termoidraulica
idraulica
index
irrigazione
giardinaggio
Our history
6/7
Our vision, our mission
8/9
Design & prototipyng
10/11
Moulding & extrusion
12/13
Material testing laboratory
14/15
Stock and packaging area
16/17
Absolutely made in italy
18/19
Fittings
20/21
Flanged system
22
Alfarapid system
23
PPR pipes and fittings
24
Pex Al Pex Multilayer system
25
Valvevolution
26/27
Gardening, Irrigation and filtration
28/29
Certification
30
Head Office - Entrance
welcome to PLASTICA ALFA
Mario Pace - General Manager
our history 1975-1983 Mario Pace (the present General Manager) and Francesco Nobile establish “Studio Alfa Irrigazione”, a company intended for the design and the realization of irrigation systems. This experience soon evolves in Plastica Alfa S.r.l. a manufacturing company of pipe fittings to support Studio Alfa Irrigazione: working with just two moulding presses the production of Alfa Jo drippers and barbed fittings begins. 1985 The company exhibit for the first time to the international trade show, Eima in Bologna: from this year on, our presence to the international trade shows becomes a strategic moment for the presentation of new products and the confrontation with the other companies. 1987 The first line of plastic cylinder valves and ball valves for irrigation is born. Thanks to these items the company enters the foreign market. 1989-1990 The company widens its production to a new field: thermo-hydraulics, with a line of pipe and fittings in polypropylene random (PPR): the Alfaidro system is born. 1991-1992 the project for the first compression fittings line takes shape: the BluLine enters the market quickly becoming a fundamental support for hydraulics and irrigation. 1994 Plastica Alfa obtains the Quality Management System Certificate: it is one of the first companies to endow a control system of all the internal production processes. 1995 The second compression fittings line is projected and realized: BLACK line, specifically intended for irrigation. 1996-1998 Plastica Alfa strengthen its irrigation production: drip line fittings and tape fittings are born, both lines are characterized by a high level of flexibility in the installation. 1999-2000 A two year period of flurry production: Venturi ALFA injectors, Valve Boxes, Disk Filters line, all these products are improved and completed with all the measures in the following years, becoming popular in the foreign market.
2000 The company obtains the Certification for the Environmental Management System fulfilling the requirements of the UNI EN ISO 14001 standard. 2000-2001 The production department and the workshop move to the new factory covering an area of 6.000 m2. The company invests in new technologies, introducing CAD (Computer Aided Design) CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) system. During the following years other computer numerical controlled tools are employed (CNC workstations, milling machines, electron discharge lathes). 2001The third compression fittings line is born, Blu Line PLUS, characterized by an innovative design, quick joint system and high performances (PN16). The Quality System improves, fulfilling the new requirements of UNI EN ISO “VISION” 9000:2000 standard. 2002 The company acquires a factory for the production of PE, PPR and spiral pipes. 2003 The administrative offices move to the new premises covering an area of 16.700 m2, thus counting 32.000 m2 in total together with the existing factories. 2004-2006 Our first PPR valve with metal ball is born: the Valvevolution range is widened in a short time with the threaded version in PPGF (Polypropylene with Fiberglass), flanged and Victaulic connections for irrigation, hydraulics, food & beverage industry. 2007 Plastica Alfa together with Valvevolution and Blu Line PLUS brands, fruits of the company's creative ideas, become copyrighted trademarks. 2008 The company widens its products range with MULTYPEXALFA: the new Pex-Al-Pex multilayer pipe and a line of brass nickel plated Press Fittings. We are now working on a new Push Fittings line in Polyphenylsulfone (PPSF).
6/7
Head Office - Meeting room
our vision Differences are wealth, different habits of living and working are occasions of exchange of views and of integration, stimulus for mutual improvement: keeping this in mind, we develop products suitable to the most different operating conditions, designed to meet very heterogeneous but compatible needs. Multipurpose and versatile items, flexible production lines and a young and open-minded staff represent the strategic variables enabling us to accept the challenge of globalization.
our mission Developing functional products of Italian high quality for the global market, making the innovation of materials and manufacturing process the real competitive stimulus, combining the product offer with service and customer care, and finally investing our energy in the research and development of an integrated product range suitable for many different applications: these are the foundations of our growth during the time. It is exactly what we mean by our motto enjoying innovation: our constant aim to give our customers all the advantages of a flexible, open and innovative company projected towards the global markets. 8/9
design & prototyping Are the most important steps of our production iter. The first phase is the planning: the Technical and the Sales Staff work out the most suitable solutions to answer the market trend. This is made possible through a continuous exchange of informations and a deep analysis of the prospects of the market growth in order to supply products in line with the customers' needs and demands. The second phase of the process, the design itself, consists in designing the piece and then simulating its functioning. In order to do this, the company make use of its staff's skill and experience supported by technological resources such as Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided Engineering (CAE). Great attention is paid to the European Standards to comply with and the end user is granted a total conformity with them.
10/11
The third phase is of fundamental importance since it consists in designing and manufacturing the moulds: Plastica Alfa products are all made with moulds designed by our Technical Staff and manufactured in our Workshop where the personal skills are supported by the Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) system. The last phase is related to prototyping: during this phase the technicians verify the conformity of the prototype with the design and the right functioning of the piece through various performance tests Our workshop covers a 1000 m2 area and it is equipped with CNC machining centres, 3 spark erosion machines, 4 automatic and semiautomatic lathes, 3 milling machines, 2 horizontal spindle grinding machines, 2 metal-cutting belt sawing machines.
moulding & extrusion In our production departments plastics are transformed using injection moulding machines and extruders. The injection moulding area covers a 4000 m2 area and it is equipped with 34 injection moulding presses of different tonnage, from 90 up to 830 tons continuously processing more than 2400 ton/year raw material.
12/13
The extrusion area covers a 6000 m2 area and consists of different production lines: 6 extrusion lines for polyethylene and polypropylene pipes, 2 lines for corrugated pipes (Bauku) and 1 line for Multilayer pipes (PEX-AL-PEX).
tests on materials and products The laboratory is provided with the most up-to-date equipment to test raw materials and finished products: dynamometer, pressurization system including 2 tanks, one thermostatic, and 1 oven, computerized system for the determination of capacity and pressure drop, manual press for test pieces, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), pendulum, plastometer (MFI), analytical balance, fume hood, microscope and Vicat machine
14/15
TEST S CARRIED OUT IN OUR LABORATORY
Tests on raw materials Determination of melt flow index; Determination of density; Determination of melting heat and temperature; Determination of oxidation induction time (OIT); Determination of resistance to tensile stress and compression; Determination of resistance to Izod and Charpy impact strength;
Tests on finished products Determination of resistance to internal pressure Determination of resistance to internal under pressure Determination of pressure drop Determination of resistance to tensile stress and compression Determination of Izod and Charpy impact strength Determination of melt flow index Determination of density Determination of melting heat and temperature Determination of oxidation induction time
stock and packing area The assembly and packaging dept. covers a 1.000 m2 area and it is equipped with 3 packaging machines ensuring the correct packaging and storage of our products. The warehouse covers a 10.000 m2 area indoor and 20.000 m2 area outdoor. It is the area intended for the storage of components, finished and semi finished products, including an area for the storage of the goods ready to be dispatched. The computerized management of the warehouse allow us to know immediately the products availability and intervene promptly to keep the minimum stock.
16/17
18/19
absolutely made in italy Made in Italy in not only a label: by our side it implies the whole product life starting from the conceiving to the designing and manufacturing. All the productive phases are carried out in house as to supply items totally integrated in our philosophy of high quality and exclusive features making the “made in Italy� a value appreciated worldwide. We’re proud to sell in 80 Countries around the world, this means, for us, to contribute to spread out the Italian way of high level manifacturing.
italian sales
marketing dpt
export dpt
fittings One of the main fields of activity is the manufacture of different types of fittings; our core business includes eventually many different types of products making our activity competitive and winning on the international scale The range of Compression fittings includes 3 lines of products: Blackline, Bluline and Bluline Plus, differing for technical characteristics and performances.
Blu Line Plus Compression fittings
20/21
Clamp saddles
Threaded fittings
Blu Line Compression fittings
flanged system
The successful line of Plastica Alfa flanged system (currently composed of fittings and valves from ø50 x 1”½ to ø 125 x 5”) has been recently widened with the new tee and elbow in diameter range that goes from 63 to 110, guaranteeing the vocation to innovation of our company, one of the few in the world to have the products its range. Particular care has been paid to the creation of the flange size of ø 6” to complete the range that goes from 1”½ up to 5”.
Flanged System
22/23
alfarapid system
The range of ALFARAPID fittings includes clamp joints, couplings, threaded fittings, socket and buttwelding, reducers, elbows and tees from 1”½ to 5”. The system, suitable for grooved pipes, can be used in irrigation, hydraulics and thermo-hydraulics. The fittings are manufactured in PE, PPR and PAGF for the different applications; thanks to the completeness of the range, it is possible to carry out installations easily with a remarkable saving of time compared to traditional systems.
Alfarapid System Alfarapid System
PP-R system Alfaidro finds great exploitation in some specific applications: hot and cold water supply in civil and public building, industrial systems for the supply of calcareous water, oils, highly corrosive liquids and food liquids, underfloor heating systems, thanks to PPR high flexibility and the possibility of covering the system with cement, radiator systems, where it is necessary to estimate the thermal expansion, compressed air systems, means of transport (ships, planes, caravans, etc.), where chemical resistance to brackish water, lightness and capacity of absorption of means in motion vibrations are of fundamental importance.
Alfaidro System
24/25
multilayer system MULTYPEXALFA is an integrated system in PEX-AL-PEX (cross linked polyethylene coextruded with an aluminium layer) designed for various applications: traditional heating systems, floor heating, water supply, sanitary and cooling systems. The strength of MULTYPEXALFA lies in its extreme simple use, long duration and safety of the system.
universal multilayer system
Multypexalfa
valvevolution Since their introduction within the circuits of water conveyance, the ball valves have represented an important innovation. A new method of closing the ducts of interception was born: the role of gate was played for the first time by a drilled sphere rotating around an orthogonal axis. This new type of valves has covered the fundamental function of lines connection and control showing immediately its advantages: flexible use, good seal under strong pressures, facility of operation, scarce usury in the time, low loss of load. Exactly in this evolutionary view, the new line of compact valves ValvEvolution wanted by Plastica Alfa takes its place within the technological reconnaissances for the improvement of the products offered to the market. It is a line of one piece body valves: the entirely plastic body, without welding in order to avoid critical crack points, is built through an only procedure of fusion and injection moulding rigorously checked. The invulnerability of this product is strengthened by its resistance to corrosion, mechanical stress, formation of calcareous deposits, typical characteristics of the plastic body. Ice series
26/27
PP-R Socket Valves
Threaded M-F valves
Threaded F-F valves- large diameters
gardening, irrigation & filtration Irrigation is the main sector of the first part of Plastica Alfa life: in fact the dripper “Alfa Jo” was absolutely the first product made by the company. Then many others products came to complete and widen the range that nowadays comprehends also many solutions for localized irrigation, greenhouse cooling, drop irrigation and micro-irrigation. Among the drippers the auto-compensation ones have particularly importance together with foggers and turning sprinklers. The range of barbed fittings is one of the most complete in the world (from the diameter of 16 to 90) and is now endowed with the coupling for lay-flat (2”, 3” and 4”). In the Garden section there are many solutions for the creation and the maintenance of the garden: the valve box, that is a fundamental accessory for the garden irrigation plant, available in different size and reinforced materials (PPGF), the pup-up sprinklers now also with raiser, the electric valves and the quickjoint fittings…
Drippers and sprinklers
28/29
Venturi injector
The filtration and fertigation fields are two of the most important areas for the application of Plastica Alfa R&D achievements: the first group of products includes numerous type of filters, disk or screen and self cleaning, in different sizes with the possibility of being used in filtering banks, the second group is referred to the fertigation system with the use of injectors (Venturi like) for proportional mixing of fertilizer fluid and water, fundamental for extensive irrigation and crops maintenance.
Valve boxes
Disk filter
certification Since a long time our focal point is the Quality Management, intended not only as a system of international standards, ISO 9001 and 14001 according to which we work and arrange production, but above all as a system of reference that guarantees our commitment for a continuous improvement. In 1994 we won the bet of the Quality Certification with this spirit: make it a competitive arm so as to assure our clients of the maximum transparency and responsibility in the production, procurement and logistic process. We have made this tangible thanks to a careful Policy for Quality and respect of the Environment besides sure procedures of product tracking. All Plastica Alfa products are wholly MADE IN ITALY: designed, built, tested and assembled with Italian materials and methods only.
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photos: Giovanni Canfailla composition & graphics: Giuseppe Moschella conceiving and editing: Josephine Pace e Miriam Pace translations: Elios Nobile
Plastica Alfa Zona Industriale C.da Balchino . P.O. BOX 121 - 95041 Caltagirone (CT) Italy Tel. +39.0933.51973 - Fax. +39.0933.53049 - e.mail: info@plasticalfa.it