A success story: Castello Italia S.p.A. Photovoltaic system…and more!

Castello Italia S.p.A. was born in Casalmorano (Cremona, Italy) in the 1960s as one of the first companies in Italy specialized in the production of plastic pipes.

In the last decade, after a series of investments that began in the 2000s, the company achieved important commercial goals, also penetrating the automotive sector.

In a short time, it established itself as a qualified supplier in the industrial automation and low pressure fluids market for the production of plastic tubes and spirals in polyamide and polyurethane.

It is part of the French ARaymond group, which is owned by the Raymond family, a world leader in special fittings and various components for the automotive sector.
In recent years the number of employees has doubled as has the turnover which stands at around 30 million.

 

 

Castello Italia S.p.A. figure among the 600 Italian companies which, with an aggregate turnover of 14.7 billion euros in 2022 and almost 30 thousand jobs created, have driven the country’s development in 5 strategic sectors:

> Industrial products

> Technology

> Sales & marketing

> Food

> Services & consultancy

This is the cross-section that emerges from the fourth edition of the survey “Campioni della Crescita” of the German Institute ITQF: the prestigious project, born in partnership with La Repubblica Affari&Finanza, photographs after a careful selection the list of the companies that are the driving forces of the economic recovery of the our country.

 

Castello Italia was included among the 100 Italian Excellences of 2021.

 

Castello Italia has been recognized for its ability on the international market, both automotive and industrial, to combine its profound knowledge of extrusion techniques, in which it is a pioneer in Europe, with its continuous attention to innovation.

The extreme technological competence, the strong impulse to research new solutions and materials and the deep attention to people and customer satisfaction, have made it possible to achieve this goal, which represents a further stimulus for the future of the Cremona-based company.

The credit for this, of a united and close-knit team, goes to the CEO Dr. Pierluigi Testa.

In September 2022, Inveco Holding S.p.A. contracted with Castello Italia a photovoltaic system on the roof of the factory with 600 kW of power.

The installation involved the positioning of 1116 Jinko Solar Tiger Pro 72HC 540 W panels on the roof and inverter machines in a special dedicated Sofar 100 KTL room for AC power. equal to 500 kW.

The Inveco project was submitted to the approval and validation of the insurance company FM Global, which follows the risk management aspects for Castello Italia by combining investments in prevention and protection with insurance transfer.

 

 

The construction site opened at the end of October 2022 and was completed on schedule on January 24, 2023 with the connection of E – Distribuzione.

 

 

The estimated producibility is approximately 657 thousand KWh per year, corresponding to approximately 1091 equivalent hours per day.

In the latest GSE statistical report on photovoltaic solar, released on April 23, in Lombardy an average of 1017 equivalent hours per day is estimated in systems built on roofs.

 

 

From the date of connection to the same day of November 24.11, 10 months later, the plant produced 633.5 thousand kWh, in line with expected production.

With the months of December and January it is easy to assume that we will cross the finish line of the entire annual expected production for a total of 1100 equivalent hours of expected production and 660 thousand KWh of production.

Of the energy produced, over 70% was self-consumed by the company itself while the remaining part was fed into the grid.

Current photovoltaic production covers approximately 30% of the company’s energy needs.

The return on investment times, with an average energy cost of 20 cents/KWh, are approximately 5.5 years.

Just in these days, in “Il Corriere della sera” of 11.12.23 in the L’Economia newsletters an article by Federico Fubini appeared entitled ‘Energy, Italy last in prices: China brings them down (but it’s an ecological bomb) ‘ where the persistence of very high energy supply costs in Italy is underlined.

 

 

Inveco Holding S.p.A. as general contractor he participated in the design of the expansion of the Casalmorano headquarters in the meantime, coordinating a team of professionals together with the architect.

Giuseppina Bisicchia of the FBAA studio which allowed the building permit to be obtained from the municipality of Casalmorano.

The expansion of the offices for a total of 1250 m2 on two floors allows for a better allocation of resources, the expansion of the operating staff changing rooms, the expansion of the common areas, the expansion of the canteen as well as the meeting rooms.

The internal division is provided with internal glass dividers and modular structures to allow maximum flexibility.

In recent months Inveco Holding S.p.A. since September 2023 he has managed the urbanization works of an external area for Castello Italia to be used as a car park for a total of approximately 1250 m2 which has allowed Castello Italia to increase the internal parking spaces by approximately 40 units and to have a second access to the external municipal road to allow better internal traffic even for heavy vehicles.

 

 

 

The last work of these days, still as general contractor, Inveco Holding has coordinated with the suppliers for Castello Italia the renovation of the resin finish of an industrial floor of an area of 1300 m2 previously used as a warehouse which has been converted into a production activity.

 

 

 

The next stages of this fruitful meeting between the realities of Castello Italia S.p.A. and Inveco Holding S.p.A. have already started.

Together we are evaluating the expansion of the photovoltaic system to increase its energy autonomy (currently around 30% of consumption) with the simultaneous creation of a storage system for industrial activity.

 

 

But you can bet we will talk about this and much more in the next focuses!

In-depth analysis by Eng. Matteo Pierotti – PROJECT MANAGER.