From the beginning of May, Bitzer will be the largest independent manufacturer in the shell-and-tube heat exchanger market worldwide. The contract between Bitzer Italia and Alfa Laval SpA was signed in Milan on 03 April .

Gianni Parlanti, chief sales and marketing officer said: “I am delighted to be able to welcome Alfa Laval’s shell-and-tube heat exchangers to the Bitzer family.”

The products taken over from Alfa Laval are designed for air-conditioning and refrigeration applications and will thus enlarge Bitzer's product offering. 

Mr Parlanti explained: “We are expanding our portfolio as the evaporator technology manufactured in Alonte complements our existing product range. With this operation, Bitzer is becoming the largest independent manufacturer in the shell-and-tube heat exchanger market worldwide.

“Our aim is to become the technology leader in this segment offering to market the latest solutions. To do this, we are building up a state-of-the-art laboratory with highly skilled personnel.

“This is an important step for Bitzer in its efforts to develop its heat exchanger and pressure vessel segment effectively.” 

With the acquisition of Alfa Laval’s shell-and-tube heat exchangers, Bitzer is set to gain more than 40 years of experience in the development of these components and is, at the same time, strategically complementing its own product lines.

Alfa Laval’s key strengths include decades of experience in dry expansion evaporators, flooded evaporators and condensers for fresh and seawater applications with a capacity of up to 2,000kW.