Caleffi Hydronic Solutions guides customers to the right technical choices with MEPcontent
About Caleffi: quality, completeness, and compliance to corporate and international standards
In 2021, on the 60th anniversary of its 1961 founding, Caleffi marked a new milestone in its growth from a small supplier in the taps, fittings and valves industry to a benchmark manufacturer of components for hydraulic heating and domestic water systems.
Caleffi’s 10 production plants and 20 sales offices employ 1,300 people in more than 90 countries. The company’s Italian base of operations is strategic; it ensures compliance with quality standards imposed not only by international regulations, but also by Caleffi’s corporate expectations.
As at its founding, Caleffi’s success has come by guiding customers to the right technical choices through the full design and building process, and by anticipating customer needs before they arise.
That focus on full-cycle customer support is what led Caleffi to Trimble and MEPcontent.
Engineering firms require high-quality BIM models and skilled partners
Walter Bertona is the Caleffi BIM project coordinator also responsible for digital marketing and communication.
“We have noticed in the last few years that engineering firms not only require high-quality BIM models, but they are also searching for a partner skilled in the full scope of design and building,” Bertona said. “Trimble expertise—specifically, the expertise of the MEPcontent team—enables us to optimally support Caleffi customers.”
MEPcontent provides an unmatched library of manufacturer-specific Revit families, AutoCAD blocks, and IFC files ready for MEP engineers to download and use in their projects.
MEP engineers and contractors use MEPcontent to deliver technically accurate models and drawings that include manufacturer-specific content. Doing so ensures the model contains uniform and accurate information for fabrication and documentation.
Understanding the needs of our MEP engineers
In 2014, Caleffi recognized the importance of understanding the needs of MEP engineers using building information modeling. Their search for an expert partner led them to Trimble and MEPcontent.
“MEPcontent was the perfect partner,” Bertona said. “More than creating and publishing our first BIM library, the MEP experts at Trimble showed how to select and to manage the parameters that matter to our customers.”
Caleffi aspires to be an international reference in approved certifications. To meet that goal, the company needs to offer MEP engineers the highest possible quality of BIM content.
“The EMCS—the Trimble Extended MEPcontent Standard—is the high standard we want to offer our customers,” Bertona said. “All Caleffi BIM files comply with the EMCS standard.”
Quality is not the end of the story for the Caleffi-Trimble collaboration. Even better is the knowledge Caleffi gains of what its customers need. “Since our collaboration in 2014, we gradually expanded our library based on data received from the analytics from the MEPcontent construction analytics dashboard,” Bertona said. “MEPcontent provides us with a direct insight into the BIM demand of our customers.”
Access to international markets
MEPcontent.com began as an online BIM library for MEP contractors and engineers in Europe. Trimble acquired the site in 2018 as part of its acquisition of Stabiplan, a specialist in mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) software and content.
Bertona said Caleffi is making the most of Trimble’s international status. “Trimble’s acquisition of MEPcontent allows us to operate even more on international markets, the United States market being one example,” Bertona said.
“Caleffi has a branch in Milwaukee, which is very active with the production and promotion of U.S.-exclusive BIM objects via MEPcontent.com, localized to the needs of MEP engineers in the U.S.A.”
Caleffi’s example shows the value of Trimble’s goal of supporting customers around the world in digitizing their MEP estimating, project management, modeling, detailing, layout and construction.
“Having a global partner who understands the needs of MEP designers gives our organization the ability to offer high-quality solutions wherever we do business,” Bertona said. “Combining this aspect with the recognized quality of our products allows us to gain the trust of designers all over the world.”
Meeting present and future needs
Bertona isn’t satisfied with solving today’s challenges alone, because he knows BIM standards are evolving worldwide.
“We help our stakeholders when we keep up to date with the evolution of BIM standards,” Bertona said.
Among future trends to watch, Bertona cites sustainability as foremost among them. Caleffi pursues sustainability through its own corporate initiatives and participation in Eubac, the European Building Automation and Controls Association.
“Whether we’re meeting the needs of an individual customer or building a world where buildings are smart, efficient and sustainable, with Trimble by our side, we are confident that we will be able to meet these challenges,” Bertona said.
More information about Caleffi and BIM is available via the new Caleffi BIM website: bim.caleffi.com.