Salerno: new orders for Beyonder, a manufacturer of insulated panels
Industria Isotermica has invested 12 million with Zes to set up a factory that uses innovative materials and technologies to insulate vehicles
The new Industria Isotermica Spa factory, which opened a year ago in Palomonte, in the province of Salerno, is now operating at full capacity. ‘Beyonder’ is the name – taken from a Marvel Comics character and meaning ‘one who goes beyond’ – of the industrial platform, reportedly the first of its kind in Europe, dedicated to the production of insulation panels for cars and vans. The real innovation lies in the technology used: fibreglass and glass fibre, which have a negative environmental impact, are in fact being replaced by materials produced using an automated thermoforming and foaming process – imported from the aerospace sector – protected by an international patent valid in 43 countries.
The initiative has so far required an investment of 12 million, channelled through Zes Unica per il Mezzogiorno and supported by the ‘Industria 5.0’ government incentives. It all began with a project by Sandro Mantella, who was born in Canada, lived in Calabria and has since moved to Milan, and who has extensive experience in the insulation materials sector and is a former distributor for the French brand Lamberet.
The plant is now operational, with a workforce of 12 people, whilst a further eight are set to join the team by the end of the year. Following an initial order from Avis for the supply of panels for 400 commercial vehicles, a second order has been received from Giffi for a further 20 commercial vehicles. The total value of these orders is 1.3 million. Management’s target is to produce 100 panels a day using two production lines. The first was installed in 2022, and the second has been operational since 2025. The entire system, developed in collaboration with technology partner Self Group Comi, has been designed with a view to being patented. At the heart of the innovation is a proprietary process that combines the thermoforming of ABS sheets, precision trimming and polyurethane foaming, enabling the production of kits made from a combination of plastic and insulating materials.
Beyonder is regarded as a significant step forward in temperature-controlled transport, as it delivers 25 per cent better performance than reinforced insulation. “The system,” explains Mantella, “enables reduced energy consumption, greater range for electric vehicles, rapid and standardised installation, and simplified distribution and fitting in any market.”
The first applications are for models such as the Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer, Citroën Jumper, Opel Movano and Toyota Proace Max, with plans to extend the programme to the Iveco Daily, Renault Master, Volkswagen Crafter and Fiat Scudo by 2027. Two new production lines are also under development to manufacture panels for ambulances and motorhomes.
