We have been invited to the presentation of the new headquarters of Teco in Ravenna, world leader of the aquariums chillers. We were stunned.
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The event has lasted two days, one reserved to the presentation of a new line of products of which we will speak about in another article.
There have been invited all the main world distributors of the Teco brand of the aquarium line, included we of DaniReef as media partner, so we gladly spent those days with people who came from all over the world, among them the representatives of Australia, Unites States and India, just to name a few other than italian and european ones. Already from this list you can understand the great resonance of this company in the world.
First: Teco emphasized that the whole place was energy self-sufficient. In fact, on the roof have been installed solar panels of 65 Kw, able to completely face the energy needs of the whole headquarters. So it can almost shoot down the emissions into the environment. A great presentation for a green company.
The Aquaponic system
The importance of the eco-sustainability is recalled right from the entrance, were there is an aquaponic system, a complex system that combines aquaculture and hydroponic farming. Fish and plants that grow up inside a closed ecosystem in which the good bacteria convert the waste of the fish in food for the plants, helping in this way the purification of the water. This system is spectacular at sight, and even more if we also understand how it works. Even though we prefer “proper” aquariums, this peculiar system is very intriguing…
The History and the modern developements
Massimo, Teco’s director, and his staff tell us the history of the company, starting from the early 1988 with the very first samples of aquarium chillers, exhibited right at the entrance. Massimo underlines that the aquaristic part is the 30% of the total activity of the company, that we already knew. Their core business, in fact, focuses on professional refrigeration. During the years they applied the results of the research and development of the professional chillers, as well as their professionalism and capacity, on the aquarium chillers, customizing them basing on the requests. In this stays the greatness of Teco and its advantage over competitors.
The research done on the professional models, that have a very relevant impact on the market, allows to upgrade also the aquaristic field. If the company focused only on “domestic” chillers, it wouldn’t have the resources for its great research, and it also would have to direct its productivity only to one field. So by the experience, the know how, the research, the production lines are shared with the benefits of the aquarium industry.
The visit inside the Company
After a brief look at the offices we arrive at the production sector, the pulsing core of the company. There are different production lines able to make until 200 units a day. They show and describe the various phases of the assembling, from which we can appreciate the level of great quality. The materials are from a professional branch so suitable for a continuative and durable use during the years. For example, the titanium exchanger is corrosion proof and it guarantees great performances. The attention to the details can be seen also in each weld, or in the steps in which is created the void inside the machine before inserting the gas. Great attention is also destined to the security measures, in particular in the area where the gas is loaded: there are a lot of sensors and vacuum cleaners ready to get in action in case eventual dangerous leakages are found.
Each chiller has to be tested various times in order to prove their efficiency and control that there aren’t spills or defects. So they can offer to the clients an high quality product and we’re proud it’s totally a made in Italy product.
Then we pass through the wide warehouse in which are stocked the various compounds and the material ready to be send. We finish our visit in the research and development area, where they test new solutions and the capability of their machines.
We found very interesting the room where there is a chiller working for a long period at a temperature over 35° and high umidity in order to verify its real behavior. Maybe we’re never going to find these climatic conditions in our homes, but this care also speaks for the real value of this company.
The general impression given is of great order and cleanliness. Inside a recently build area we noticed wide common places for the employees. A real good impression even under this aspect, for a company that looks to the future with a very modern industry, equipped with every advanced technical details.
The second day they organized a short cultural visit of the major attractions of Ravenna, with a moment dedicated to the food and wine goodies. It obviously was well appreciated!
By partecipating at this event, we had the opportunity to visit the company, and to know both Teco and the other guests, that for the main part were interested in aquaristic like us. We shared opinions and met the trends of the sector all over the world.
We thank Teco for the opportunity we were given, we spent two wonderful days, we saw a lot of news (you’ll see good ones!), we met a lot of important people that constantly dedicate themselves to this hobby, and I’m referring in particular to those worldwide distributors. But what amazed us the most was visiting such a big company in its extramodern and sustainable structure that looks at the best quality and the safeness of its employees. We could also testify the great attention given to the products and the raw materials. And, as we have already said, we are proud and glad that all of this belongs to an Italian Company.
