Zilmet
Zilmet is an Italian industrial manufacturer of expansion vessels, plate heat exchangers, and buffer tanks for heating, potable water, solar thermal, and refrigeration systems, selling exclusively through a six-country distributor network to HVAC contractors and system installers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1965
- HeadquartersLimena, Italy
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Zilmet does
Zilmet S.p.A. Società Unipersonale is an Italian industrial manufacturer founded in 1955 (with the company having reached 160 employees by 1965) and headquartered in Limena (Padua), Italy. The company specializes in pressure and thermal management components for hydronic systems, producing three core product families: expansion vessels (Vasi di Espansione) for heating, potable water, and solar thermal applications, with both fixed and interchangeable membrane configurations; plate heat exchangers (Scambiatori di Calore a Piastre) in removable (Z2/Z3/Z4 series), single-phase brazed (ZB series), and refrigeration brazed (ZC-ZE series, rated up to 45 bar and -50°C to +200°C) variants; and buffer tanks for thermal energy storage. Manufacturing is anchored by a 150,000 m² total production footprint supporting 8 million pieces of annual output, with vertically integrated rubber component production at a Bagnoli di Sopra facility and certification under EU Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU and ISO 9001.
The company operates a strictly B2B distribution model, selling exclusively through a network of authorized distributors and resellers (rivenditori/distributori) across Italy, France (GITRAL), Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, and China. End customers — primarily heating and HVAC contractors, water system installers, refrigeration system integrators, and solar thermal installers — must purchase through this channel. Pricing is quote-based with no public disclosure, and Zilmet supports its channel with online sizing calculators aligned to EN 12828 and VDI 4708 standards, multilingual product manuals, an RMA process reserved for distributors, and a dedicated technical support team. The company currently employs more than 500 people globally.
Zilmet is structured as a Società Unipersonale (sole proprietorship), indicating single-entity ownership with no disclosed venture capital or private equity sponsorship. Revenue is generated entirely from industrial hardware sales with no software, subscription, or service-based revenue streams disclosed. The company's competitive positioning rests on Made in Italy manufacturing scale, six decades of engineering heritage, and a multi-country distribution network that creates channel stickiness with professional installers who specify products by brand reputation and local technical support availability.
Zilmet firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Zilmet
- Legal name
- Zilmet S.p.A. Società Unipersonale
- Website
- https://zilmet.it
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1965
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Zilmet is an Italian industrial manufacturer of expansion vessels, plate heat exchangers, and buffer tanks for heating, potable water, solar thermal, and refrigeration systems, selling exclusively through a six-country distributor network to HVAC contractors and system installers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Zilmet is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Limena
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
Zilmet business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Industrial Hardware Sales: Manufacture and sale of expansion vessels, plate heat exchangers, and buffer tanks to industrial customers through distribution channels. Products are sold as finished goods with technical specifications for heating, cooling, potable water, and refrigeration applications.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Zilmet product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Zilmet manufactures and sells expansion vessels, plate heat exchangers, and buffer tanks used for pressure stabilization and thermal management in closed-circuit heating, potable water, solar thermal, and refrigeration systems. Products are sold as finished industrial equipment through authorized distributors to professional installers and contractors across Europe, North America, and Asia. The company also provides sizing calculators, technical manuals, and distributor support services to enable correct product selection.
Product overview
Zilmet is an Italian industrial manufacturer specializing in thermal engineering products for heating, cooling, and water systems. The company produces three core product families: (1) Expansion Vessels (Vasi di Espansione) available in three lines for heating, potable water, and solar thermal applications; (2) Heat Exchangers (Scambiatori di Calore) offered as removable plate exchangers (Z-series), single-phase brazed exchangers (ZB-series), and brazed refrigeration exchangers (ZC-ZE series); and (3) Buffer Tanks for thermal energy storage. The product portfolio operates as a complementary system where expansion vessels manage pressure in hydronic systems, heat exchangers perform thermal transfer duties across residential and industrial applications, and buffer tanks store thermal energy. Zilmet emphasizes Made in Italy quality manufacturing at its facilities in Limena, Italy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Vasi di Espansione - Riscaldamento (Expansion Vessels for Heating) Expansion vessels designed for closed-circuit heating systems, providing pressure compensation and protecting heating installations from overpressure damage. Available with fixed or interchangeable membranes. Sold to professional HVAC/heating installers through authorized distributors.
- Vasi di Espansione - Acqua Potabile (Expansion Vessels for Potable Water) Expansion vessels designed for potable water systems, providing pressure regulation, preventing water hammer, and preventing backflow in drinking water installations. Sold to plumbing and water-system installers through authorized distributors.
- Vasi di Espansione - Applicazione Solare (Expansion Vessels for Solar Thermal) Expansion vessels specifically engineered for solar thermal systems, handling high temperatures, thermal cycling, and glycol-based heat-transfer fluids in solar heating applications. Sold to solar thermal installers through authorized distributors.
- Scambiatori di Calore a Piastre Smontabili (Removable Plate Heat Exchangers) Removable plate heat exchangers (Z2, Z3, Z4 models) featuring configurable plate counts, EPDM or NBR seals, and operating pressures up to 16 bar. Designed for versatile thermal transfer in HVAC, industrial process, and district heating applications where plates can be removed for cleaning or expansion.
- Scambiatori Saldobrasati Monofase (Single-Phase Brazed Plate Heat Exchangers) Single-phase brazed plate heat exchangers (ZB series: 190, 195, 200, 207, 250, 315, 400, 450, 500, 600, 700) with AISI 316 stainless steel construction, copper brazing, and maximum operating pressures of 8-30 bar depending on model. Used in HVAC, domestic hot water, and light industrial heat-transfer applications.
- Scambiatori Saldobrasati Refrigerazione (Brazed Plate Heat Exchangers for Refrigeration)
- Buffer Tank (Thermal Energy Storage Tank) Thermal storage tanks for buffering heated or cooled water in heating and cooling systems, helping to improve system efficiency and reduce cycling of boilers or chillers. Used alongside Zilmet expansion vessels and plate exchangers in hydronic systems.
Companies that use Zilmet
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Zilmet technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Zilmet partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Zilmet competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Xylem: Global water technology company offering pumps, valves, and water system components including pressure management solutions. Broadly comparable to Zilmet's water lifting and pressure stabilization product lines at much greater scale and geographic reach.
- Watts Water Technologies: US-listed manufacturer of water and plumbing products, including expansion tanks and hydronic components. Comparable to Zilmet's vessel business with a much broader product range and direct North American distribution through its US subsidiary footprint.
- Alfa Laval: Global leader in heat transfer, separation, and fluid handling, with a dominant brazed and gasketed plate heat exchanger portfolio. Competes directly with Zilmet's PHE business but operates at much greater scale across multiple industrial end markets.
- Kelvion: German-based manufacturer of plate heat exchangers and other thermal equipment for HVAC, refrigeration, and industrial processes. Competes head-to-head with Zilmet's PHE lines but serves a broader industrial customer base at larger scale.
- Danfoss: Global Danish HVAC and refrigeration component manufacturer with heat exchanger and hydronic solutions. While broader in scope, Danfoss competes with Zilmet on plate heat exchangers and HVAC system components sold to OEMs and through distribution.
Direct peers
- Sondex (Danfoss): Plate heat exchanger specialist now part of Danfoss, with a strong position in gasketed and brazed PHEs for HVAC, district heating, and industrial applications. Directly comparable product family to Zilmet's Z-series and ZB series.
- SWEP (Dover): Part of Dover Corporation, SWEP specializes in brazed plate heat exchangers for refrigeration, HVAC, and heat pump applications. Highly overlapping product offering to Zilmet's ZB and ZC-ZE series, with global OEM relationships.
- Flamco: Netherlands-based specialist in expansion vessels, air separation and water hammer control products for HVAC and plumbing. Highly comparable product set and distribution profile, serving the same European installer base as Zilmet.
- Caleffi: Italian manufacturer of components for heating, plumbing, and renewable energy systems, including a directly overlapping expansion vessel and hydronic accessory portfolio. Closest direct competitor on Zilmet's home turf with comparable distribution model and product philosophy.
Regional players
- IVAR: Italian HVAC and plumbing component manufacturer specializing in distribution manifolds, valves, and accessories. Adjacent competitor sharing the Italian installer channel with Zilmet and increasingly expanding into complementary categories.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Zilmet social profiles
Digital presenceZilmet compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Zilmet financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Zilmet leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Zilmet subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Zilmet funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Zilmet M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Zilmet
What does Zilmet do?
Zilmet manufactures and sells expansion vessels, plate heat exchangers, and buffer tanks used for pressure stabilization and thermal management in closed-circuit heating, potable water, solar thermal, and refrigeration systems. Products are sold as finished industrial equipment through authorized distributors to professional installers and contractors across Europe, North America, and Asia. The company also provides sizing calculators, technical manuals, and distributor support services to enable correct product selection.
Is Zilmet a public or private company?
Zilmet is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Zilmet founded?
Zilmet was founded in 1965. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Zilmet based?
Zilmet is headquartered in Limena, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does Zilmet make money?
One revenue line is on record: industrial Hardware Sales.
Who are Zilmet's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Xylem, Watts Water Technologies, Alfa Laval, Kelvion and Danfoss. Direct peers are Sondex (Danfoss), SWEP (Dover), Flamco and Caleffi. IVAR is listed as a regional player.
Does Zilmet have an API?
No public API is recorded for Zilmet.