Vortice "Air is our life"
Italian corporation Vortice proudly looks back on over 60 years of experience and successful production of ventilation and heating units. Ever since the company was founded in 1954 it constantly worked on expanding the range of products. Today, Vortice is one of the global leaders when it comes to ventilation, being active on more than 90 countries. The brand is well-known for reliability, functionality and design.
A fan made by Vortice not only adds convenience to your home, but also Italian product design that has been awarded several prize.
Contents:
Brief overview Vortice
Products and design
Era Attilio Pagani (1929 – 2010)
Industry 4.0 under Stefano Guantieri
Brief overview Vortice
The Vortice company was founded in 1954 by Attilio Pagani in a modest basement in Milano, Italy. His first invention was a kitchen exhaust hood which received an honorary prize the very same year for its outstanding design. On top of high quality standards Vortice also emphasizes appealing design.
The Vortice range comprises energy-efficient ventilation systems, heat recovery units along with accessories for industrial, commercial and domestic application. The company offers a wide range of goods, meaning customers will find many different Vortice products for a variety of requirements.
Benefits for Vortice customers
- distinguished Italian design
- long-standing experience with the manufacturing process
- sustainability, some items can be recycled completely
- products adapted for industrial application, e.g. electric protection classes
- long, trouble-free service life
- high-performance products that are easy to install
- suitable for all areas of homes or professional environments
Mr. A. Pagani remained president of the company until his death in 2010. By then, the expanding company had already opened subsidiaries in France (1974) and Great Britain (1977). Shareholder Carlo L.E. Pagani succeeded the former president, opening offices in Costa Rica and China (both 2012). Together with the CEO S. Guantieri opened the business for contemporary structures. Guantieri advocates direct communication between everyone and makes the company more approachable to customers on different social media platforms. For example, you can check out the Vortice YouTube channel and watch the Milanese staff at work.
Vario window fan
The most popular Vortice items in our creoven store are the Nordik ceiling fans, Vario window fans, and roof-mounted fans.
The Vortice head quarters remain in Northern Italian Milano. Technical development and market research are done here, however the location was moved from the busy city centre to a nearby business park.
Products and design
The Italian cuisine has given us a variety of delicious dishes, but it is also what gave Pagani the idea for his invention. A hot saucepan emitting fumes and smells inspired him to create the “Vortice” exhaust hood, the word Vortice meaning vortex in Italian. Pagani fashioned the fume hood from artificial resin. The material was invented only a few years before and allowed for a smooth surface and easy shaping.
The commercial use of artificial resin saw an enormous rise in the 1950s. This new plastic material would be the identifying feature for an innovative product. It could be formed easily, was colour, cheap, lightweight and durable.
The “Vortice” fume hood would go on to lend its name to the company. The patent for the hood was granted around noon on 23rd of December in 1954. This early Christmas gift must have been a wonderful surprise and good omen for Mr. Pagani and the future of his business. Shortly after his aspirator won the industrial award Compasso d’Oro (English: golden circle). The prize has been awarded since 1954 and is one of the oldest and most distinguished design prizes.
1955 a desk fan made from plastic and brass was introduced. The item is reminiscent of the prevalent atomic age design. It reflects Pagani’s interest in world affairs. Only in 1951, six years after the destructive atomic bombs used in the Second World War atoms could be made visible under microscopes. For reference, construction of the famous Atomium in Brussels started in 1957.
Attilio Pagani created the company’s first logo which was immortalized on products and in advertisements
One of the most important traditions of Vortice is to cooperate with renowned architects and designers to create products. Milestones of product development are exhibited in important museums around the world, for example the famous MOMA in New York. Today Vortice have their own designers, securing high standards for appealing fans and more.
Famous Vortice designers:
The most well-known Vortice creator was Marco Zanuso. The architect, urban planner and designer invented the famous red Ariante fan in 1975. Richard Sapper designed the kitchen exhaust hood Polivalente in 1972 which resembles a snail’s house.
Francesco Trabucco oversaw the CasaTherm and Vario ranges and usually worked in a team with his colleague M. Vecchi. Together they created the NORDIK ceiling fans and the Gordon series (2002).
The Ariante today:
Introduction of the low pressure axial-flow wall fan Vortice E Series in 2016
Vortice range for domestic, professional and industrial application:
- Residential ventilation with air supply and extraction through various fans and fume hoods
- Cooling in summer with ceiling fans, pedestal fans, ground and desk fans as well as ventilation units
- Washroom equipment, e.g. hand dryers, automatic soap dispensers and hair dryers
- Ventilation units for commercial and industrial areas (centralized, decentralized, centrifugal, EX rating)
- Heaters for indoors and outdoors
- Improving air with filters, dehumidifiers
- Wet and dry vacuum cleaners
Era Attilio Pagani (1929 – 2010)
Mr. Attilio Pagani
Italian Attilio Pagani was born in 1929 and began his career at only 16 years old. In 1935 he began working in his father’s metal business. It was located in the Viale Montenero, one of the central ring roads in Milano. The prevalent fascism under Mussolini was unable to put a halt to the young man’s fantasy. In fact, he began developing ceramic tiles for simple kitchens.
Milano suffered heavy destruction during the Second World War. On the manufacturer’s website you can see a black and white photo of the street along with the building in 1954 where you can see the reconstruction during the post-war era. It was in this year that 25-year old Attilio would go on to establish his own company.
It has been said that Attilio Pagani was a man interested in culture, collecting art and design objects. He was an avid reader who was interested in historic backgrounds and biographies of the authors. Pagani supported the education of his employees with various courses but was very strict when it came to punctuality. He called himself a man of numbers, of products. Even if he occasionally handed designing over to others, he liked being involved in the brainstorming, for example the Ariante 30 floor fan.
In the 1960s the product range was expanded: In 1962 a factory with a size of 6000 square meters was erected near Milano. The kitchen hood Magicfilter with an integrated carbon filter was developed in 1963. The use of this material in residential homes was a revolutionary move. Further developments included electrostatic filters and germicidal lamps. The demand for these high-quality goods was so high that subsidiaries were opened in France and the UK soon after. The TDA Nordik ceiling fan were one of the most important developments along with vacuum cleaners which still have high market shares.
Timeline of Vortice’s most important product designs
1955 fume hood Vortice
1955 Atomium desk fan
1963 exhaust hood Magicfilter (first in Europe, one of the first worldwide)
1975 Ariante fan
1978 air purifier
1978 Nordik ceiling fans
1980 portable fan heater
1998 air-conditioning unit
1999 hair dryers, hand dryers, soap dispensers
2000 dehumidifiers, bathroom fans
2006 vacuum cleaners
In order to live up to the demand, the business implements modern technology, continuous research and extensive service. Vortice not only deals with air conditioning, but also deals with its employees, customers and installers on a global scale. The company creed “We work to promote life quality” is manifested in the constant efforts to achieve full customer satisfaction. The wide variety of goods also includes solutions to conserve the building structure on top of ventilation units for residential homes. Improving the quality of the breathing air and indoor climate is only one part of the Vortice range, they also offer solutions to prevent mould and damage due to dampness.
Industry 4.0 under Stefano Guantieri
The internal structure of the company changed little since the 1970s. Despite important offices around the world, Vortice was concentrated heavily on the Italian market and shaped greatly by the Pagani’s traditional approach to business until 2010. In 1972 he brought in shareholder and confidant Carlo L.E. Pagani (same last name by coincidence). The team worked in harmony though little innovation came forth. Until 2010 the mature businessmen tried their best to overcome the stagnant growth over the last decade. After the company founder A. Pagani passed away, Carlo L.E. Pagani became the president of the company and remained in that position until 2015.
New ideas came to the company on another way: By the end of 2007 engineer Stefano Guantieri became the general manager for Vortice. By the beginning of 2008 he introduced great changes to the management. Amongst others this included networking teams and cross-border cooperation through updated information and communication technology. Guantieri pushed the company into new markets and expanded to over 90 countries all around the globe. For example, the office in China opened in 2012 and produces specifically for the local demands, since the pollution levels are much higher than in Europe.
His expertise in ventilation is what makes Vortice so popular. Over the last years modern developments were implemented to maintain the success. The timeframe between the idea and realization of a product was shortened significantly. This allows the team to adapt quickly to new regulations and changes. This means the Vortice range is always up to date and corresponds to the current technology and design.
Stefan Guantieri’s changes
new employees
faster and broader distribution of information
equality of suggestions and feedback within the team
close cooperation between suppliers, partners and customers
improved product development
include, educate and motivate employees
The new management allows Vortice to navigate an economic crisis, aggressive competition and changes of European energy efficiency regulations. Guantieri explains in this Italian interview in September 2016 that legislation is actually one of the biggest obstacles when it comes to developing sustainable air-conditioning units. Customer demand is oriented more on the price than on the protection of the environment. Still, the Vortice Group was able to show a turnover of roughly 60 million Euros in 2016 – the last time this number has been achieved was before the financial crisis of 2007.
Nowadays, the entire Vortice Group employs more than 300 people. The head office remains in Italy with about 160 workers. There are other branches in Europe, Asia and South America though. More than 100 business and distribution partners sell Vortice products all around the globe. The combined ideas and visions of this empire guarantees projects for five years in the future, according to Guantieri.
Communication and education
Since 1992
Bimonthly free information magazine: 50,000 editions
Since 2009
Integration and motivation of the employees
Courses for everyone, “including the receptionist”
“Smart Appetizers”: invitation of well-known speakers
Investing in new technologies
Since 2015
Technical seminars and webinars for customers
Online advice for installers
New website, new image
Social networks and YouTube communication
Partnering with high schools, sports events, further education
Integrating the Internet of Things, e.g. for apps
Using 3D printers, including for after sales service
Plans for 2020
Real time communication with partners, customers and suppliers
Further integration of IoT technology, customization
Sources:
http://dati.acs.beniculturali.it/oad/uodMarchi/MR118691
https://www.soiel.it/news/dettaglio/cosi-vortice-prepara-industry-4/
http://www.ingenio-web.it/Notizia/3169/Le_macchine_del_vento_.html
https://archives.rinascente.it/it/paths/gli-anni-d-oro-1954-1957/cronologia
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