Founded in 2007, GSI is an Italian manufacturer of high-efficiency heat pumps and systems to manage heating and cooling plants. The company offers an extensive catalog spanning air and radiant room terminals, accumulation systems, DHW tanks and mechanical ventilation units equipped with heat recovery systems.
Interview with Michela Coledan, Marketing Dep. & Walter Brandolin, Export Manager at GSI.
Easy Engineering: A brief description of the company and areas of its activities.
Michela Coledan & Walter Brandolin: Recently, the company has relocated to a new high energy efficiency facility, with dedicated space to accommodate administrative and commercial operations, in addition to a newly added 3,500-square-meter workshop. The facility includes reception areas as well as meeting and training rooms. It is equipped with state-of-the-art systems to ensure a high degree of comfort and seamless integration with a fully integrated BMS.
GSI is involved in the production and development of several product categories, including:
- Ground Source and Air Source Heat Pumps
- All-in-one compact heat pumps with built-in DWH tank
- RAC system Heat Pumps
- Industrial Air Conditioning units
- Exhaust Air Heat Pumps
- Cloud-based systems for room comfort, Monitoring and Control.
GSI’s target customer base encompasses a broad spectrum, including:
- Domestic Users
- Industrial Facilities, including warehouses and workshops
- Hotels, Restaurants and Offices
- Recreational Facilities like Swimming Pools, Wellness Centers, and SPAs
E.E: What’s the news about new products?
M.C & W.B: We are now introducing groundbreaking products and systems for domestic and commercial buildings. These innovations include:
DOMINA Exhaust Air Heat Pump: a compact Air Source Heat Pump integrated with Mechanical Ventilation featuring Heat Recovery, DHW generation, Dehumidification, Air Recirculation, Freecooling, and heating and air blending. These functions dynamically respond to key ambient parameters such as humidity, temperature, CO2 levels and pollutants. Furthermore, the system harnesses waste heat from the compressor to enhance overall efficiency, and integrates with renewable sources like PV while remaining linked to our cloud-based platform for monitoring and control.
MEVO: The brand-new R290 Monoblock line represents a low-noise, highly efficient heat pump system that excels in meeting the heating, cooling, and DWH needs of a building. A waste heat recovery technology enhances the temperature of the DWH tank without compromising the COP of the unit. Furthermore, the incorporation of an economizer yields exceptional performance, particularly in challenging low external temperature conditions. The entire system is seamlessly managed through a WebApp and a monitoring tool.
SETA, a Cutting-Edge Electrical Storage Solution that harnesses the potential of molten-salt batteries. It has been designed for seamless retrofit integration with installed PV systems, as it includes a grid-inverter. Due to its intrinsic characteristic, it is non-flammable and not harmful for the environment while it is 100% recyclable. SETA is engineered to ensure uninterrupted functionality during electrical blackouts. It grants full compatibility with the GSI control system environment.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
M.C & W.B:
- Ground Source Heat Pumps: versatile units, adaptable to vertical or horizontal circuits, open or closed loops. The thermal power range of our ground source line spans from 5kW to 85kW
- Air-to-Water Heat Pumps, Split and Monoblock type: the Split type employs R32 gas and delivers a power range from 5kW to 90kW. Monoblock units use R290 gas instead, with a power range from 8kW to 40kW
- Industrial AirCon: particularly well-suited for replacing gas burner heaters in large spaces such as indoor sport courts, warehouses or workshops. They are capable of both heating and cooling, enhancing working environment comfort. Thermal power: 40kW
- Exhaust Air Heat Pumps with MV & HR: This innovative solution is designed to cater to the heating and cooling needs of domestic installations while placing a strong emphasis on air quality, humidity, temperature, and pollutant levels. Thermal power: 4kW
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
M.C & W.B: While the European HP market remains comparatively modest in comparison to traditional heating systems, it is expanding rapidly and is poised for sustained growth in the future. The technology itself is advancing at a rapid pace, with ongoing developments leading to the creation of advanced units designed to minimize electrical energy consumption while providing superior performance even in colder climates. Finally, the improvements throughout the supply change, as well as the intensification of the competition, is driving down the cost of heat pumps for end users.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
M.C & W.B: The HP market is currently in an exceptionally dynamic phase. Most European countries are switching to renewables faster than expected. The next phase of expansion will be driven by several pivotal factors such as:
- Grant schemes to support Renewable Energy Technologies: Governments around the world are endorsing high-efficiency energy solutions
- Escalating Energy Costs: The rise in energy costs has incentivized the adoption of renewable-based technologies.
- Heightened Awareness of Heat Pump Benefits: The advantages offered by HP, such as their energy efficiency and eco-friendliness, has contributed to their increasing popularity.
In the United States, the Biden administration has articulated an ambitious target of decarbonizing the electricity sector by 2035. This objective will generate a substantial surge in the demand for HPs, given their remarkable efficiency in heating and cooling buildings.
In Europe, the European Union is aiming to curtail greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, striving for net-zero emissions by 2050. This vision is set to result in a significant upswing in the demand for heat pumps. To reach that goal, the EU has regulated the phasing out of fossil fuel generators in new buildings by 2029, along with stringent limitations on replacing oil burners in existing structures, thus positioning the HP as the primary choice for renovation.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
M.C & W.B: DUETTO commercial range HPs: equipped with a double independent controller and cooling circuit smoothly integrated in one unit. It has the ability to operate even with half unit blocked, which prevent uncomfortable heating interruptions during defrost and offers a higher modulation range compared to single-circuit units. These qualities provide increased reliability in a robust design, easy to access and maintain.
TOWER: domestic all-in-one HP range, with a built-in distribution system and 250l. DHW tank. Its controller integrates advanced functions such as our AIER system, to boost self-consumption of a PV system, and MAGIS, the desuperheater technology to recover 100% of the waste heat coming from the compressor. Thanks to its compact design, it can be installed in narrow spaces with no additional external components needed.
8. What estimations do you have for the rest of 2023?
M.C & W.B: Following a significant increase in sales in 2022 (+55% vs ’21), GSI intends to consolidate its market position. This goal will be driven by progress in in several areas of our business:
- Expansion of our sales network
- Building strategic alliances with OEM clients
- Training through the GSI Accademy courses
- Relocating to a bigger, more efficient production facility
With the aim to:
- Increase the market share in Italy thanks to cooperation with the “GSI POINTS” commercial team and the launch of new products.
- Expand into other European markets through collaborations with specialised distributors
- Consolidation of our Brand Reputation
The GSI points are expert distributors that can help stakeholders with anything from project conception to project implementation. The GSI points also manage after-sales maintenance services directly or through local partners.