Mitsubishi Electric contributes to Hi-Lex Italy's path to sustainability

Hi-Lex Italy, part of Japan's Hi-Lex Group, a leading supplier of window lifters, door modules and control cables for the automotive industry, has chosen Mitsubishi Electric to start a sustainability path for totally green environmental and social development.

In Italy, Hi-Lex produces more than 10 million window lifters within a factory of more than 8,000 square meters where the components used in the production of window lifters are assembled, with a specialization and particularity in the supply of units for sports cars. Thanks to the excellence of the products manufactured, the Chiavari-based company supplies the world's leading automotive brands, which in recent years have been relying on increasingly virtuous partners.

To respond to a demand from the market, combined with the desire to start a path toward decarbonization of processes that will lead to Net Zero, Hi-Lex Italy relied on Tecnohabitat Impianti Srl of Chiavari and Genoa and Mitsubishi Electric products to replace the old heating system at the production site.

To obtain more space, ensure an ideal temperature inside the entire production area in a homogeneous way, and for greater safety, Hi-Lex Italy, started an important process that led to the replacement of the old heating system still running on fossil fuel. The need to manage temperature in such a large area, combined with the need to contain energy consumption, steered the company located in Chiavari toward the adoption of heat pumps from Mitsubishi Electric.

To bring the green renovation project to life, Hi-Lex Italy turned to Tecnohabitat Impianti Srl, a Mitsubishi Electric Qualified Installer based in Genoa and Chiavari, which was already servicing the cooling system for Hi-Lex Italy's offices for the company. Considering the client's initial needs, Tecnohabitat Impianti Srl designed and installed 4 heat pumps and 58 four-way indoor units, completing the replacement and subsequent testing of the system in 6 months, without ever stopping production facilities.

As stated by Hi-Lex Italy CEO Paolo Pajardi, "Compared to the old heating system, Mitsubishi Electric's units now allow us to achieve important results in terms of reducing energy consumption, amounting to about 15-20% less despite the current significant increase in energy costs, and thus containing CO₂ emissions and ensuring a climate condition that allows our workers to carry out their tasks in total comfort."

"Industrial areas such as these were built in times when the economy was different and where aspects such as energy conservation and environmental protection were not key issues. Therefore, to re-align Hi-Lex Italy's needs with current and future regulations, we proposed heat pumps from Mitsubishi Electric, high-performance systems that ensured quick installation and that the company's energy manager can manage in real time with a simple control panel," said Francesco Zampa of Tecnohabitat Impianti Srl.

They are also used in the industrial areas of the country.

Today Hi-Lex Italy has met all its initial requirements in terms of indoor comfort with an added benefit for the workforce, which also enjoys a perfectly cooled climate during summer periods. In addition, the company's surrounding environment also benefits from this renovation because in just one year of operation about 5 tons of oil equivalent have been saved thus enabling Hi-Lex Italy to significantly reduce its carbon footprint.