Tifernogas expands business: now hydrogen is the new frontier

"The latest accreditation obtained broadens the horizons to the global market. The accreditations obtained so far have a predominantly European, as well as national, resonance. With the appointment as OIML Issuing Authority for OIML Recommendation R137, we are an international body whose certificates are recognised in most OIML-CS countries around the world. It represents the most accepted and important accreditation in the world of gas meter certification. Currently, there are only four bodies in the world that have it'. This was spoken by Paolo Tafani Alunno, vice-president of Tifernogas, a company based in Città di Castello (Perugia) that provides services related to gas product certification. With a turnover of 1.2 million in 2023 and 15 employees, the company also deals with laboratory activities and is an inspection body for gas meters.

The small company from Città di Castello has effectively entered the world elite of the sector: 'It was a team effort that lasted almost four years. The effort,' explains Tafani Alunno, 'in terms of time and resources, was onerous given the size of our company. Our competitors have much more structured organisations in the gas world. We are the only Italian organisation to play such a role in the OIML world'.

The company was founded 18 years ago on the initiative of three partners: Corrado Vagnoni, Gino Mori and Paolo Tafani Alunno. "Over the years, the laboratory has grown in terms of people, facilities and accreditations," the vice president explains. We are also a laboratory accredited by Accredia in accordance with UNI/CEI EN ISO/IEC 17025. At the same time, other activities related to the world of certification, specifically product certification, have begun. We became a Notified Body (ISO/IEC 17065 standard) by the Ministry of Economic Development (now Mimit) to issue certificates of conformity for gas meters (legal metrology). We are also an Inspection Body according to the UNI/CEI EN ISO/IEC 17020 standard.

The company expects a 10 per cent growth in turnover in 2024: 'We have already seen an increase in applications for the new certification from non-European companies that want to enter our market. There are also plans for new hires, although we are struggling to find the necessary qualifications'. The company, after the ups and downs of the last few years on methane gas, is now betting on the growth of hydrogen gas: 'We are completing the development of an in-house hydrogen laboratory, to make measurements on the gas. Not many European companies have it. In addition, we have a three-year project in the pipeline, with other European entities, to develop an infrastructure for measuring hydrogen,' concludes the vice-president.