Strength through diversity

Diversity is one of the company’s many USPs and when the company acquired Misa in 2011, it became the owner of the global market leader in the design and manufacture of commercial and

industrial cold-rooms. This important acquisition enabled Epta to create new opportunities in the HoReCa sector, especially with its high-quality eco-sustainable products and the many coveted certifications it has earned.

One of the company’s earliest acquisitions was the Bonnet Neve brand, which was formed as a result of a merger between two leading French brands: Bonnet Refrigeration and Satam Neve. It was acquired by Epta in 1988 and succeeded in bringing these primary refrigeration companies into the Epta Group fold. The brand had already achieved an enviable reputation for its revolutionary solutions and innovative merchandising and energy-saving technologies.

Costan is another company that was brought into the Epta family in 1986 and had distinguished itself early on as a result of its high quality products and exceptional customer services, which supported its technologically advanced and reliable refrigeration turnkey systems. This unique company represents the core of the Epta Group product offering.

The state-of-the-art systems are distributed in Italy by a highly qualified sales network as well as through the company’s sales offices and approved distributors worldwide. Another group affiliate, Knudsen Køling, is a Danish company that specialises in the design and maintenance of turnkey refrigeration and CO2 systems and was a recent Epta acquisition having recently joined the group in 2015. George Barker is yet another famous Epta brand that is renowned for its wide knowledge in the manufacture of custommade refrigeration units and has been an important facet of the Epta Group since 1999.

Epta’s range of plug-in refrigerated cabinets are designed and produced by IARP. Then there is Eurocryer, which was founded in 1991 and epitomises the best in Italian style and design, with a focus on prestigious stores that value its unique and aesthetically pleasing designs.

Built-in hygiene

In addition to its on-going commitment to the environment, the company also sees the issue of food safety and hygiene as a major priority. The Epta Group enhances its manufacturing processes with its specially developed anti-bacterial treatments for traditional refrigeration units that use silver ions. With this system the units are treated during the extrusion and coating process, with internal components coated with a paint that exploits the properties of the silver ions.

In addition, Epta has also introduced a remote monitoring service for its customers which guarantees optimal ‘cold-chain efficiency’ in their stores, which significantly reduces their overall energy consumption.

For more details of the Epta Group’s innovative and unique range of products and services visit: www.eptarefrigeration.com