PERIbreeze ADF53 - Increased Air Flow=Happy Cows & Happy Cows=More Milk!

Published on Tue, 09/16/2014 - 5:09pm

To many Americans, Italy is a country defined by Italian style, stunning scenery, great food, fast cars and a rich cultural history. Termotecnica Pericoli is hoping to change that perception somewhat, at least among American dairymen. When you think Italian, they want fans to come to mind.Termotecnica Pericoli was established in 1967 and is still a family owned and operated business to this day. Started by entrepreneur Domenico Pericoli, the ‘Officina Termotecnica di Domenico Pericoli’ began by producing hot water boilers. Before long they were also producing heating, ventilation and cooling products and went from being just a well-known company in Italy to a well-respected company throughout Europe.
By the 1970s, Pericoli was designing and constructing products primarily for the agriculture industry. A focus on precision, experience and technical skills and innovation laid the foundation for what would eventually be a global corporation run by Domenico’s three children Mauro, Roberto and Grazia. Pericoli now encompasses three separate businesses: livestock, greenhouse and industrial products. The livestock and greenhouse divisions sprung up around the natural use and demand for their products and are their primary target sectors. Pericoli got into the industrial sector as a spinoff of their primary sectors; someone would see one of their livestock or greenhouse fans and buy it for industrial use. Pericoli also offered ventilation solutions, heating and cooling, and environment control for all three sectors.
Mauro, Roberto and Grazia bought the company from their father with the intent to take it to the next level. In 1993 the company took on the name by which it is recognized today, Termotecnica Pericoli S.r.l. Following a number of years of sustained growth and development the company succeeded in becoming one of the big four global players in their primary fields. As a strong, internationally recognized and respected brand image, the company’s core values and philosophy have not changed over nearly five decades. It remains: “Quality in every aspect of the business and at all times along with customer service, appreciation and respect.” This has been entrenched in the overall DNA of the company and the goal is to provide customers and the market place with products of the highest quality and performance specifications at the most cost-effective value.
Peter Acutt, an independent business development consultant has been retained by Termotecnica Pericoli, since the beginning of 2009 to assist them in the assessment of current sales and market policies with a view to the development and implementation of effective long term market and product strategies.
At the time the ownership/management was considering and taking the decision to embark on their first global expansion of company facilities outside of Italy, into Asia, it is worthy to note that Roberto (the Chairman) stated that “I do not want to go to Asia to just make another copy of our own product, we will have to manufacture and produce a product that is equal to or better than our Italian product, quality will always be our focus.” It was a major shift going from an Italian business to a global operation, but all the siblings put everything into it, to make it a success.
That dedication to success meant installing the exact same robotics that they use in their Italian factory. They were not focused on cheap labor or to produce a cheap product. Their standards are the highest for all of their manufacturing plants, which now number three with an additional expansion planned in the near future.
When deciding to enter the U.S. market they knew they wanted to bring their European heritage of quality and performance to a product with American specifications, to meet the demands of the American market.
Their latest product, the PERIbreeze ADF53, was actually designed specifically for the Americas. In fact, the ADF in the name stands for American Dairy Fan. This exciting new product will launch at the World Dairy Expo. Acutt knows the American market is an extremely competitive one, but he also knows that this product is one that can go toe-to-toe with the others on the market today. “The company has committed many resources to enter the U.S. market. There are half a dozen old, well-established and well-entrenched competitors. We plan to differentiate ourselves with superior service and support. We know it’s not an easy path, but we’re up for the challenges.”
Termotecnica Pericoli didn’t want to just sell an Italian product to American dairymen and farmers. “We’re proud of our Italian Heritage, but we set out to design a product that would best serve the American market. It meets the European standards, but it is a product developed for the Americas and it meets the American standards as well,” said Acutt. They realized that they had to have a product that was robust and practical and made just for America. They were also determined to build the product in the Americas with as many American-made parts as possible
They followed a similar business model with their earlier expansion into Asia. They built a plant in Malaysia that produced products every bit as good as what their Italian factories made some 7,000 miles away. The location served several purposes. It provided jobs to the local economy and also cut down on shipping and delivery times of products and enables the brand to compete with the local “reverse-engineered” Chinese products on more even terms without duties and trade restrictions. And if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, over 60% of the fans in China are now knock-offs of Termotecnica Pericoli models.
In order for their new PERIbreeze ADF53 to be as successful as possible in the American market, they wanted to make sure it qualified for the available energy rebate programs. Termotecnica Pericoli invested in a AMCA specification facility to make sure the fan met those standards during the R&D stage. The PERIbreeze was then independently and certified at Bess Labs of Illinois in June and not only met but exceeded the Focus-on-Energy (WI) specifications. This means customers who purchase the fans will be eligible for all energy rebates.
Entering the American market wasn’t a decision taken lightly or easily. Although some of their European built fans had been distributed in the U.S. in the past and are still in service, there had never been large-scale distribution with a Pericoli product tailored so precisely for the American market.
“We know it’s not an easy path but we’re up for the challenges. We think the PERIbreeze has great promise, based on its heritage and its quality and performance,” said Acutt of the fan that has already been successfully tested in the real world at a dairy facility in Wisconsin. “The fan is very well built. They produce ample air flow and we believe air flow during the summer months helps minimize production losses. They were easy to install and maintenance will be a breeze!” said Suzie Menzer who tested the PERIbreeze fans.
Over the past 47 years the company, has always been at the forefront of innovation and efficiency in its core fields of climate and environmental control and management of heating, cooling and ventilation equipment and systems for livestock buildings. The primary product line is their range of exhaust or extraction fans in both the box frame and cone fan range. A recent innovative development was the introduction of a 53" fan with a higher capacity (10%) and greatly improved (30%) efficiency than the previous 50” model with the unique feature of a 53" fan replacing the old fan without any structural alterations. The Pericoli box/extraction fans have two patented shutter operations: the EOS, a counter balance; and EWS centrifugal mechanism along with many additional features.
In addition to their primary line of extraction fans, the company has an extensive range of circulation fans for every ventilation application. The EOR and BKF range focuses on the optimal performance mix between high airflow and low energy consumption, which is perfectly suited for suspended applications. The new ADF53 fan adds to the scope of this range. It is simple, economical and energy efficient — the result of years of experience in open-area air circulation fans in dairy/cattle and inside large industrial buildings. In addition to this range is the ACF range of smaller circulation fans for calf and other facilities. To be successful in the American market, you have to not only “Americanize” products (since America uses a different power and measurement system than most of the world) but to understand American culture and what the consumer wants. Often Americans actually want fewer bells and whistles than consumers in other countries and they want technology that they already understand are and familiar with.
“I am personally very enthusiastic that the PERIbreeze fan will meet with good success,” said Acutt. Termotecnica Pericoli has put a tremendous amount of time, effort and resources into making a high-quality, long-lasting product. “For example, instead of bolting metal-to-metal, we make the PERIbreeze with rubberized PVC insert so there is no metal-to-metal which reduces wear, tear and vibration. It’s a very high-quality product.” The PERIbreeze with its six blade hi-tech alloy laser-generated and pressed propeller generates a high rate of air displacement while having a very low rate of absorbed power, resulting in a high-efficiency fan.
“We understand and appreciate the fact that we are entering a well-established and well serviced market but firmly believe there is room for a high quality product that is competitive,” said Mauro Pericoli.
The branding of their product line with the family name is a personal commitment to quality at all times and in all aspects of their business. The growth, development and vision of the company is focused on the employment of innovative technology in design, material uses and applications, production, administration and distribution.
Pericoli will be working with Agromatic Inc. of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin as a distributor of the new PERIbreeze ADF53 fan for the U.S. Dairy sector, under their own brand as the AGRO-BREEZE, Agromatic has a decade-long and well respected reputation for quality products backed by personal attention to detail and service — making the company an ideal partner for Pericoli. Their local knowledge and experience compliments the extensive global knowledge and experience in design, innovation and engineering that Pericoli brings to the market.
Agromatic will carry an inventory of the AGRO-BREEZE ADF53 products in Wisconsin, as well as provide spare parts and service for older products in the marketplace. They will also offer a full-service system design and specification to optimize a customer’s particular requirements and specifications, and undertake both installation and back-up service as required. They also have an extensive network of dealers throughout the U.S. and Canada, as Agromatic strives to supply farmers with high-quality equipment at an affordable price. Dean Birschbach, Agromatic Owner, commented on the association with Pericoli, “As in our mission statement, we strive to be at the forefront of technological advances and introduce that technology to the market only when it meets our rigid reliability and quality standards.” Birschbach is pleased to be able to offer this new Pericoli line.
As an Italian Original Design Manufacturer (ODM), Termotecnica Pericoli embraces the adoption of the most modern and technically advanced computer-aided design techniques, with the application of advanced high-tech materials and manufacturing methods, tools and systems. This includes utilizing computer-aided robots in the most modern and efficient facilities to ensure its core focus of innovation, quality and performance in every step of the process.
Termotecnica Pericoli has a high-tech philosophy that extends beyond just R&D, engineering and manufacturing. Their philosophy carries through to sales, marketing, administration and distribution ending up in total customer satisfaction and an enviable brand recognition and reputation. The ultimate outcome is performance which is the end result of both innovation and quality, and results in the delivery of equipment and systems that are both efficient and cost-effective in operation, durability and service. “No company can survive and thrive for 47 years without making a good product. We are excited to be able to offer our years of experience and expertise to the American market through a product designed just for them.”
The Termotecnica Pericoli brand is well-known and recognized for innovation, quality and performance in every facet of their business — from design and by an extensive worldwide network of distributors in the fields of agricultural and livestock environment control and management. “We believe in providing a great product at a fair price and providing the best possible service and support we can,” concluded Acutt. Termotecnica Pericoli has loyal customers around the globe now, and with their renewed dedication to the U.S. market and the PERIbreeze specially built and designed with American dairymen in mind, we are betting you too will become a fan of this Italian brand.
Termotecnica Pericoli is today a world-wide leader in its field of “ventilation management and control,” thanks to technology, hard work ethics and commitment to quality along with its partnership and co-operation with an extensive international sales network and a great number of long-standing customers. The company has official dealers in 38 countries, in addition to a number of global sales/distribution alliances as well as OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) manufacturing agreements with key International Livestock Equipment companies. Termotecnica Pericoli is supported by a dedicated team of employees both at home and in the marketplace.

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SIDEBAR

PERIbreeze
The overall robust design and engineering of the PERIbreeze (pressed orifice and tubular frame of heavy duty material) results in less vibration and friction while minimizing the weight of the fan for easy and simplicity of installation. The permanent/life lubricated double bearings, cast alloy housings and central location directly in line with the belt drive/load all contribute to reductions in energy losses and greater efficiency. The auto belt tensioner ensures optimum energy transfer during start-up and operation contributing to an extended and maintenance free service.
The PERIbreeze is available in a single size (diameter) with two motor capacities 1hp and 1.5hp in either single or three phase motors and can be either suspended or mounted traditionally on an L bracket which is robust and allows for adjustment in any plane. The fans can be supplied in either kit form for reduced freight and transport cost and are easy assembled on site, or they can be supplied fully assembled.

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