After a boom in 2007, in which the exports of the Made in Italy industry (air conditioners, heat pumps, industrial fans, independent conditioning units, central air conditioners, water cooling towers, thermal converters) increased by 15,7%; the export share has risen from 39 to 41%. Anima, the Italian federation for mechanical industry expects a further increase to 42% by the end of 2008. In terms of revenue the production value of the sector of air conditioning equipment and systems manufacturers increased in 2007 by 10.1% to 1.78 billion Euros. Last year exports reached 750 million. By the end of 2008 Anima estimates (www.anima-it.com) indicate a further increase in turnover and exports, +5.3% and +7.1% respectively. The number of people employed is stable at 7.500.

Therefore, the growth trend of Made in Italy manufacturing that has already lasted a number of years is continuing. The increase in production is sustained by a constant increase in exports, the result of a search for new markets for products abroad and the reinforcement of positions in countries where Made in Italy is already present. Even if in 2008 the air conditioning equipment and systems sector of industry should feel the effects of overall global economic difficulty, and difficulties associated to competition from countries outside of Europe, all the indicators should remain positive. Also, to face increasing foreign competition the manufacturers have already decided to increase investments, which are expected to increase to 70 million or 3.7% by the end of 2008.

There are numerous companies that operate in this sector. One of the brands with the highest level of visibility is undoubtedly De Longhi, a company listed on the Milan stock exchange that is focused on four business lines, including heating, and air conditioning. The Group ended 2007 with an increase in turnover of 9.4% to 1,490.9 million euros and a gross operating margin of 145.4 million, an annual increase of 15.8%, equal to 9.7% of turnover (compared to 9.2% in 2006). Also, in the medium term De Longhi expects an annual increase of 5-10% in turnover and 1-2% of its Ebitda margin (the incidence of the gross operating margin compared to turnover).

Among the major Italian players in this sector of industry there is also the Riello Group, a historical brand present in the market since the twenties and now a world leader in the manufacturing of burners but also a protagonist at European level in the market for heating and air conditioning products and services. The Riello Group has nine manufacturing plants with 2 thousand employees, and it boasts a sales network that includes 14 International Companies and offices with customers in over 60 countries. In 2007 the Group had a turnover of 550 million (+3%) with a gross operating margin of 72 million (68 in 2006). The budget for 2008 shows a further increase in turnover in the order of 25-30 million.

Among the other important operators in the Made in Italy air conditioning system and equipment sector is the Clivet Group, a leading company in Europe in air conditioning systems for large and very crowded environments. The company was founded in 1990 in Feltre (Belluno). Clivet is specialised in high quality range air conditioners and units for the recuperation of air in large industrial systems, shopping centres and commercial outlets, office blocks, multiplex cinemas and hospitals. It has seven overseas branches.

Another leading player is Climaveneta, the largest manufacturer in the air conditioning sector of industry in Europe and the fifth largest in the world. It has a sales network that extends across all the continents, from Europe (35 markets) to America (seven markets), up to Asia and Oceania (17 markets), and Africa (12 markets). Climaveneta, which was founded in 1971, finished 2007 with a turnover of 230 million Euros and 24 million Euros of Ebitda. Of the five plants in the group, four are in Italy (all of them in the Veneto region) and one is abroad, in Shanghai. However, the one that boasts the biggest production area is the Chinese plant which covers 32 thousand square metres.

Aermec, which has its head office and plant in Bevilacqua (Verona), was founded in 1961 as Riello Condizionatori (Riello …), and changed its name in January 1998. Aermec currently employees circa 650 people and had a turnover of 170 million Euros in 2007. The development of the company articulated the development of Italian air conditioning products, opening the door to the air conditioning concept: Aermec is now among the leading Italian companies in the Italian and European air conditioning market. It has a high level of exports that represent 45% of its total turnover, while circa 55% of its turnover is obtained in the Italian market. The main markets for its products are in Europe and the Mediterranean basin. In particular in France and Germany Aermec distributes its products through companies it manages directly: since 1998 Aermec France has operated in the Rhône-Alpes; Aermec GmbH has operated in Bavaria in southern Germany since 2000. In February 2003 a partnership was formed between Aermec and Aiax for distribution to the United Kingdom through a directly managed branch.

Sabina is «small» but with a great tradition (it was founded in 1929). It is a company that employs 180 people and it is characterized by a strong propensity for exports: as well as its 45 sales agencies distributed in the Italian territory, it also boasts over 50 distributors in Europe, North America and the Middle East. In 2007 it had a turnover of circa 73 million Euros.