Italy: Gradual Integration of Assolterm into Assotermica over Next 2-3 Years

An agreement between Assolterm and Assotermica – and the latter’s umbrella organisation A.N.I.M.A. – was signed at the beginning of June in order to create a unique and well-known association over the next years which can suitably represent the solar thermal industry in Italy. The agreement includes a three-phase process during a period of 2 to 3 years, in which the two associations will gradually intensify their cooperation until Assolterm will be fully incorporated into Assotermica. The group Assolterm, which will be created within Assotermica, is intended to address the key issues, both political and technical, for promoting and developing solar thermal in Italy. The aim is to gradually convince all companies which manufacture solar thermal systems to be part of this group and, consequently, to enter into the great realm of Confindustria (Confederation of Italian Industries). Still, the two associations will maintain their separate offices and operational facilities in Milan and Rome, as an important asset to come back to in the future.

The two associations begun to cooperate around three years ago, as both had manufacturers of solar thermal systems among their members. They decided to sign an agreement for an even greater cooperation to

• create one single unique entity to which decision-makers can refer for technical and policy issues related to the solar thermal market in Italy
   
• increase and strengthen lobby efforts regarding both institutional and technical bodies
• follow the trend on the market of integrating different technologies into complete heating systems

Offering system solutions is a clear trend also facilitated by the Italian and European legislative framework. The two associations hope that their collaboration can make this process even easier and allow companies to provide efficient, cost-effective and integrated sustainable solutions.

Assolterm, the Italian solar thermal industry association, is the trade association representing the entire supply chain of the solar thermal market, with a particular focus on producers and dealers. Among its members are specialists in solar thermal, Italian manufacturers from the heating sector and European players from the renewable heat sector. The association’s office is based in Rome.

Assotermica is the Italian association of the heating industry. It is a cross-technology and cross-sector association consisting of all companies involved in the heating system sector, including the ones that offer integrating solutions with renewable energy technology as part of their product range. The association has its office in Milan. Assotermica is also a member of umbrella organisation A.N.I.M.A., the Federation of the Italian Associations of the Mechanical and Engineering Industries. A.N.I.M.A. has more than 60 member associations and groups, as well as over 1,000 member companies, representing all major companies of the mechanical and engineering industry in Italy.

This text was written by Valeria Verga, Secretary General of the Italian solar thermal association Assolterm.

http://www.assolterm.it/
http://www.assotermica.it
http://www.anima.it/node/3/anima