One of our valued customers in Italy, Eligio Re Fraschini., has built a strong reputation in the manufacturing of high-precision composite and metal components. Based in northern Italy, the company serves demanding industries where performance, safety, and punctual delivery are non-negotiable.

Nitrogen plays a critical role in their production processes—especially in autoclave applications for moulding large and complex parts. To gain greater control and long-term savings, Eligio Re Fraschini transitioned from purchasing liquid nitrogen to producing it on-site.

This case study reveals how on-site nitrogen generation has enabled them to cut energy costs, reduce operational risks, and maintain their competitive advantage in a fast-moving market.

After years of using cryogenic gas, the company identified key goals for improving competitiveness:

• Greater safety in autoclave operations
• Reliable delivery times for customer projects
• Lower energy consumption and operational costs

Partnering with Pneumatech provided a custom nitrogen generation system that met all these objectives—and exceeded expectations.

In manufacturing carbon fibre composites, autoclaves are exposed to extreme temperatures—often reaching 200°C. Even temperatures above 100°C can trigger combustion. By replacing compressed air with nitrogen in autoclaves, Eligio Re Fraschini eliminated the risk of fire, protecting both personnel and customer products.

Nitrogen, being an inert gas, acts as a fire suppressant—ensuring safe and stable production conditions even under demanding circumstances.

For Eligio Re Fraschini, meeting deadlines is a matter of reputation. A fire or technical delay could compromise entire production batches and disrupt project delivery.

By using on-site nitrogen, the company removed a major risk factor. With safer, uninterrupted operations, they’ve been able to maintain their hallmark punctuality—and keep customer trust intact.

Energy savings were a critical factor in choosing in-house nitrogen generation. An internal cost analysis showed that generating nitrogen on-site was significantly more economical than buying and storing liquid nitrogen.

The results were immediate:

• Reduced dependency on external suppliers
• Increased cash flow
• Return on investment in just 2 to 3 years, rather than the 20 initially feared

"We thought it would take 20 years to break even—by the end of the first month, we knew it would only take two or three."
— Eligio Re Fraschini S.p.A.

Working with local distributor Lombarda Compressori, Pneumatech designed a complete, made-to-measure solution. The installed system includes:

• 1 PMNG 40 HE nitrogen generator
• 2 boosters (40 bar)
• 6 storage tanks (42 bar)
• 3 refrigeration dryers
• 3 compressors (45 kW each)
• Stainless steel piping, automatic valves, and pressure reducers

The system is fully automated and built for reliability—keeping Eligio Re Fraschini’s production line safe, cost-efficient, and future-ready.