The Italian multinational, a world leader in filtration solutions, thermal management, and green hydrogen technologies, inaugurates its second production plant in the Asian country, the 22nd globally.?

This expansion strengthens UFI Filters’ relationship with the strategic South Korean market and consolidates the company’s vision, built on localization and customer dedication, to ensure cutting-edge solutions tailored to local needs.?

The Italian company UFI Filters, a global leader in filtration solutions, thermal management, and green hydrogen technologies, takes another step forward in its international growth strategy with the opening of a new production plant in Gimpo, South Korea. This is the second facility in the country, where the company has been active since 2005, and the 22nd worldwide.?

The inauguration of the new production site marks another milestone in the expansion journey of UFI Filters, a company founded in 1971 and led by Chairman Giorgio Girondi. The company aims to strengthen its relationships with the strategic South Korean market while enhancing its commitment to delivering advanced, customized solutions that meet local needs. Over the years, UFI Filters has been one of the first Italian companies to recognize growth opportunities in Asia, becoming a key player with over 4,400 employees, more than 250 specialized technicians in its three Innovation & Research Centers, and over 320 international patents.?

A cutting-edge site dedicated to hydraulic filtration?

The new facility is entirely dedicated to hydraulic filtration, specializing in the design, production, and commercialization of complete filters, filter elements, air breathers, and accessories designed to ensure maximum efficiency and reliability. This product line, developed by UFI Filters Hydraulics, the group’s division specializing in hydraulic filtration, guarantees optimal protection for the hydraulic systems of excavators and construction machinery. Additionally, it includes tailor-made solutions designed to meet the specific requirements of South Korean OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers).?

Growth driven by innovation and sustainability: UFI Filters’ philosophy?

With a strong presence across 21 countries, including Europe, Asia, and the Americas, UFI Filters continues its global expansion strategy by focusing on three key pillars: technological innovation, production localization and customer dedication. In a constantly evolving global context, UFI Filters has anticipated market dynamics, responding to local needs beyond just products, embracing a business model based on flexibility and customization.?

The opening of the new South Korean plant aligns with this forward-thinking approach, ensuring tailor-made solutions and direct support for clients. The facility is strategically located near major industry players, including Hyundai Construction Equipment (HCE), a long-standing partner of UFI Filters. The Gimpo plant not only enhances the company’s supply chain and logistics efficiency but also ensures an even faster and more effective service for South Korean customers.?

“Opening a new plant is not just about growth, but about trust—trust in a market, in people, and in the future. Our presence in South Korea proves that there are no limits for those who strive for excellence,” commented Giorgio Girondi, Chairman of UFI Filters. “Over the years, we have built 22 production sites worldwide, driven by organic internal growth and investment in our vision and expertise. Each new plant is a promise of innovation, customer proximity, and the creation of long-term value, the result of a commitment founded on trust-based relationships and a sustainable development strategy,” he concluded.?

UFI Group, a leader in filtration and thermal management as well as technologies for the development of hydrogen mobility, celebrate in Xiuzhou Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, the opening of UFI GREEN, its first industrial site fully dedicated to green technologies in China.

The new factory, the 21^st of the Group, covers 42,000 square meters and is outfitted with cutting-edge production lines and R&D Lab center, employing in total 650 people. With an overall investment of 45 Mil Euros, UFI GREEN will develop and manufacture advanced thermal management systems and innovative filtration products. These products, available for electric vehicles (passenger vehicles, trucks, bus and off-road), hydrogen & fuel cell technologies and industrial filtration, aim to provide more sustainable and efficient solutions.

The products include chillers, liquid cooling condensers, coolers, electric axle heat exchangers, coolant-to-coolant heaters, dry receivers, accumulators, and integrated compact battery thermal management modules for new energy vehicles and energy storage applications.

At full capacity, UFI GREEN will reach the production capacity of 9.4 million units. Additionally, the annual capacity of new innovative filtration media will reach 3 million square meters.

In the second phase, UFI GREEN will be also focused on hydrogen & fuel cell systems as a key development area. The Group has a deep commitment to environmental protection and firmly believes that hydrogen energy is one of the key directions for future sustainable development.

UFI Filters continues to strengthen its structure with the appointment of Paolo Cataldi as the new General Manager of its Aftermarket Business Unit. He joins the leading international group in filtration, thermal management and technologies for the development of hydrogen mobility, taking the lead for the aftermarket globally.

Paolo Cataldi, 55, a graduate in Economics and Marketing from Italy’s University of Bari, has more than 25 years of management experience and a strong background in the automotive aftermarket. Cataldi has a profound knowledge of the aftermarket, having held various strategic positions over the years for leading companies in the spare parts business, from sales, product and marketing to managerial leadership roles and business unit management, both for the Italian and international markets.

Paolo Cataldi, new Aftermarket Business Unit General Manager of the UFI Filters Group, says: “I would like to thank Chairman Giorgio Girondi and UFI Group CEO Stefano Gava for their trust. I am honoured to join a leader in the European and international automotive aftermarket sector. At a moment of great transformation, challenging goals await me, which I will carry out with the support of a professional and well-established team.”

Stefano Gava, CEO of the UFI Filters Group, comments: “We welcome Paolo Cataldi to our Group. We are confident that thanks to his solid experience he will be able to take the UFI and SOFIMA Aftermarket business to new heights. Paolo has the important objective of consolidating and strengthening our market leadership in Italy and to drive other countries in the same direction. UFI is aiming for double-digit growth in the next three years worldwide.”

• Nine out of ten teams present in Formula 1 racing use UFI Filters filtration systems to guarantee reliability and safety for the single-seaters
• Each car is fitted with around fifteen UFI filter elements, which perform essential functions in the fuel and lubrication circuits of the combustion engine, in the hybrid component and the hydraulic systems of the brakes, and in DRS and steering
• Experience in Formula 1 and other motorsport categories, such as the WEC and MotoGP, makes UFI Filters an indispensable partner for manufacturers in the transition to new forms of mobility

UFI Filters, a leading international group in the field of filtration, thermal management and technologies for the development of hydrogen mobility, has cemented its position as a top producer of filtration systems by supplying nine of the ten teams competing in the 2024 Formula 1 season, which starts on 2 March with the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The announcement is a prestigious recognition of the technologies developed by the High-Tech Division of UFI Filters, founded in 1999, and for the company, which has seen a continuous series of successes in the motorsport’s top category since 1978.

In Formula 1, UFI Filters does not limit itself to providing teams with oil, air and petrol filters. The complexity of today’s racing cars also demands up to fifteen filter elements in a car. In total, UFI produces around 8,000 such F1 filters annually.

Tailor-made solutions

For Formula 1, each filter is tailor-made for the needs of the different teams, with customised solutions provided in terms of size and materials used (which can include medical aluminium, carbon fibre and titanium). Their design requirements are the result of a co-design process between technicians in UFI Filters’ High-Tech Division and the individual racing teams. Often, during the course of the season, updates and modifications to the filters are also requested by the teams, based on the developments gradually introduced in the cars.

The filters used for the cars can be subdivided, according to their location.

• Filters for combustion engines are located in the air intake, in the fuel supply and lubrication circuits. These are high-tech filters, which must not only trap dust and chips, but also any contaminants that may form in the special petrol used in Formula 1. The engine oil circuit also requires adequate protection: in addition to the main filter, there are secondary filter elements, and several ‘last chance filters’, which act on the recovery pumps.
• The filters in the hydraulic circuits play an essential role in driver safety. Their presence in the systems that preside over the hydrodrive, the activation of the mobile rear wing (the DRS) and the braking circuit are fundamental.
• The hybrid system with which the single-seaters are equipped, involves the presence of an energy-storage battery, the temperature of which must remain within an optimal range: dielectric fluids are used for its cooling, the filtration of which is guaranteed by UFI Filters.

Not just Formula 1

UFI Filters has accumulated a great deal of experience in motorsport, starting as early as the second half of the 1970s. Today, UFI Filters filtration systems are present not only in Formula 1, but also in many other motorsport categories. In particular, in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) they are on board the Ferrari 499P, the winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours 2023, and the 296 GT3, as well as Lamborghini and Isotta Fraschini Hypercars. UFI Filters also supplies the heat exchanger for the front electric axle of the Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6 LMH, which increases the efficiency and reliability of the system. This is proof of the advanced technologies developed by UFI Filters, which is not only a leader in filtration systems, but also plays an significant role in Thermal Management, an area of increasing importance due to relevance of e-axle temperature management.

UFI Filters are also used by all Formula 2 and American IndyCar single-seaters built by Dallara.

In motorcycling, UFI Filters supplies its products to MotoGP (for Aprilia and KTM), Moto 2, Moto 3 and Superbike.

Italian pride

“It was 1978”, recalls Giorgio Girondi, Chairman of the UFI Filters Group, “when UFI Filters won its first Grand Prix in Great Britain with Carlos Reutemann’s Ferrari 312 T3, inaugurating a long series of triumphs. Since then, through sacrifice, dedication and passion, we have been able to develop customised solutions for the needs of nine out of ten Formula 1 racing teams. In light of this, we are continuing towards our goal of winning all the teams within the next two seasons. This is a source of great pride for our company, which is increasingly perfecting the advanced technologies that will also characterise the important transition which the automotive industry is undergoing”.

UFI Filters has named Stefano Gava as its new group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), succeeding Rinaldo Facchini. The Board of Directors of UFI Filters, a leading international group in the field of filtration, thermal management and technologies for the development of hydrogen mobility, met on 16 January to approve the appointment.

Gava, born in Vittorio Veneto (Italy) 43 years ago, was previously COO (Chief Operating Officer) EMEA of UFI Filters. The Italian national graduated in Economics and Finance at the University of Udine. In 2015, he joined UFI Filters as Group Chief Financial Officer, based in the Shanghai office in China, where he was able to count on many years of experience working in finance for companies in the architecture, engineering and construction sectors in China and South-East Asia.

Gava has occupied a number of top positions within the UFI Group, and in 2020 he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer Americas, based in Detroit, before moving to the group’s Italian headquarters to assume the role of COO EMEA in 2022. Last year in June, Gava was recognised as a 2023 Rising Star by the industry publication Automotive News Europe.

Stefano Gava succeeds Rinaldo Facchini, who has been CEO of UFI Filters Group for the past 10 years, having held increasingly important managerial roles within the group’s Administration and Finance units since 1986.

Giorgio Girondi, Chairman of the UFI Filters Group, says: “UFI Filters is well recognised for actively promoting the most talented among us, thanks to mentoring and “cross-fertilisation” programmes that aim to enhance the group’s experience in different regions and contexts, while developing strong leaders. The appointment of Stefano Gava makes us proud because he represents the best example of our people-centred corporate culture. I would also like to thank Rinaldo Facchini for having contributed to the company’s growth in relation to the future of mobility. It is now Stefano’s turn to continue along this path, which I am sure he will be able to follow successfully”.

Stefano Gava, the new CEO of the UFI Filters Group, comments: “I would like to thank Chairman Girondi and the Board of Directors for their trust. I am honoured to receive this appointment and to take up the baton in leading the company through the challenges that the ongoing technological transition is setting us. Regarding this transformation, I consider it fundamental to continue investing in the technological innovations that will support the future of the company, and at the same time, integrate the new sustainability models promoted by our customers”.

UFI Filters, a leader in filtration for traditional and hydrogen engines, as well as in the development and production of thermal management systems for electric vehicles, has presented its new Sustainability Report. The 2022 edition summarizes the strategies and results that UFI Filters has achieved in the areas of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) concerns.

In line with UFI Group’s commitment to transparency in conducting economically sustainable business, this new edition has undergone “Limited Assurance” by external auditors, further confirming the growing dedication to fostering continuous improvement in corporate ethics. This commitment starts from within the company and reflects a relationship of mutual respect with customers and suppliers.

The data compiled covers the period from January 1st to December 31st, 2022, and provides a detailed overview of activities, commitments, and achievements in environmental, social, and governance aspects based on the principles of the Global Reporting Initiative Standards (GRI).

The report begins with an overview of the current status of UFI Group, demonstrating its status as a global entity constantly engaged in the development of technologically advanced solutions capable of reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions. The Sustainability Report not only addresses innovation in terms of products but also delves into topics of governance and compliance, ultimately focusing on the central section dedicated to People. UFI Filters invests in the development of its personnel, who have always been the driving force behind UFI’s success throughout its history.

Giorgio Girondi, Chairman of UFI Filters Group, declares: “UFI, at the forefront of technological innovation, pledges to be sustainable and to rely solely on sustainable suppliers.

Our industrial site in Jiaxing China is 100% dedicated to sustainability and green technologies. UFI is GREEN”.

To read our Sustainability Report:

UFI Filters, a leader in filtration and thermal management, marks an important step forward in the development of technologies for fuel cell applications. The company has been chosen to supply the cathode air filter module for the Changan Deep Blue SL03, a vehicle that the automaker claims is the first series production fuel cell car in China.

Officially launched last year as an electric vehicle, the Changan Deep Blue SL03, powered with a fuel cell powertrain, will be launched this summer. It is equipped with Shenli Technology’s 55 kW fuel cell stack system and can achieve an ultra-high energy rate of 20.5 kWh per kg of hydrogen power generation (hydrogen energy conversion efficiency >60%). The vehicle’s cruising range can reach 730 km under average driving conditions.

Under CLTC driving conditions (China’s light vehicle driving conditions), hydrogen energy consumption is only 0.65 kg per 100 km, and ultra-fast refuelling can be achieved in 3 minutes. The battery system has a long service life of 10,000 hours and performance degradation is < 10%.

The fuel cell air intake system for the Changan Deep Blue SL03 has been developed by UFI Group in its research center and production plant in Shanghai, Sofima Automotive Filter Co., Ltd. It is a complete module that includes the air intake pipe assembly, air filter assembly, and air outlet pipe assembly. It is part of the SUPER ADSORBER range, the brand that represents cathode air filtration systems designed and manufactured by UFI Filters.

Giorgio Girondi, UFI Filters Group Chairman, comments: “This is a great achievement for our company which testifies to our commitment in the production of high-level technologies for New Energy Vehicles. Changan Deep Blue SL03 has sped up the growth of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in China’s passenger car market and independent brands such as SAIC, Great Wall, GAC and Hongqi have also accelerated their interest in the technology. All this has led to a revival of the hydrogen-powered passenger car market. Our commitment doesn’t stop there. Thanks to our UFI Cell dedicated R&D center, based in Italy, we are also active in the development of other technologies for fuel cell applications, such as deionizers and membrane electrode assemblies (MEA).”

The fuel cell systems that are currently available on the market use proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). The presence of impurities and harmful gases such as SO_X, NO_X, H₂S, CO in the air can dramatically affect the performance and life of these cells. For this reason, UFI Filters has been developing devices related to the use of hydrogen in fuel cells and its corresponding filtration issues since 2017, producing cathode air filters panels or cylindric cartridges with a dual filtration function. The first layer, made of synthetic media, works as a physical barrier to solid particulates. The second layer, made with non-woven fabric blended with active carbon, has the function of absorbing gaseous contaminants. Therefore, the selection of filter media for the fuel cell cathode air filter system is very critical and Changan has relied on UFI Filters’ expertise for the first fuel cell light-vehicle they are launching on the Chinese market. The SUPER ADSORBER cathode air filter developed for Changan is a panel type with a flow resistance of almost 2 kPa and dust holding capacity higher than 180 g.