Unox inaugurates €100m industrial complex in northern Italy

Professional oven manufacturer Unox has opened ‘Unox City’ in Padua, northern Italy, an industrial hub developed with an investment of more than €100m (£87.5m).

The 130,000 sqm complex brings together production facilities, a logistics hub, an innovation hub and an experience hub.

The 20,000 sqm innovation hub contains test kitchens that simulate real-world conditions, while electronics, mechanical and hydraulic labs validate new components and processes. Plus, the food digitalisation lab transforms food data into intelligent algorithms, supported by a semi-anechoic chamber that measures electromagnetic emissions for safety and quality.

Two twin factories form the heart of the ‘city’, each spanning 21,000 sqm. The highly automated facilities contain 27 loading bays, automated vertical warehouses and logistics flows optimised by layout and location, all of which should reduce shipping times by 30%.

The newly-renovated headquarters in Cadoneghe has been transformed into an experience hub with demonstration kitchens, testing spaces and training rooms to allow guests to explore Unox innovation first-hand.

Unox City aims to be as sustainable as possible, with renewable sources covering 99% of energy demand. More than 23,000 trees have also been planted onsite, alongside advanced rainwater harvesting systems.

All of Unox’s manufacturing processes take place within the province of Padua, just a few kilometres from the company’s headquarters, across a network of specialised group companies. This ecosystem places research and development side by side with manufacturing to ensure innovation and quality throughout the supply chain.

The Unox City project began more than a decade ago as a vision of industrial expansion and long-term local investment. Chairman and founder Enrico Franzolin said: “Since the 1990s, when many companies were relocating abroad, we made a different choice: to stay and invest in our region, building a local and integrated production system.

“Unox City is the culmination of a strategy that has allowed us to keep our supply chain in Italy, strengthen a vertically integrated industrial model and create new opportunities for work and growth for hundreds of people.”

In the UK, Unox recently launched fleX, a leasing solution for public sector catering operators.

The company won the Cooking Equipment Brand of the Year category at The Caterer’s Supplier Awards 2025.