CMM Italy: energy upgrade and production comfort with heat pumps and photovoltaics
CMM Italy is a manufacturer of ball bearings, in business since the 1970s and now run by the second generation. The company has always invested in technology to keep its competitiveness and production quality. In recent years, alongside process innovation, CMM Italy has also strengthened its commitment to environmental sustainability and to better working conditions inside the plant. The choice of Templari heat pumps, combined with a photovoltaic system, is part of this path.
Mellaredo di Pianiga (VE)
European leader in thrust and ball bearings since 1977
Starting point
The need to work on the systems came from an unexpected event: a violent hailstorm damaged the roof of the plant. It became the occasion for a wider renovation of the building, including a rethink of the energy system.
The traditional gas system no longer met the company’s needs, in efficiency or in sustainability. Climate change also made it increasingly necessary to have not only effective heating but also adequate cooling, to guarantee good working conditions in summer.
Analysis and installed solution
After weighing the alternatives, the company decided to leave gas behind and adopt a heat pump system powered by renewable energy from a photovoltaic plant.
The chosen solution includes:
- 2 Kita Air air-to-air heat pumps of 39 kW each, with split indoor units, serving the production hall: heating in winter and cooling in summer for the production areas;
- 1 L33 air-to-water heat pump for the offices, for comfort and continuous operation in the administrative areas too.
A photovoltaic system was installed at the same time, to produce clean energy and reduce dependence on the grid.
The system also allows constant performance monitoring through an app, with a precise view of energy production, energy fed into the grid and the savings achieved.
Results
The new system brought concrete benefits on several levels:
- Better indoor comfort, in winter and in summer, with more stable and pleasant conditions than traditional systems or fans.
- Greater well-being for employees, who work in better climatic conditions, with a positive effect on productivity as well.
- Lower energy consumption and running costs, thanks to the combination of heat pumps and photovoltaics.
- Lower environmental impact, in line with the company’s sustainability goals and with energy production from renewable sources.
- Continuous performance monitoring, with real-time control of system efficiency and results.
For CMM Italy the project was not just a replacement of equipment: it was a real step towards a production model that is more efficient, more sustainable and more attentive to the quality of the working environment.
