Italian Cooling Specialist HiRef Breaks Ground on First Americas Manufacturing Plant in Hidalgo

Italian HVACR and thermal management company HiRef has officially laid the foundation stone for its first manufacturing facility in the Americas. Located within the Platah Industrial Park in Villa de Tezontepec, Hidalgo, the project represents an initial investment exceeding 200million MXN ($10+ million USD) and is slated for completion between late 2027 and early 2028.

The new plant will manufacture precision cooling solutions, chillers, and liquid cooling technologies designed specifically for critical digital infrastructure, high-density data centers, and artificial intelligence (AI) workloads.

Localizing Thermal Solutions for AI and Data Center Growth

Having operated directly in Mexico since 2020, HiRef's expansion integrates the country into its global manufacturing footprint to meet the skyrocketing thermal and energy demands across North and Latin America.

The facility will focus on producing energy-efficient systems that minimize power consumption dedicated to cooling, freeing up electrical capacity for core processing while lowering operational emissions.

"Our arrival in the State of Hidalgo is no coincidence; it is an investment in the digital future of the entire region,"stated Alberto Salmistraro, CEO of HiRef S.p.A., highlighting how localizing production will cut equipment delivery times by up to 50% compared to international supply chains.

Alejandra Castellanos, Director of HiRef Mexico and LATAM, emphasized the industrial opportunity: "From Hidalgo, we will manufacture technology to meet that challenge and transform it into industrial development for Mexico."

Key Operations & Supply Chain Impact

• Product Portfolio: Precision air conditioning, industrial chillers, chilled-water systems, direct-to-chip/liquid cooling technologies, and high-efficiency control systems.
• Target Markets: Rapidly expanding hyperscale data centers, telecom networks, AI computing hubs, and mission-critical industrial sites in Mexico, the U.S., and Latin America.
• Bilateral Trade Ties: Lorenzo Vianello, President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Mexico, noted that two-way trade between Italy and Mexico recently surpassed $11 billion USD, reinforcing Mexico as Italy's top export destination in Latin America.

Developing Local Talent and Supply Chains in Hidalgo

Beyond equipment assembly, HiRef's strategic arrival elevates Hidalgo’s industrial profile toward advanced manufacturing and digital technology. The company plans to build an integrated ecosystem through two primary initiatives: Academic & Technical Partnerships and Local Supplier Integration.

The first strategy is focus on collaborations with local universities and vocational institutes in Hidalgo to offer internships, technology transfer, and specialized training across engineering, industrial automation, electromechanic systems, energy, and IT, with a strong focus on recruiting young talent and women.

They also looking to create opportunities for Mexican suppliers and component manufacturers to integrate into the high-growth thermal management supply chain supporting the AI and cloud infrastructure boom.