Italian manufacturer to “co-locate” with Daikin

USA: In an unusual move, Italian heat exchanger manufacturer Provides Metalmeccanica Srl is to set up a manufacturing facility in Verona, Virginia, “co-located” with Daikin Applied.

Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe announced yesterday that Provides were to invest $6.1m to establish its first US manufacturing operation, Provides US Inc, in Augusta County.

“The company will co-locate with Daikin Applied in Verona in a 40,000ft² space,” the press release states.

The Daikin Applied facility is the company’s major US chiller factory. Acquired following the buy-out of McQuay in 2006, the factory has been in Verona for nearly 60 years.

Speaking about the announcement, governor McAuliffe said, “This project is a great example of what is possible when companies work to create opportunities for international suppliers in the US market and receive mutual benefit. Daikin Applied’s invaluable assistance offering Provides with space to launch its first US manufacturing operation made this announcement possible.”

Provides was established in 1968 but didn’t move into the air conditioning sector until 1991. It now manufactures dry expansion evaporators, condensers and flooded evaporators. Provides has its headquartered in Latina, near Rome, and has a plant in China. The new location in the United States will enable Provides to further grow its business and reduce product time to market for North and South American customers.

Describing the move, Provides ceo Franco Provenziani, stated “The ability to co-locate with Daikin gave us a significant business incentive to make this investment.”