With a history spanning over a century, Galletti is a family-owned company formed in Bologna that that has successfully navigated challenges and embraced new opportunities by constantly reinventing itself, moving from the production of ice molds to the most advanced air conditioning systems, on the international market, for both commercial and residential sectors. Today, the company has embarked on a path as an Advanced Design Company, leveraging an Open Innovation approach with the aim of anticipating future trends in the HVAC sector and offering technologically advanced, high-performance, highly customised solutions geared toward reducing its impact on the environment.
Interview with Alessandro Massa, Marketing Manager at Galletti S.p.A
What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Alessandro Massa: Galletti was founded in 1906 as a small factory, but over the years it has been able to evolve and grow, establishing itself today as a national and international player in the HVAC industry. In recent decades, the Galletti Group has gradually been formed around the original Galletti company, and now encompasses several brands, each with its own specialisation: Galletti is the Group’s brand specialising in the production and sale of hydronic terminals, chillers, and heat pumps for both residential and commercial applications; Cetra, on the other hand, specialises in air treatment for industrial and commercial sectors; HT Cooling is the Group’s specialist in process cooling, with a particular focus on plastic processes, while GH Service provides maintenance, assistance, and after-sales support for all Group brands.
What’s the news about new products/services?
A.M: At Galletti, we’ve embarked on what we call a virtuous evolutionary path: a constant focus on advancing design in every aspect of our company. We aim to distinguish ourselves as an Advanced Design Company, developing solutions that are conceived with a forward-looking approach, striving to anticipate the future needs of our customers. In particular, we’ve been conducting parallel research into forms, materials, and technological solutions. A few years ago, we started with the family of hydronic terminals, which lent itself best to this type of approach, and then extended it to chillers and heat pumps as well.
Some examples include: ART-U, the fan coil with an innovative design and compact dimensions (only 10 cm deep) that, thanks to computational fluid dynamics simulations and permanent magnet electric motors, guarantees optimal performance and comfort. The Canvas version allows for complete customisation of the front panel with any colour, image, or photograph. EFFETTO, the first design module to be combined with a hydronic cassette for air diffusion that exploits the Coandă effect. In the Airclissi version, a thin layer of integrated LEDs adds a touch of light to the environment. The new PLP range comprises self-contained chiller and heat pump units designed for outdoor installation, featuring the natural refrigerant R290 (known as propane) and an inverter compressor to achieve a lower environmental impact.
What are the ranges of products/services?
A.M: Our product catalogue is very extensive. As for cassettes, our collection covers a power range from 3 kW to 10 kW, while for ducted units, the range is from 2 kW to 18 kW. Our most recent range of hydronic terminals is ART-U, a design fan coil unit as shallow as 10 cm and with an EC motor. Then there’s ESTRO, a fan coil unit with a centrifugal fan; and finally, FLAT, the fan coil unit with a design cabinet only 17 cm deep.
Regarding chillers and heat pumps, our product lineup spans a power range from 4 kW to 1100 kW, offering both air-cooled and water-cooled solutions. These are available in cooling-only, reversible heat pump, and multi-purpose configurations, designed for both 2-pipe and 4-pipe systems. Our most advanced range is the PLP series, featuring natural refrigerant (R290, or propane) and scroll inverter compressors.
What is the state of the market where you are currently active?
A.M: The global HVAC market is experiencing significant growth.
In recent years, it has reached approximately $200 billion and it shows signs of further development in the future.
This growth will be driven by the increasing demand for energy-efficient climate control solutions in both commercial and industrial buildings, which will in turn drive the adoption of renewable energy sources. In this context, the market for heat pumps presents a significant opportunity in the coming years. Europe is leading this revolution, and in Italy, home to one of the most important HVAC districts, particularly for hydronic solutions, many companies are distinguishing themselves for their virtuous contribution to this sector.
What can you tell us about market trends?
A.M: Currently, the most widely discussed technical topic revolves around low-GWP refrigerants, which assess the impact of greenhouse gases on global warming in refrigeration and air conditioning systems. In response to this trend, Galletti has included several solutions using next-generation refrigerants, such as R454B, in its catalogue for years. More recently, the company has developed a new range of products utilizing natural A3 refrigerants, including propane (R290). With its exceptionally low GWP, propane delivers high energy performance while significantly reducing environmental impact.
What are the most innovative products/services marketed?
A.M: In 2024, we introduced PLP, our new range of chillers and heat pumps featuring natural refrigerant (R290, or propane) and a scroll inverter compressor. These units are capable of producing hot water at very high temperatures (up to 80°C) and maintaining full-load operation even in extremely cold outdoor conditions (as low as -20°C). This innovation enables the replacement of combustion-based heating systems with an R290 heat pump without requiring immediate upgrades to the building’s insulation. As a result, the use of renewable energy for heating buildings is significantly increased, ensuring optimal environmental comfort.
What estimations do you have for 2024?
A.M: The forecast for 2024 is certainly positive and represents growth compared to the previous year, thanks to significant investments made in recent years in production lines, Research and Development, and the training of our organisational structure. Galletti has historically adopted a gradual but steady growth approach, avoiding major disruptions and allowing our business partners to grow synergistically with the company. This approach is reflected in long-standing collaborations with strategic partners that represent one of the company’s most important values today and have allowed Galletti to achieve the strong brand credibility recognised by the market.
Thanks to this approach, year after year, the company continues to consolidate its position among the leading players in the hydronic sector, both in the Italian and international markets. In this regard, it is worth noting the recent launch in the North American market of a collaboration with one of the most important HVAC distributors, a collaboration that has all the potential to become another.