Orlando, Fla. — Frigel Firenze SpA's May 3 acquisition of Green Box srl, announced just as NPE2018 opened in Orlando, broadens each auxiliary equipment company's access to market segments.
Frigel mostly sells to end users, and Green Box mostly sells to original equipment manufacturers, Frigel CEO Orindo Dorin said in an interview at NPE2018.
Planning for integration of Frigel and Green Box operations began about five months ago.
"Green Box lacks a processor sales network and is not accustomed to selling to end users," he said. "We can go two ways now" and pursue a wider market.
Green Box can provide Frigel with synergy and technical expertise, particularly in some basic thermodynamics.
"Having people with both kinds of thermodynamic knowledge will help. Building expertise takes a lot of time," Dorin said.
Green Box has a strong OEM sales network, said Al Fosco, marketing manager for Frigel North America Inc. in East Dundee, Ill.
There are many facets to a cooling system and identifying what a customer needs is critical, Fosco said.
"A new control system measures kilowatts over 60-minute periods," Fosco said.
In NPE2018's Bottle Zone, Green Box demonstrated a high-speed molded cap cooler displaying a Frigel logo, according to David Chiavinato, Green Box regional sales manager for North America.
Green Box has a long history with high-capacity cap coolers and has sold more than 1,000 units.
Green Box also has extensive experience with mold dehumidifiers and fast heating and cooling temperature control units.
Dorin said Frigel employs more than 300 globally and projects 2018 sales of 58 million euros ($69.6 million). Frigel has 20 employees in the U.S. and 33 sales representatives in North America.
Frigel added two employees recently and plans on hiring three more in engineering and machinery functions during 2018.
Dorin said Green Box employs 75 and has annual sales of about 16 million euros ($19.2 million).
Green Box Managing Director Franco Spiandorello and his daughter, General Manager Caterina Spiandorello, joined the Frigel management team and are Frigel minority equity owners.
In Italy, about 120 miles separate the Frigel headquarters in Scandicci, near Florence, and the Green Box facility in Piove di Sacco near Venice.
Through its Diamond Service learning center, Frigel provided NPE2018 attendees with self-guided interactive opportunities to see how a scientific approach to process cooling along with technical advances can optimize a processor's productivity, profitability and quality.
At NPE2018, 13 makers of primary and auxiliary injection molding equipment, tools, robots, hot runners and additives operated 31 Frigel-built units in their booths.
Meanwhile, in Noida, India, the new joint venture between Frigel and Matsui Technologies India Ltd. is leasing 40,000 square feet and initially tackling sales and engineering functions. Formation of the JV was announced in April.
The plan calls for the site to manufacture Frigel's Ecodry 3DK line of fluid coolers and Microgel RCS model water-cooled chillers/temperature control units.
"Within one year, the JV will employ 20 persons," Dorin said.
