Tyco Flow Control expands valve plant in Italy

Tyco Flow Control, a segment of Tyco International, announced the finalization of a four-phase plan to expand its Vanessa valve plant in Lugagnano Val d’Arda, Italy. When completed, the expansion will grow the facility from 30,000 to 50,000 square meters. Vanessa valves are used in the oil and gas, power generation, chemical and petrochemical industries to achieve fire-safe, zero-leakage shut-off over a range of temperatures from minus-254 degrees to plus-815 degrees Celsius.

Phase one of the expansion which included an additional test facility and assembly area for larger valves was completed in September 2007 while phase two, due for completion at the end of January 2008, will see an additional 1,800 square meters of warehouse space and 410 square meters of office space added to the facility and the machine shop will be expanded on the existing site. A new road is being constructed to the rear of the site and phase three will expand the manufacturing area by 900 square meters and join the previously separate sections of the phase one areas. A deadline of late May 2008 is set for completion.

The final stage of expansion will see the addition of a further 2,000 square meters by February 2009 bringing the total additional area of the new site to 15,000 square meters, 7,000 of which will be covered. As a result, the total plant area by the end of the project will be 50,000 square meters.

Acquired by Tyco in 1997, Vanessa has pioneered the metal-seated, zero-leakage, rotary process valve since 1975. With a worldwide reputation for design excellence, the plant in Lugagnano Val d’Arda, Italy, about an hour and a half’s drive south of Milan, has continued to grow and evolve since then. The total workforce currently numbers around 190 people and is set to increase to 220.

Vice president and managing director of Tyco Valves and Controls, Italia, Antonio Cafaro said, “This investment is an indication of how our business continues to grow worldwide and an example of our commitment to supplying high quality products to our global customer base. Vanessa’s strong commitment to operational excellence is essential as we expand both our facility and our ability to meet the demands of our customers.”

Vanessa’s application of flow manufacturing and its investment in modern technology has been consistent over the years, as evidenced by several official certifications. The most notable have been the achievement of ISO 9001 in 1992, ISO 14001 (environmental management system) in 2002 and most recently OHSAS 18001 (occupational health and safety management systems) in 2006.

Cafaro went on to say that Vanessa will also be investing in its human resources as well. “Identifying and promoting talent within the company has been vital to achieving our goals and making the Vanessa brand the success that it is today. We foster a climate of continued professional development,” he said. “This type of investment is every bit as important as our investment in our plant and equipment.”