Valsir

Valsir was established in 1987 by the FONDITAL Group (the founder Company of the Group has produced aluminium radiators for 30 years) and completes the Group's range of products in the plumbing and heating sector. Valsir produces advanced systems for soil and waste and for heating and potable water in the Company's operating centres located in Vestone, Carpeneda and Casto, systems that are highly appreciated throughout the sector: a complete range of polypropylene pipes and fittings with quick-fit joints and high-density polyethylene electrofusion pipes and fittings; a broad and advanced range of in-wall and exposed cisterns (50 models); the modern Silere system, a range of pipes and fittings manufactured using sound absorbing material; the Pexal multi-layer pipe system, the pride of the Company that represents one of the most complete ranges in the world, with the relative fittings; a wide selection of traps and specific equipment; and finally, the new floor heating system. Economic growth, technological development and a strong dedication to quality are all fundamental aspects of Valsir's industrial policy. The distinguishing features that characterise the Company's roots and provide it with a solid and clear identity can be verified in the services provided and may be identified as follows: Quality Valsir was one of the first companies internationally to be awarded, in March 2001, with the ISO 9001:2000 certification, by the DNV certification Entity, confirmation of its constant commitment to improve the product and the services offered to the Customer. The Company's commitment to Quality is found in the growing investments made year after year in laboratory equipment and training (more than 30,000 hours in 2001), and product certification. OVER 135 PRODUCT APPROVALS obtained in European and non-European countries. On average Valsir invested, in 2001, more than 1% of company turnover in quality control, representing more than ' 500,000, compared to total investments that exceed 14% of turnover. More than 5% of the employees work on a full-time basis in quality control of Valsir products. Among these, five employees work directly in the modern central Laboratory, while the other employees work in the production departments. Five are employed in after-sales service and intervene indifferently on the full Valsir range, both in Italy and abroad. Research and Development Valsir has always been engaged in intensive research work during the fifteen years of the Company's business activities and its endeavours in this field have given rise to six different and complete product ranges with more than six thousand items (the flushing cisterns alone comprise no less than forty models) and more than twenty European patents. The work is performed by a team of workers using well-equipped laboratories to prepare prototypes and test new products, which are subjected to tests that greatly exceed the levels normally prescribed by the various certification Institutes. In fact, all Valsir products are covered by a ten-year warranty, thanks to the Company's Research and Development activities - a further indication of reliability and trust for plumbers, specifiers and end-users alike. Engineering The Company's technological development is also based on the in-depth knowledge of the processes and of the machinery it manages, hence the ability to design and frequently construct the systems. The Engineering Department focuses on designing the system components conceived precisely thanks to the internal experience gained, but in particular to design the production moulds. This activity is particularly important because it enables all the intrinsic corporate know-how to be pooled at the most delicate time of the production process, which is the engineering phase. The operators utilise a modern three-dimensional solid modelling system with which the principle features of the piece can be assessed, such as the weight, volume, cost, and even the aesthetic aspect, where necessary, as well as the correct design of the kinetic motions, but also (partially) their mechanical resistance. Project realisation The Mechanical Department is capable of completing the projects, by importing the mathematical model directly from the Cad-Cam system and transferring the model to the numerical control machine tools. The Department focuses on the maintenance operations of the various production plants, in addition to the construction, and above all, on overhauling the moulds; this operation is particularly important to ensure consistent product quality. Commercial Network Valsir has more than four thousand items and accessories, and the Company has a widespread Commercial and Distribution Network which also covers South America, the Middle East, Oceania and Japan, as well as Europe, continuously supplying more than one thousand two hundred customers in Italy and more than four hundred abroad. The constant attention paid to the Customer is pursued in all of the Company's sectors and the procedures, as detailed in the Quality Manual, establish the on-going assessment of the "level of customer satisfaction". This takes the form of product quality and reliability, item availability in the warehouse, and therefore, rapid deliveries, prompt technical support, training for installation technicians and users in general.