The Hitema Chiller model CFTW.280: compact design with brazed plate evaporators and condensers.
(video: Hitema)
Mr. Maurizio Burba (General Manager for Hitema) explained who Hitema International is, the innovative technical solutions, the international network to satisfy their international customer with customized and their sustainably HVAC solutions.
HVAC industrial solutions history started 30 years ago
“Hitema International® has been created over 30 years ago from my father, Mr. Burba Ives, a person with great knowledge and experience of the HVAC and Process Refrigeration products and market. A person committed to work with method and with a mental attitude capable of “create”, build and always innovate” explains Maurizio Burba, General Manager of Hitema International. “This year we celebrate an important milestone for Hitema International®: the 30th years anniversary and we are so grateful for the current International market response to our products and our Brand”.
Great results in the pandemic situation, a guarantee for the international customers
Hitema International® is still growing – both in facilities and in people (despite the current pandemic situation). “We have just completed the construction of the last manufacturing plant, the 6th for us, with a total of more than 19.000 sqm of indoor space. We are now hiring new staff – we strongly believe in the importance of investing in young people, young minds capable of creating and thinking “out of the box”. We are grateful for the result achieved in 2020, which are the result of a great collaboration of our Team and our Partners”.
It is very important to point out that during the year 2020 Hitema International® has invested over 20% of their turnover to improve its products and services in the HVAC industrial solutions. The company sells their products on all continents, all over the world. They have recently expanded into Australia and New Zealand as well, and they are very proud of this important new achievement. The high quality achieved allows to export the products worldwide, in particular in the USA, Canada, Russia, Middle East and others countries, where Hitema International have developed some strong and strategic partnerships.
Three keywords to describe Hitema International: the first one is CUSTOMIZATION
“In my opinion there are three keywords/concept able to describe Hitema International®” Maurizio Burba starts: “The first keyword able to describe Hitema International® is without any doubt the word CUSTOMIZATION. Infact, we are able to offer to our customers a complete range of possibilities of customization, starting from the mainframe of the machines to the color, the refrigerant, as well as all the special requirements upon customers/projects demands”.
Hitema International® is an important italian reality, with a new renewed carpentry and laser machine department, made up of people and machines with quite different skills and knowledge, but always interconnected, able to quickly change the production and to increase the customization of semi-finished products using onboard the Hitema International® machines.
TRUST and CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT: keywords inside Hitema International
“The second keyword able to describe Hitema International® is TRUST” and Mr. Burba explains that “Hitema International® is really a trusted Partner for its customers. We have started our business as a small familiar reality more than 30 years ago, we have maintained a working approach based on trust and solid relationship with our Partners and on the reliability and high quality of our products”.
Their new Spare Parts and After Sales department offers a continuous support to the customers representing a real point of reference. This department manages the after-sales & spare parts service for all the units: every single request received by the Hitema International® Team is recorded in a “Diary”. It is associated with all the data of the machine but also the specific codes of the spare parts requested.
The function of the “Service Recovery” is that to record and catalog all the reports of problems and malfunctions received from our customers. The reports are managed through a procedure interconnected with the company management system: In this way our company has a real “thermometer” that constantly measures customer satisfaction.
“The third concept able to describe Hitema International® is CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT; about this keyword, Mr Burba says: “This is really the key concept of Hitema International® work philosophy. Continuous improvement allows us to always have a future-oriented approach, and to always give a better service to our customers”.
How important is innovation technology in your company?
“Innovation is essential for us. It is the key that allow us to play an important role in the market and that differentiates our Company from other market proposals. As I told you before, during the year 2020, Hitema International® has invested over 20% of the turnover to improve its products and services for customers more and more”.
How sustainable are the solutions proposed with your innovative industrial Chiller portfolio?
“This is another fundamental point for us: the sustainability and eco-friendly design of our products. I’m a father before I’m a businessman. I feel the responsibility of my behavior towards future generations. I strongly believe that the vision of a sustainable development is the right choice, respecting future generations,” continues Mr. Burba. “It is with this approach and considering the market demand and the new standards in force, that Hitema International® has expanded its Chiller portfolio with new Series, not only using eco-friendly refrigerants like HFO R1234ze, HFC with low GWP like R513A, R32, R454B, R449A and the natural fluid PROPANE (R290), but also developing the new TURBOCOR Series and new Series of Reversible Heat Pumps”.
Environmental sustainability and high energy efficiency are the main goals achieved by Hitema’s technical department during the development of their HVAC industrial solutions, in compliance with new regulations and with ethics towards the environment and the next generations.
In your opinion, what are the most interesting trends for the next two years?
“Considering the pandemic, which has had during last year and is having now a strong impact globally, I believe there will be an ever-stronger advance towards low environmental impact and eco-sustainable solutions. We have all understood the importance of a sustainable development and we are ready to support our customers with this new challenge as well” explained Maurizio Burba. “We are already able to provide these solutions, with dedicated customized production, for our projects. In addition, we are now developing new standard Series of Chillers with configuration and refrigerant specifically designed for low environmental impact solutions”.
What are the most important events to meet your customers? What is your actual strategy to be closer to your partners?
“Like everyone else, due to the current pandemic, we have had to cancel the participation in the exhibitions last year. I am thinking for example of the Chillventa exhibition in Nuremberg – Germany. However, we have continued to have an ongoing relationship – face to face – with our customers and partners thanks to the communication tools now available. We organize weekly videomeetings with our Dealers – using these tools we maintain an active relationship, we introduce the news of our products, we provide support when needed and we train new staff on our products” Mr. Burba concludes.
It is important for an international company as Hitema International to be constantly present to support their Partners with the HVAC industrial solutions. It is essential to achieve the goals together. For this reason they are always close to their customers in person or virtually. Hitema is already planning the events/fairs to attend next year.
