Ditec News

16/03/2010 -

Major job order for DITEC from an European large distributor.

Its strategic location near the border with Hungary makes the city of Oradea one of the main links to Western Europe, and is traditionally one of the most prosperous Rumanian cities.
For the last few years, after joining the European Union, the tertiary industry has seen a massive increase and major national and international companies have invested heavily in the city.

Four years ago, the Mall Tiago chain launched the largest investment plan in the large distribution field: 700 million Euros have been invested to build 10 shopping centres in the main Rumanian cities.
The largest shopping centre built for this project is the Tiago shopping centre in Oradea, which covers an area of 46,000 msq. It features over 150 shops, a multi-screen cinema and international coffee shops and restaurants, which offer the consumers a pleasant shopping experience, as well as a large range of professional services.

The five main pedestrian entrances of this large structure have been fitted with DITEC automatic entrances. Thanks to the reliability of its products, DITEC has been trusted by one of the top European large distribution chain.
To welcome the customers in the shopping centre, ten Onda doors have been selected, with each door configured as a two semicircles shape. Onda are the curved automatic doors designed to meet the most diverse architectural requirements, and combine practicality with smart look.

DITEC Onda doors offer high performance and, thanks to their last generation components, ensure a continuous operation, able to meet the requirements of a commercial structure of this size.
Safe and reliable, easy and quick to install, Onda is supplied complete with high performance accessories such as the new ultrasound safety sensors on the transit opening, and features PAM 35 aluminium frames, a very popular choice in European shopping centres, for their ease of installation and the opportunity to smartly and cleverly set in the entrance, particularly in the crystal wing version.
Furthermore, Onda is perfectly suited for the most diverse installation conditions, ensured by the availability of an array of configurations.
All DITEC products carry the CE marking, and are designed in compliance with the most stringent current safety requirements. Onda is also TÜV certified.

The supply of Onda doors in the Tiago shopping centre has been made by Siatec, the automatic entrance division of Aluterm Group, the local DITEC partner for over 10 years.
This new European job order is yet another demonstration of the trust placed by the large distribution leaders both in the DITEC brand, an excellent supplier in the automatic entrance industry, and its local sales partner, who show experience, expertise and efficiency on every occasion.

08/03/2010 -

DITEC gain popularity in Middle Eastern countries

Isfahan is one of the most ancient and imposing cities in the world; its beauty was so outstanding that an old Persian saying defined it as “half of the world”. Even nowadays, this Persian city boasts a large number of architecturally stunning buildings and has been designated by Unesco as a world heritage.

Isfahan is one of the largest Iranian cities, with over 1,600,000 inhabitants and, thanks to its central location within Iran, has also been a crossroad for different cultures and populations, as well as a major economical and commercial centre, still thriving today.
Along its traditional textile and ceramic industries, the city now boasts new trades and businesses linked with the petrol and service industries.

DITEC automatic doors have now been installed in one well known business operating in the city: a luxury show-room covering 2,000 square meters, where traditional and designer furniture is displayed. The show room is laid out over two levels and features an imposing crystal and steel continuous frontage.
This is why we had to select the right doors for this architecturally outstanding building, able to unobtrusively blend in with the very plain frontage. To achieve this, one EXEO revolving door and the two VALOR automatic pedestrian doors were selected.
EXEO is undoubtedly one of the smartest automatic revolving doors available on the market.
Designed a few years ago by DITEC to offer a smart automatic entrance to customers such as prestigious banks, hotels and prestigious offices, Exeo combines a sturdy and sober structure with the most technologically advanced safety devices.
Valor is amongst the most popular DITEC automatic pedestrian doors in many large distribution centres in Europe. They have the great advantage of offering great reliability with “intensive” use.

The work order was carried out by the Iranian distributor J.P.A - Jam Pooyesh Andishe in co-operation with Isfaham based dealer Mina Jam Espadana.

The prestigious worldwide references are increasingly growing for DITEC group, a commercially known brand in over 80 countries of all the five continents of the world.

16/02/2010 -

The third edition of the Batiweb Awards was held in the charming setting of the Automobile Club de France, located in the famous Place de la Concorde in Paris. This is a major award aimed at companies operating in the building and architectural industries, which rewards the best products, voted by the Batiweb.com site users throughout the year.

Set up in 1996, The Batiweb Group represents a benchmark for the specialised French publishing industry.
The Group's two main Internet sites, aimed at professionals working in the building, architectural and design industries – Batiweb and Dkomaison.Batiweb – are visited by over 700,000 users a month and the daily newsletter reaches more than 150,000 subscribers on a daily basis.

The award ceremony was presented by Nelson Monfort, a popular French presenter and reporter, and the coveted prize for the RMP (Reduced Mobility People) category was awarded to CIVIK, DITEC automation for automatic pedestrian doors.
The award was handed over by DITEC France Sales Director, Monsieur E. Plantevin, approved by all attendants.
The reason why the prize was awarded to CIVIK automation is its noble purpose, i.e. to make living spaces more practical and comfortable, by giving a real help to less able and elderly people in particular.

Its ease of installation and versatility of applications, in fact, make CIVIK an ideal automation for highly popular internal sliding or hide-away doors. Simple, light and quiet, CIVIK is fitted with a set of facilities and accessories, which enhance its safety and efficiency by controlling the way the door is opened and its opening times, to allow people with reduced mobility or cumbersome objects to go through, ensuring a perfect operation even in the event of temporary power cuts.

The automatic door is in fact an ideal solution to solve problems associated with architectural barriers. The automation slides very smoothly thanks to the application of the latest technologies and to the higher quality of the processes and materials, and represents a socially responsible project, leading to a gradually more comfortable life for the people who use it.

Developing new technological solutions and a full range of products to meet all requirements is an on-going yet tangible commitment for DITEC.
By winning a Batiweb Award with CIVIK, DITEC has gained yet another seal of quality...directly awarded by professionals...to the number one of professionals!

29/01/2010 -

Specialising in automatic entrances has always been our corporate mission.
All our energies and efforts are focused on achieving the best possible result in this area.

DITEC stands for “DIffusion of TEChnology”.
Designing, manufacturing and distributing entrance automation products to an increasing extent has been in fact our goal, since 1974, resulting in company growth and increased comfort in public and private buildings.

EntreMatic is a Sweden-based supplier of pedestrian doors automation, well known in Northern Europe who is now joining forces and merging with DITEC.

The headquarters of the new empowered organization are in Caronno, Italy and the current EntreMatic headquarters in Sweden become DITEC Entrematic Nordic, in charge of sales in the Scandinavian area.

Everything changes….
because this is the beginning of a new year and a new age.
We intend to give a sign of change and wish to give continuity to our past and to our specialisation.

“Automatic entrance specialists”, the part of the logo identifying our mission and our strongest point, has been transformed into “Entrematic”.

Entrematic: an incisive, short and easy-to-understand term will therefore be with us in the future to face and win new challenges.

Nothing changes…
Except for the better for DITEC customers.

Distributors, dealers and installers will continue to be our face to the local markets . Our partners will benefit from us becoming stronger and better positioned to enter into a new phase, become more competitive, more alert and more innovative.

This is the wish and task for 2010 and further: to work hard to be successful together.

13/01/2010 -

Perched on the hill above Cernobbio, in the locality famous worldwide for being home to the renowned Villa d’Este, the charming restaurant called Il Gatto Nero has been open for more than twenty years.

Apart from the enchanting and magnificent view over the lake and the city of Como, it also prides itself on being a recognised, sought-after destination for many international guests and VIPs due to its fine dining, its wine cellar and to the friendly welcome extended by owner Fausto Fontana. In this warm, welcoming setting, it is easy to come across international actors, sports stars and key business personalities.

“At Il Gatto Nero you have to feel at home”.
This is the philosophy that inspired the owner and led him to enthusiastically and tastefully enhance the restaurant dining rooms with lots of curious and charming pieces of furniture, to recreate the warm atmosphere we find in a truly unique and elegant home.
The restaurant has a large terrace and several rooms, all with magnificent lake views, holding a total of about 120 diners.

The first welcome to greet diners is guaranteed by an efficient TEN model, DITEC sliding door, mounted on a wooden frame crafted by a local carpenter.

The choice of the TEN automation is strictly connected to the installation situation.
In fact, the light aluminium casing and the small size of only 100 mm ensure that TEN adapts and almost invisibly fits in to the other structural elements.

This was a particularly important condition in this case both to conserve the aesthetic impact, since it is mounted on a special wooden frame and because of the small size of the entrance. Il Gatto Nero is located in an old, traditional local home.
Obviously the building has undergone very refined restoration works. But the architect decided not to change the particular characteristics of the Como lake homes that were built by stealing what little space was available on the steep hills, with the resulting small entrances.
In this case, the lower height of the automation made it possible to install an automatic door without taking away room and comfort from the actual entrance.

Ten can also be adjusted vertically thanks to a possible movement of 15 mm.
This way it can offset possible non-alignments of floor and supporting beam.

This is one more demonstration of how the DITEC brand offers a wide range of solutions to efficiently and elegantly automate the entrance of a renowned restaurant, which is what it did recently at Harry’s Bar in the Grand Hotel Duchi di Trieste, in Trieste, just to mention one of the many examples.

12/01/2010 -

Where past and present go hand in hand.

Boasting over 2 millions visitors a year, the archaeological site of Pompeii is the second most visited archaeological site in the world and has been selected by UNESCO as a world heritage site. Pompeii represents one of the most significant examples of Roman civilization and is like an exceptional open book on artworks, habits, trades and daily life of past civilizations. The city resurfaced after centuries of darkness exactly as it was, when it was suddenly covered by a thick layer of ashes and lava during the devastating eruption of mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

In this astounding setting, inside the excavations overlooking the "Casa Bacco", right in the heart of the ancient city, a new cafeteria run by Autogrill Spa has been opened.
To make it easier for the large flow of tourists to visit this exceptional artistic and cultural heritage, the restaurant has been fitted with the most modern and technologically advanced DITEC automatic doors: the new VALOR model.

The selection of the VALOR model was made because of the intensive and continuous transit of people going through the restaurant doors; this requirement is well matched by the prestigious features of DITEC automatic pedestrian doors: practicality, safety, prestige, enticing look, transit control and optimal energy consumption, over and above the most modern technological innovations in the automatic door industry.

Once again, this installation has proved how DITEC automations can improve transit control even in the busiest catering establishments.

10/12/2009 -

DITEC doors are now very well established in the large USA markets.

DITEC branch in Orlando, USA, together with Porto Rican company RefriAmmonia, which installs and manufactures big industrial and commercial refrigeration systems, both in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, has installed a new set of DITEC Sector doors in the new Nestlé warehouse, in Puerto Rico, where a wide range of products for the multinational food company will be stored and distributed.
The new logistic centre has been designed in order to ensure that the internal humidity and temperature are kept at a constant level in order to safely store perishable baby foods.

Sector rapid flexible roll-up doors are normally installed in all industrial and commercial locations where safety and speed are required due to the large number of goods handling operations.
The door is very compact and houses the motor, the control and safety devices, as well as the balancing systems.
Sector is a highly reliable and very safe door.
Compact and technologically advanced, it features a modular counterweighted balancing system with strong driving belts, ensuring a high level of operation and safety, as well as an INVERTER system to adjust speeds, accelerations and braking.
The motor, by operating at the lowest possible power, prolongs the operating life of the automation.
The self-supporting casing, located on the vertical uprights, allows the door to be easily and quickly fitted, thus making the installation stage much easier. The casing also houses and protects all the drive parts.

This new installation at Nestlé new warehouse further enhances Ditec automation popularity and reliability, in an industry where the brand goes hand in hand with reliability and quality.

01/12/2009 -

At the moment there are no promotions.

09/11/2009 -

The location is Vicenza.
Alberto, owner of a company called ALTES, has turned into one of the most capable top DITEC Experts, specialised both in the installation of industrial and unusual applications.

His workshop, able to carry out fabrication work and door/window installations, has long turned into a minefield of the most varied solutions. Making floor recessed gates, passenger and goods lifts for underground garages, sectional overhead doors of all kinds and applications, has now become part of Alberto's daily routine.
His experience and ability to interpret architects' and designers' requirements, has long been acknowledged in the area.
This is why Alberto is always coming up with novel ideas.

Alberto talks to us about his latest project: knee action automatic grilles, installed on balconies in a modern local block of flats.

The architect wanted to offer the final customer a special solution to furnish balconies: a set of very exclusive wooden grilles, boasting a dual function.
They are innovative and pleasing to the eye, in order to improve the look of the building; when closed, they provide further safety for the flat.

When closed, they look like grilles. Being made of wood, they are not aesthetically invasive, yet they act as a barrier, if used on all sides of the balcony.

Before making the final product, Alberto painstakingly produced a prototype.
He automated his product by using the Dor automation, built its linkages by using Box operating arms, used DITEC motor to automate the up-and-over garage doors, and carried out tests both with the new VivaH electronic panel, suitably modified in its settings, and by loading some weights on the grilles, to check its operation without balancing systems and counterweights.

The tests and the actual operation have proved to be so successful that, with the architect's approval, new, similar projects have been considered, but this time using solid panels to make, when opened, an additional shelter for the balcony.

We congratulate Alberto on his professional skills and on being able to come up with and try out new "automatic" installation solutions.

05/11/2009 -

These are the pictures of how our Hungarian distributor ABS has been able to successfully customise our Demo Van for their local DITEC Experts

The pictures provided are self-explanatory in showing how this vehicle represents a truly valuable aid when organising local trade fairs.

This clever idea came into being as an ever more increasing number of DITEC Experts is now attending local trade fairs and events. In Hungary, local distributors contact ABS to be able to display their demo products to the public.

Innovative, practical and original, the new Demo Van is a “turn-key” solution, specially designed to display the entire DITEC product range.

Six metre long and 2.5 metre wide, the Demo Van, in fact, is fitted with all the products that DITEC Experts need to best advertise their offering: the new VALOR automatic door, the residential sectional overhead door, the automatic barrier Qik and the demo versions of automatic gates.
The van also features a small office area, to be used to accommodate enquiring customers in comfort, as well as a second area equipped with shelving, where all the necessary documentation can be stored.

ABS offer all their local retailers the opportunity to use this vehicle. The company has also developed a yearly planning, listing DITEC Experts’ trade fair periods and all their bookings.

“Our new promotional vehicle has been used since June,” said Lajos, ABS sales manager. "It travels from fair to fair and has already been very welcomed by our customers, who can now dedicate all their time for their core tasks: selling and installing, with the peace of mind of knowing that, when it comes to exhibiting at trade fairs, they can simply go ahead and book them without the hard work required in organising and setting up their stands.
The van, in fact, is always delivered ready-to-use, well stocked with the wide range of brochures required.”

We are proud of our partners who, once again, have proved to have great passion and real commitment in promoting our brand.

Thanks Lajos and well done to your local staff for this amazing vehicle.

19/10/2009 -

The Gaetano Pini Orthopaedic Institute is one of the earliest and greatest reference points for Orthopaedics and Traumatology in the city of Milan. The Institute, which is located in the city centre in the area of C.so di Porta Romana, was first established in 1874 and was gradually expanded in the 1930s and '40s.
World War II caused the destruction of most blocks, which were partly rebuilt, with new facilities being added in the 1960s.
As from 1998, the Institute was gradually involved in major refurbishing works, the most recent concerning the First Aid Station, called Emergency Traumatology Unit.
This new Unit (ETU) was indeed officially inaugurated on 28 September last, after remaining closed for a three-month period.

Of course, the entrances and the internal doors of examination rooms were also re-designed and installed.
The choice of the supplier for the firm to be awarded the work contract turned to the DITEC brand, and in particular to one of the historic and most experienced DITEC Experts, the company Eurosistemi in Turin, managed by Giuseppe Berti and by his son.
The supply involved three pedestrian entrances to the facility, complete with PAM 35 frame and with the most innovative and technological automation mechanism for sliding doors proposed by DITEC, the model known as Valor in its N version (designed for very intense use, up to 3 million cycles, with a frame capacity up to 240 kg).
The choice of this automation, certified according to the restrictive TÜV regulations, was due to the requirement to have a product displaying all the most innovative safety devices, with self-adjustment and control based on advanced electronics, and which could be also monitored remotely thanks to a system known as DMCS, the Door Monitoring & Controlling System.
Valor is also equipped with a built-in display, which makes it possible to change in real time all possible parameters, as well as viewing operating diagnostics.
The doors are all managed as emergency exits: in the event of problems, they can open as an ordinary swing door, simply by pushing.
Four more DITEC automation mechanisms were also installed: on three doors provided with one wing, three Rex automation devices were installed: these allow considerable energy conservation in the stand-by mode; on the other hand, on a double swing outdoor exit, the Wel M automation device was installed: this is also certified according to TÜV and ANSI (a rather restrictive American standard).
Wel is specially suited for very intense use with outdoor exit doors. The Wel M automation device was also installed in compliance with safety standards that allow it to work as an emergency exit and at the same time ease the transit of disabled users, thanks to its push&go function.

This very recent installation is another tangible acknowledgement of the reliability granted by the DITEC brand in automating entrances in very busy situations involving the need to devote great care to safety, as required in a hospital facility.

06/10/2009 -

In the recently inaugurated Liege TGV Railway Station in Belgium, designed by Santiago Calatrava

The opening ceremony for the Liege TGV railway station was held just a week ago; this magnificent new structure will be at the service of the estimated 30,000 daily passengers travelling on the TGV trains to France, to Germany and to other cities in Belgium.

The des Guillemins station, a huge glass, steel and bluestone “cathedral” was built on the foundations of the previous station, which was completely demolished to make way for this architectural marvel, with a colossal project lasting almost 10 years that cost the sizeable sum of 435 million Euro.

The new railway station has revolutionised the skyline of this beautiful city in Walloon Belgium and the figures rotating around the new facility are enough alone to make it outstanding.
Starting from the dimensions: in an area of 29,000 square metres, the station is 200 metres long, 40 metres tall (culminating in the large “sail” that bears the unmistakeable mark of the Spanish architect) and 73 metres wide.
And the amount of material used: 80,000 cubic metres of concrete, 33,000 square metres of glass and 25,000 bluestone blocks held together by 10,000 tonnes of structural steel.
But not even these numbers and immense sizes prevent the station from offering passengers and visitors an impression of lightness and airiness that are two of the key characteristics of the works designed by Calatrava.

In this highly prestigious situation, the DITEC group has also made its own fundamental contribution through its Belgian branch.
It so happens that DITEC is the name behind the automatic doors of the three external entrances and two internal entrances located in the new des Guillemins station.
And the “numbers” here are also right up at the top. The door wings are made entirely from glass without aluminium profile sections, they have a 3-metre transit opening and VALOR automations to operate 1.5-metre wide wings weighing a substantial 105 kg.

This new product reference of the DITEC group is further proof of the fame of an international brand specialising in automatic entrances, fame that extends not only to the quality and reliability of its products but also to the technical expertise of the companies in the Ditec Expert circuit, present in Europe with more than 500 professionals, selected by the parent company both for their capacity to customise the contracts allocated to them and for that extra inventiveness that “makes the difference” in unusual situations like this.

Some of the other impressive works recently completed by internationally renowned architects with the contribution of DITEC to automation also include the new Hall designed by Jean Nouvel at the Genoa Exhibition Centre, which every year hosts the famous Boat Show.

21/09/2009 -

In the Rotaliana Plain, which stretches to the west of the course of the river Adige, north of Trento, lies one of the Trentino Alto Adige lands which has the greatest calling for wine production: wine yards and cellars follow one another in a tidy and continuous fashion and the wines produced here have now won an international name. The production of the local wineries, located in the heart of the Brenta Dolomites and ranging from the natives vines Marzemino and Teroldego, to the imported ones, such as Chardonnay, Muller Thurgau, Cabernet, and the excellent Classic Method Trentino DOC, boasts extremely high quality.

Here is the headquarters of the historic and important Gruppo Mezzacorona, established in 1904, one of the most innovative and dynamic wine growers and producers, not only in the Trentino region but countrywide: a real example of Italian production excellence.
But grapevines are not the only aspect characterising the landscape and agricultural production of the area: an equally important economic resource of this region, and of the area extending beyond the river Adige, are apples, whose plantations extend as far as the eye can see from the plain to the offshoots of the hills. The Trentino Alto Adige territory has always guaranteed optimal conditions for the cultivation of high-quality apples: genuine and crunchy fruits, representing over 60% of apple production in Italy.

The Valdadige Apple Consortium represents the fruit-and-vegetable section of the Gruppo Mezzacorona and, with its 400 hectares of apple orchards, it contributes to the production of the province, with approximately 25,000 tons of apples a year, in various qualities. The consortium comprises over 300 fruit growers who, with passion, professionalism and the employment of modern technologies, devote their life to the cultivation of apples.

Works have been recently completed for the extension and renovation of the Consortium warehouse, which is located right next to the group headquarters, in the town of Mezzocorona.
These works have resulted in a modern building, a healthy environment that makes it possible to carry out the grading, storage and packaging of the fruit in a refrigerated location, to guarantee maximum freshness and quality to consumers.

The warehouse has today 32 lines for the grading of the apples, which allow for the selection of the fruits based on product quality assessment, by taking into account parameters related to colour, size and defects. The overall number of refrigerators, which guarantee the storage, freshness and healthiness of the apples throughout the year, has reached 80. Furthermore, the consortium has today 6 packaging lines, which allow for the employment of packaging in different materials and sizes.
As part of the overall warehouse renovation works, appearance has also plaid a role, through the realisation of an unprecedented architectonic project, providing for broad and elegant spaces, which are nonetheless perfectly integrated in the environmental context and in harmony with the surrounding environment.

If the facilities of the Valdadige Apple Consortium are now complete, this is also thanks to Ditec, which, through its own Ditec Expert Sicur Sistem Elettronica in Trento, has contributed to the installation of eight Sector automatic doors displaying great flexibility, which is what is needed in an area where many demanding merchandise handling operations take place. The Ditec Sector automatic doors display a strong structure, which at the same time offers the advantage of having extremely reduced overall dimensions.
The Sector doors are therefore ideal for areas where fast handling and frequent transits take place, as in the case of the Valdadige warehouse in Mezzocorona.
Safety, convenience, strength, elegance and cleaning ease are the winning features of the Sector doors, which have been installed both in the Consortium apple storehouse and in the fantastic wine production warehouses of the Gruppo Mezzacorona.

Furthermore, about twenty heavy large sliding doors located on the premises of the wineries are provided with the powerful and silent Over automation, which makes it possible to automate very heavy door wings through the provision – where already arranged for – of intelligent safety systems, for both opening and closing, including the “hold-to-run” operation mode, prompt movement inversion, etc.
Ditec’s professionalism, with the customised intervention of its own Ditec Experts for each installation requirement, also manifests in the maintenance and care devoted to all doors installed; in this way, produce is perfectly preserved and can express its high quality level in the best possible way.
Furthermore, inside the exclusive point of sale of the Mezzacorona Wineries, the Rex automatic pedestrian door has been installed to welcome every day the tourists and the fine gourmets who can directly purchase the excellent wine proposals of the Mezzacorona group.

08/09/2009 -

About two years ago, the shareholders at the time of Ditec decided to consider different alternatives for the future for the company. The shareholders were determined to find and select a partner to support Ditec’s strategic mission in automatic entrance systems. The criteria included partnering with a strong and determined industrial group, willing to invest with the aim to continue Ditec’s successful development experienced over the past 35 years.

ASSA ABLOY was the shareholders’ choice, matching well with the criteria set and with Ditec’s strategic mission.

We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with ASSA ABLOY for Ditec’s future. We are sincerely confident that with this common future, our 550 employees of the Ditec Group will have an excellent development of professional growth, within the ASSA ABLOY Group. The ASSA ABLOY Group stands for successful development financially, greatness in professional competence, enthusiasm and growth opportunity, to the benefit of our employees.

We welcome ASSA ABLOY and wish this alliance best wishes, rich in successes.

Renato Calza

Silvano Angaroni

Armando Vecchi

Caronno Pertusella, 08/09/09

24/07/2009 -

As well as being the Italian capital of fashion and finance, Milan is also an international centre for conferences, meetings, scientific events and social gatherings.
Milan has a hotel where these events have always been held, and which is still boasting a timeless beauty: we are talking about the world famous Hotel Principe di Savoia.

Designed by the Italian architect Cesare Tenca and first opened in 1927, the Hotel Principe di Savoia has always been one of the top meeting places in Milan which, since the day it opened, has welcomed foreign businessmen and traders, cultural icons, politicians and the aristocracy.
Located in the central Piazza della Repubblica, the Principe di Savoia hotel has welcomed many celebrities since it first opened: Gabriele d’Annunzio, Erich Maria Remarque, Charlie Chaplin, Evita Peron, Maria Callas, Elisabeth Taylor, David Rockfeller, Aristotele Onassis, Henry Ford and Gianni Agnelli.

The “neoclassical” frontage of the Hotel Principe di Savoia is the welcoming entrance of one of the most exclusive hotels in Milan, which is why the hotel has a smart, tasteful entrance, beautifully matched with the rest of the building, and boasting the traditionally most exclusive symbol featured in all luxury hotels: the revolving door.

The traditional manual revolving door, however, has been replaced by a more modern, automatic revolving door. The contract to automate the entrance of the Principe di Savoia Hotel impressive hall has been awarded to DITEC, which installed one of its smartest and clean looking automatic doors, boasting a smooth design and fitted with an advanced technology, specially in terms of safety: the Exeo revolving door.

Exeo, despite its solid and compact frame, rotates quietly and unobtrusively and gently accompanies anyone passing through. The door frame has been manufactured by Ditec with extreme precision, according to customer's requirements, ensuring a product which is perfectly matched with the rest of the building. The door diameters can range from 180 to 400cm.
A larger diameter entrance can be accommodated by fitting Exeo older sister: Ampla revolving door.
The fixed and moving supporting structure have been manufactured with PAM 35 aluminium profiles and are fitted with unbreakable glass of different thickness; the top structure is fitted with a steel frame covered by sheet metal panels, in order to hide the gear motor and the electronic control unit, which operate and control the door. To ensure the safest conditions during the moving wings' operation, the entire system is fitted with a sophisticated electronic control panel which controls each movement and which can be equipped with many optional devices.

With this latest installation Ditec has once again proved its capability to successfully match high technological and safety standards with a smart looking automatic door, perfectly blended with any frontage, even the most exclusive and prestigious environments such as an upper 5 star hotel located right in the heart of Milan.

07/07/2009 -

The internationally renowned architects practice Iosa Ghini Associati has designed the new and futuristic Ferrari Factory Store, recently opened in the Serravalle Designer Outlet, the largest European designer outlet, boasting over 180 top quality stores and more than 48,000 msq dedicated to shopping and entertainment.

This is also the very first Ferrari Factory Store ever opened in Italy: covering an area of 370 square metres, it is located near one of the Designer Outlet entrances, detached from the shopping centre.
And for a very good reason!

The Ferrari Store, in fact, is an outstanding example of shop design, conceived as a spectacular large curved crystal gallery, which turns into a frontage and houses the shop itself, as well as two F1 2002 car models, in order to recreate the atmosphere found in racing cars pits.

The entrance of this new stores has been made by Ditec, and features the new, top of the range Valor automatic door, complete with thin, almost invisible PAM 16 profiles, which allow the door to be unobtrusively fitted in the glass gallery.

TÜV certified, Valor is the new and innovative Ditec automatic door. Valor automatic door was selected for a number of reasons: its performance when heavily used, its ease of installation and maintenance, its reliability and safety of its last generation electromechanically operated components.
The door is fitted with advanced electronics, self-adjusting automatic opening time and self-adjusting transit opening. It can also be fitted with a display built in the guard, allowing all door parameters and operating diagnostics to be controlled.

Ditec has already installed automatic doors in Milan Ferrari Store, once again designed by Iosa Ghini architects practice, and in Maranello Galleria Ferrari, the company famous museum, worshipped by all, and not just by the prancing horse enthusiasts.

06/07/2009 -

Trieste. April 1990.

“Hi Giovanni. My name is Garascia and I work for Ditec. A Finnish customer has bought a number of automatic doors and wishes to install them on a ship under construction in Monfalcone shipyard.
Could you take care of this?”
“On a ship? I have never been on a ship, but I could give it a go. Send me a fax with all the technical data.”

These words still stick out in Giovanni Bozic's mind.
This, in fact, was the phone call that started a successful business venture which led him to set up and manage one of the leading automatic door installation companies currently operating in the highly specialised ship construction industry.

Giovanni Bozic looks like the main character of an adventure novel. Tall, with jet-black hair, a white sailor's beard, a reassuring, calm voice and a deep, charismatic look. We could easily picture him wearing a navy officer's uniform. As a matter of fact, ships are his world.
Centraltecnica, the company he founded exactly 30 years ago, specialises in installing and servicing automatic doors on ships and yachts. The company's head office is located in Trieste and is managed by his son Davide, whilst its branch is based in Miami, USA.

We meet him in his Trieste offices.

“In 2009 Centraltecnica will celebrate 30 years of business” he proudly reveals.
“Trieste is where we started our business, by installing residential electrical systems. We also had a radio and TV repair workshop. We installed centralised TV systems and aerials in all the main blocks of flats in Trieste.
From then on, we moved to the intercom and electric gates markets and, finally, to the automatic door market. When the first supermarkets started to expand, in 1985, we met Ditec (then trading as PA) and we started to install their automatic doors.
We gained experience and proficiency in the residential area, up until that strange phone call in 1992, which paved the way to new challenges on our first ship.
The ship was and still is the Statendam. Those automatic doors are still in place and fully operational today.
I must say we have serviced them well over the years! We have replaced some parts. We have removed the limit switches and added and encoder. But the beam and the main mechanical parts are still there, in full working order, after all these years.”

What made you decide to specialise in this tough market? We ask Giovanni.

“As always – he replies – my passion for this type of work and my desire to deal with top level customers, to develop new projects in a new and unchartered territory.

Appreciation for our work, our expertise, skills and, last but now least, our willingness to solve technical problems, has all helped us to overcome very hard times. These were our very first installations of automatic doors on board of ships. Many problems were cropping up and nobody had the answer. We have become the benchmark in sorting out many small, new issues experienced both in the shipyard and in the servicing areas."

But how many automatic doors are there on a ship?

“The number varies according to the ship. It can range from 12 to 62 automatic doors, such is the case of the Queen Victoria. “

In what way has today's automatic doors installation process changed compared to the past?

“We must identify two clearly separate stages of our work. The automatic entrance final installation and the actual design.
Strange as it may seem, we will start from the final installation.
After our initial pioneering time, a first era started, where we used to meet up with the ship fitters to plan all the work involved. We would then agree how we should work together on the bridges.
Nowadays the assembly work is more frantic and, in a way, has even got worse.
The working and operating times are controlled by strict rules. There are several companies which operate without talking and co-operating with one another. Many components arrive pre-assembled outside the shipyards, and we then need to dismantle entire structures to insert our doors. You must know that 95% of all installations are not visible, but are built in the false ceilings.
Sometimes we happen to lay cables only to find them cut, after a few days, because room was needed to fit bulkheads and components.
Fortunately, we have a wide experience and are therefore able to minimise problems by directly liaising with other companies involved in the project.
But the automatic entrance has also physically changed.
In the past, the automation needed to be fitted to an existing door frame.
Now, on the other hand, we supply the entire automatic entrance, including the wooden or steel frames, along with a series of technical, architectural and design changes agreed with the ship owner prior to their application.
This is our strength and what makes us different from many other companies operating in our industry.
Nowadays, many companies in the naval industry think that their jobs end once they fit the automation, the cables and the screws. In reality, this is not the case.
What is important is not simply the installation itself, but what comes before and after.
Let's talk about the automations, for example. We work with Ditec. We have tested Ditec's and other manufacturer's automations, but we have decided to stick with Ditec as we found them more reliable.
But when we receive the automation from Ditec, we partly strip it down to adapt it to the ships, and we add a number of special components we have developed over time in order to make them even more efficient and to improve their performance on board the ship.
Ships, and more so yachts, are subjected to on-going rolling and pitching.
Wind, sea salt, thermal expansion, strong and continuous temperature changes really test their operation.
For example, we have developed and patented some spring operated rollers in order to reduce the rolling effect, and some special runners, able to tackle temperature changes.
We fit electronic panels separately from the automation. In 95% of the cases, the automations are recessed and it is difficult to have the guard visible.
Brackets, mountings and cabling must be installed according to very strict fire standards.
Very often we insert additional electrical modules to synchronise the automatic doors and the air conditioning systems. In fact, the automatic doors are connected to the air blades. We connect the air blades control units to the radars to make sure they operate after the doors are closed.
By doing this, less energy is wasted and the air conditioning system and noise level are better controlled.
Another issue I mention with pride– adds Giovanni is finding a solution to a problem that shipping companies had to face, i.e. minimising the number of accidents on board. After this request - thanks to an in-depth investigation carried out by Davide - we have devised, designed and manufactured a number of sensors, all customised for each entrance, in order to increase system safety levels.
I would also like to mention the research and development we have carried out for ADA doors, i.e. automatic entrances for disabled, an area where we are industry pioneers.
But our innovation is far more reaching. I could mention our remote door stop system used to clean the door wings or, in the last ship launched by the shipyard, we have developed a triangular door with mirror finish polished steel frames, which is featured in a huge number of pictures.
We are very proud of this latest innovation.

These are just a few of the many technical solutions we have applied with the ship owners' approval.

In reality, nowadays we have become experts in electronics, door frames, carpentry, CAD design and standards.
All this happens BEFORE the installation and this is what makes us stand out from the rest and has enabled us to increase our market share."

And what happens AFTER the installation has been completed?

What comes AFTER comes under the servicing umbrella.
It all started with a well established international shipping company, which personally experienced the problems linked when many different servicing companies are involved, and therefore decided to select a single company to deal with all the door maintenance operations on their ships. By awarding us the servicing contract, they have enabled us to improve our image and market share.
To work more closely with the ships, we have decided to open an office in Miami.
I have had to learn English and to travel a lot.
It has been a huge commitment, but well worth it.
I now spend long periods of time abroad whilst our office in Trieste is now run by my son Davide, who also shares my passion.
I regard myself as a very happy father. Seeing a future for all my efforts, ensured by my children's commitment and skills, fills my heart with pride and makes it far more bearable for me to live far away from my own city."

We kingly thank Giovanni Bozic for agreeing to be interviewed and we take this opportunity to wish him all the best for his highly successful business.

15/06/2009 -

Qik barrier: innovative design, total safety.

Soft profiles, rounded edges, high performance and total installation flexibility.
Newly designed and technically advanced, Qik is the ideal solution to ensure total security access in medium to high transit environments such as: hotels, banks, shopping centres as well as blocks of flats, companies and camp sites, which always require access control to car parking areas, thus ensuring their use only by authorised people.

The location is Varese.
Tigros supermarkets have opened a new point of sale right in the heart of the city, in a highly populated residential area and in the vicinity of the local hospital.
The supermarket has been designed to offer its customers the highest comfort by providing an underground car park.
However, parking in the area is a real problem; in order to avoid it from being entered and saturated by customers who do not use the supermarket, the car park has been fitted wit a practical access control system.
The car park entrance ramp is fitted wit a Qik barrier, connected to an Axess access system.
Anyone entering the car park must take a bar coded ticket.
The barrier is opened and closed when the car goes past.
To exit the car park, the user must insert the ticket, which is activated by the supermarket tills, in the column located near a second barrier fitted to the exit ramp.
The parking service is free for customer using the supermarkets but is charged to other car park users.
In order to solve the height problem, Qik barriers have been fitted with a two piece arms and with a central pivot. To ease its identification, the arms have been fitted with a light kit: flashing when in use, steady on when not in use.

Safe and reliable
Smart, yet practical and safe, Qik has been designed to last.
The painted pickled metallic sheet metal will not deteriorate with time, even in extreme weather conditions, and gives Qik a clean look.

The lever type release system can also be operated with a key and can be easily accessed from the inspection side; it is also equipped with a cover plate to ensure that all emergencies can be handled in case of a power outage.

The new aluminium rod has been designed to avoid shearing problems by fitting a rubber guard in the top and bottom part of the rod and by the rounded shape of the rotation pin.
Its new elliptical shape makes it more wind resistant, thus ensuring that the 6 metre version does not oscillate in strong winds. The rod is fitted with a rubber end plug and can accommodate a wide range of DITEC accessories (ball joints, red reflective stripings, fixed and moving rest, vandal proof electrically operated lock, skirting, 90° rod ball joint, battery kit).
To ensure better visibility, the direct current version is fitted with a rod lighting kit; the LED will go off when the rod is open, will flash when the rod is moving and will stay on when the rod is closed, in order to highlight its dimensions.

The balancing system uses a single compression spring.
Four springs are available (each of a different colour) which can be suitably positioned and adjusted in order to achieve the correct balance in relation to the dimension of the rod.
The system can be installed either on the left or the right side by simply changing its position.

The alternated current version is equipped with two limit switches, whilst the direct current version is fitted with one encoder, to provide further adjustments required to handle all possible conditions.

Clean lines and attention to details in a heavy duty solution
The single block pressure die-cast aluminium reduction unit ensures an easier installation, a longer life and a cleaner look.
The gear motor bronze reduction gears are subject to less wear and tear, thus ensuring a higher number of operations, up to 1.000.000, to be achieved.

Qik: DITEC solution to access control problems

This is not all!
Tigros supermarket automatic doors are Ditec, too.
The supermarket, in fact, has been fitted with Ditec automatic doors, featuring breakout systems for emergency routes, both on the ground floor and underground entrances.
Once again, Ditec has confirmed its reputation as an automatic entrance specialist.

15/06/2009 -

Ditec presents a state-of-the-art solution for the flexible industrial door industry

Ditec substantial experience in the industrial door industry has allowed the company to achieve yet another breakthrough in the rapid roll-up flexible door industry. These doors, which are designed for high traffic areas, are ideal to be located in areas requiring fast access, both inside and outside buildings.

Smart Reset is Ditec latest new product.
Designed for easy installation, it has been developed to be used in high traffic areas.
A sturdy and compact supporting structure, Ditec brilliantly designed and tested genuine motors and components are the key features which make Smart Reset a safe, essential, simple and easy to fit door.
But there is more.

Smart Reset offers an added benefit, something unique in its product class.
What makes Smart Reset a truly unique door is the provision of a special and innovative system which makes the door self-repairable. With a simple and automatic opening and closing operation, the curtain may be retrieved should it accidentally come off its seating.
In addition to its self-repairing facility, by sliding inside the side hinges the curtain is also very resistant to the passage of air and to wind pressure (up to 120km/h).
Furthermore, the flexible curtains, made of Class 2 self-extinguishing polyester, can also be fitted with windows sections to meet the widest range of operating requirements and, therefore, its safety when the door is crossed.
The curtain is available in a wide range of standard colours, as well as colours on customer's request, to meet different aesthetic requirements which, even in industrial environments, are regarded as important customisable features.

Smart Reset is compact, and has been designed with greatly reduced overall dimensions to allow it to be installed even in sites where space is at a premium.
The new Ditec flexible door is fitted with a hot galvanised steel frame (may also be supplied with oven-baked epoxy coating with smooth finish or fine satin stainless steel finish) complete with galvanised curtain winding pipe and with uprights featuring special self-lubricating sliding guides. In addition, the frame can also be equipped with roll-up roller casings.

Smart Reset is effectively “smart” and technologically advanced.
It can be fitted with an INVERTER system, to control the opening speed, the accelerations and brakings, and with the DSC safety system which reverses the door closing direction when the photocell detects an obstacle near the curtain. The door can also be manually opened by using a semiautomatic device complete with operation rod.

Smart Reset is available in the Basic and Comfort designs to better meet different operating requirements, and is compliant with the strictest national and international standards. Lastly, it can be fitted with a wide range of opening and safety accessories: radio controls, push-buttons, photocells, radars, magnetic loops, selector switches.

05/06/2009 -

Ditec invited over 100 international customers on a cruise

The maiden voyage of the new, luxury Costa Crociere ship, Costa Luminosa, took place between the 16th and the 19th of May 2009, leaving from Venice.
In this glamorous surrounding, Ditec organised a convention for over 100 customers, Ditec international distributors coming from the five continents: from Australia to New Zealand, from Russia to Thailand, from Finland to Greece.
Such a high number of non-European distributors proves that Ditec group, which this year celebrates its first 35 years of operation, has now become a well established brand all over the world in an ever growing number of countries, where the Italian quality of its brand is now widely acknowledged and appreciated.

No other location would have been more suitable than Costa Luminosa to present the latest Ditec products, also because over thirty automatic sliding and swing doors have been installed on the ship.

Costa Luminosa has been designed to shine on the sea like a star.
Innovative, smart and unique, it is the new flagship of its fleet.
Costa Luminosa is a new ship both in its layout and materials. The ship has been designed with attention to details, from the materials to the fittings on board, and caters for people seeking the best.
The light in its most glistening facets, the play of lights, together with its design and the several works of art make it a modern, charming ship.
The outstanding Atrio Supernova, with its precious bronze sculpture “Donna sdraiata 2004” made by the famous artist Fernando Botero, symbol of Costa Luminosa, and the Murano glass chandeliers, are the first examples of sophistications on board.
Costa Luminosa is the group admiral ship, and is 300 metres long and weighs 92,600 tons.
The ship can accommodate 2,800 people in its 1,130 cabins and suites, over 770 of which have a private balcony.
It is undoubtedly the most innovative and scenic of Costa ships, fitted with a set of unique facilities, such as an 18 hole green, and external jogging and roller skate paths.
Over 11 bars, 4 restaurants, 2 swimming pools and several Jacuzzis, and a 3,500 sqm Spa.

The partnership between Ditec and Italian shipyards has been established many years ago and all Costa fleet ships are now fitted with Ditec automatic doors.
Automatic doors are a very interesting product in these holiday villages on the sea, specially in access areas, from the internal lifts to the external common areas, in the swimming pool area, in some service areas.

On Costa Luminosa, for example, you can see the magnificent food served in the large Taurus restaurant two-storey hall, with its stylish look ensured by its soft lighting and the shining glows reflected on a central crystal bridge.

After leaving the restaurant, you can walk along the outside bridge, cleverly lit with a pleasant soft cobalt blue light, which encompasses and surrounds the black nights in the open sea, with its huge number of indoor lights.
You can admire the smart satin crystal sliding doors, operated by Ditec Bis automations, and then, to go onto the bridge, you go through majestic wooden doors, also automated with Wel.

Large and lively, the Lido Dorado is the ship multifunction area. It is used in the daytime to sunbathe and swim in the swimming pool thanks to the automatically operated crystal roof. It is also used at night, where great parties and games are held, and buffets and a TV mega screen are available.
Automatic entrance doors on the ship are controlled by Ditec automatic doors both to give it a smart look and to control the air conditioning inside the lift shafts or the self service restaurants they give access to.

The same applies to the access to Lido Delphinus, at the stern of the ship. A magnificent balcony on the sea, where all the stunning views when sailing or the magic of starry nights can be admired. Even here, all automatic doors fitted are Ditec.

On board of Costa Luminosa a total of twenty Bis automatic sliding doors have been installed, whilst ten sliding doors have been fitted with Wel automation. Once again, Ditec automations have been selected for their outstanding practicality and reliability even when used in very heavy duty applications, such as on board of a cruise liner and, above all, in extreme operating conditions, including sudden temperature changes, strong depressions and heavy winds, constantly humid conditions and corrosion caused by salt.

05/06/2009 -

Venice is undoubtedly the most beautiful city in the world and visiting it is a real pleasure.
Anyone with mobility problems because of being confined to a wheelchair has to face real troublesome obstacles.

Hotels and shops located in the small Venetian lanes are normally fitted with automatic doors, to give an initial real help to less fortunate people.

However, there is still the problem of how to go through an entrance both because of the lack of space and because external fixed ramps cannot be fitted as they could hinder free circulation.

However, the sensitivity of a hotel owner has managed to overcome the regulations stated in this heartless standard by making him find a solution able to offer an even better support for such people.

A solution to this problem has been found by Mariuzzo, a Venice based company specialised in sheet metal working; with the co-operation of mechanical professional engineers and of Sikura Service, a Ditec Expert specialist in automatic entrances, has developed and manufactured an apparently normal "step", able to automatically convert, if needs be, to a real ramp for disabled.
Thanks to a human and professional sensitivity, this access system has been manufactured and patented and fitted with linkages operated by Cubic 6 Ditec automation.

At first glance, it is a normal step which can be covered with any material to better fit with pre-existing access stairs which, by connecting some special mechanical drive linkage operated by Ditec Cubic 6 automation, is able to convert it to a real ramp for disabled.

Therefore, Cubic 6, born as a Ditec automation for swing gates with a 24 V low voltage operation, and designed to be used underground, when used by less fortunate people, has proved to be efficient and reliable, thanks to the certifications gained by Ditec.

To date, several installations have been completed with this innovative access system and the clips made clearly show how the entrance is no longer a problem for people with reduced mobility.

This installation deserves a special thank to the professionals who have played a part and to Ditec expert Sikura Service, who have developed a truly useful solution with compassion as well as thought.

05/06/2009 -

A unique event in the history of the Italian Navy shall be taking place in Genoa today and, for this reason, it may rightly enter the Guinness Book of Records. Indeed, today there will be the christening of two ships at the same time: the two new cruise liners of the Costa Group, which were built in the same shipyard, will be launched in unison during a single ceremony to be held in the port of Genoa.

Costa Crociere has organised for this occasion a really extraordinary and memorable event, and has announced it through all national and international media and especially through its website (www.mondocosta.it), where you will be able to follow, in real time, the christening of the two new stars in the glittering Costa world, Costa Luminosa and Costa Pacifica, both on the dedicated website and through the most famous social networks.
This event will be celebrating Italy and the Made-in-Italy style, and will be sponsored by the Council of Ministers, as well as by the Liguria Regional Authority and the Municipality of Genoa. The evening will be opened with an extraordinary exhibition of the Frecce Tricolori (the aerobatic demonstration team of the Italian Air Force), which will officially inaugurate the event; the celebration itself will be open to all the guest of the two ships, both passengers and invited guests, and the same will apply to the performance part: this will be inspired by the common theme “Italian Portrait of Music and Light” and will involve, among its protagonists, the gymnasts of the women’s national team and many other world-famous Italian guests, who will follow one another throughout the night.
Sponsors to each of the two liners will be two women who are well-known to the general public, two top-ranking artists: Valentina Vezzali will stand godmother for Costa Luminosa, the ship of light, this gem of technology and radiance, whereas Costa Pacifica, the ship of music, will enjoy the sponsorship of Noa, the famous international singer known for her dazzling career.

In this extraordinary context, Ditec will also play a major role: indeed, the automatic doors installed on the ships are the efficient work of the entrance automatism designer known through Europe.
The automatic, sliding, swing and telescopic doors are all installed in the busiest passenger transit areas, on the decks leading to the restaurants and cafeterias, in the transit areas leading to the sporting facilities and to the swilling pools, as well as in the area devoted to the formula-one simulator. We can definitely state that the guests who will be witnessing this extraordinary event will be also warmly welcomed by the efficient and elegant eservice offered by the Ditec automatisms.

This is not the first time that Ditec cooperates with shipyards, where Costa Crociere liners have been built, as it has already equipped with its automatism all the most recent ships launched by the Costa fleet: Costa Fortuna, Costa Concordia, Costa Serena, Pala Costa in Savona, and now the last two ships, “twinned” in this baptism of sea.

One of the two ships, Costa Luminosa, has also recently hosted, during the maiden voyage that took place two weeks before its christening, the latest Ditec convention, designed for its international representatives.

Costa Pacifica, an even more impressive liner, with its 114,000 tons and over 1,500 cabins, one third of which has a balcony overlooking the sea, is also an extremely original ship designed for music: indeed, each deck and each area of the ship has a soundtrack of its own and, for the first time, we have a ship furnished with a recording studio open to passengers!
Costa Pacifica has a 290 metre length, a 40 metre width and 62 metre height. It can carry 3,780 passengers and 1,100 crewmen.

This latest order certainly represents for Ditec a further acknowledgement as to the quality of its products and the professionalism displayed both in installation work and in technical assistance, in a field, such as the naval one, where weather stresses and conditions are not always optimal.

On the other hand, this renewed double reference offered to Ditec by Costa Crociere is also interesting from another point of view. The growing interest displayed for this kind of holiday, despite the general recession experienced at this time, has positively boosted the Italian shipbuilding sector specialising in large cruise liners and, consequently, all the allied industries that in the country equip and furnish these fabulous sea gems.

With Ditec, you stand out!

04/06/2009 -

In one of the most beautiful Italian squares, in the Grand Hotel Duchi, a historic building in Trieste

The world still has very famous historic hotels which still maintain the charm and atmosphere of times gone by, when royals, aristocrats, artists and other celebrities in the world of politics, culture, science, entertainment used to walk over the red carpets laid for them.

One of these examples is without doubt the Gran Hotel Duchi of Trieste, which overlooks one of the most beautiful Italian squares, the Piazza Unità d'Italia in Trieste.
A huge number of celebrities have stayed in the belle Epoque atmosphere of this large hotel.
Some of the latest celebrities include Noor queen of Jordan, Nobel price winner Rita Levi Montalcini, Sting, Claudio Abbado, Francis Ford Coppola, Eduardo De Filippo.
In the stunning setting of this hotel building, which dates back to 1872, we find ‘Harry’s Grill, the hotel restaurant, designed by the famous Arrigo Cipriani, who also managed the more renowned Harry’s Bar in Venice.
The restaurant, one of the most exclusive establishments in Trieste, still has the charm and atmosphere of the furnishings found in the Venetian bar; likewise, Harry's Bar in the hotel has been fitted with an identical copy of the famous bar.

The doors connecting the small entrance to the main lounge, crossed by the distinguished and international clients of Harry's Grill, have recently be fitted with one of the most innovative Ditec curved automatic sliding doors, the Volo model.
In addition to its smart look, Volo boasts a quiet operation, a smooth opening action and the interesting feature of being able to better match any architectural frontage project.
The automation is very compact, with a thickness of just 10cm.
The door fitted at Harry’s Grill is very large, with wings reaching almost three metres in height and perfectly blends in with the somewhat retrò look of the restaurant, as well as with the sober elegance of a refined and discreet environment, which requires top quality products to be selected, even highly technological products, such as those offered by Ditec, and that, above all, these products are discreetly integrated in the architectural features and the ambience of the establishment they are fitted to.

15/05/2009 -

Music is a universal language, able to give people positive emotions.
The word Emotion (E-Motion) means getting into action, and therefore moving.
In short, we can say music can be seen as a pleasant tool to “move” smoothly and graciously with other people who are close to us.
Therefore, co-ordinating movements of our bodies is of utmost importance. To achieve this, music must have a consistent and even rhythm, just like the movements of automatic gates and doors.

Opening and closing an automatic door or gate with a single touch of the remote control has now become a trivial action we perform every day of our lives.

In reality, if we stop and think about it with a touch of poetry, the door closing without being touched is a prerequisite and evidence of progress.

At Ditec, we believe that spreading technology, which inspires our brand, is not just part of our company expansion program, but is also a socially useful program, as it gradually improves comfort for people, public and private buildings.

It is an on-going process.

Ours are constantly moving products and life tools.

Why not discover them when a sweet and lively music is being played in the background?

27/04/2009 -

Large work order for Ditec in the newly built Galileo residential complex in Bergamo

An almost entirely new and smart residential complex in the city of Bergamo has been built over a piece of land once occupied by the Magrini Galileo factory, one of the oldest Italian manufacturer of electrical material. The old factory has been remembered by retaining and restoring its tower, and by the name given to the area, “Residenze Galileo”.

The project undertaken for this large area covering 50,000 square metres required seven residential buildings to be erected, to house around 250 flats of differing sizes and featuring the most modern technologies and according to bio-architecture principles. The area housing the buildings features cycle and pedestrian paths and boasts thousands of square metres of fully usable green areas, shopping areas and nearby facilities.
The whole complex features 300 underground garages built with the co-operation of Ditec, which supplied and installed the same number of sectional overhead entrance doors provided to give these new housing facilities even greater comfort.

By sliding vertically and then along the ceiling, the residential sectional overhead entrance doors ensure more room inside and outside the garage, are more easily to operate and quieter when compared to conventional up an over entrance doors, and improve the look of underground garage areas as they feature smart, insulated white galvanised steel panels, available in different models according to the aesthetic requirements of the building.
In the case of “Residenze Galileo”, sectional overhead entrance doors with white groove panels to match the living environment have been used.

Ditec has also electromechanically automated a large number of sectional overhead entrance doors by fitting on the ceiling the Globe drive unit, extensively tried for safety and reliability. Globe may be remotely controlled and is fitted with a travel control system and an encoder, able to control the speed and decelerations of the sectional overhead door and to detect any obstacle when the door is opened and closed. The door is also easy to install as it does not require any construction work.

In addition to this high number of sectional overhead entrance doors, Ditec has also followed the manufacture and installation of four fireproof entrance doors in the garage underground corridors, in order to insulate the garages in case of an emergency.

This latest installation confirms again how Ditec brand is approached more and more often by large building companies to manufacture and automate sectional overhead entrance doors and garage doors in major project, such as “Residenze Galileo” in Bergamo.

14/04/2009 -

Ditec social network is growing thanks to the addition of a Flickr account, opened by Ditec to show its world of automations and winning partnerships.
There you will find pictures of installations, events, trade fairs and pictures of the official Ducati Corse sponsor.
Just go on line to view the pictures of all the installations you have already seen in our news publications, as well as a collection dedicated to our partner.

Flickr is a social network which allows users to publish and share pictures and to get in touch with other users by exchanging comments.
If you have a Flickr account, simply add Ditec as your friend to receive our new pictures in real time and to send us your comments!
We look forward to seeing you there!

14/04/2009 -

In Trieste, inside a well-renovated eighteenth century building of historic value

We are in Trieste “cità vecia” (Old Town), behind the harbour, inside an area known as Cavana.

Until the second world war, Cavana was an area of prostitution and petty business, temporary residence of many Trieste-based sailors during their stay in town before going out to sea.
A city within a city, a stream of small roads and lanes, of passers-by and residents coming from the most diverse ethnic groups.
Then people started to abandon the area, until ten years ago; nowadays, the area has been rediscovered thanks to a major urban revaluation project which restored the beauty and harmony of an area of great historic and architectural value.

Amongst the renovation projects started in the Cavana area, Casa Maier is certainly well worth a mention.
The building to be renovated is a palace built towards the end of the eighteenth century, in 1798, to be precise, which belonged to the Maier family, a wealthy family but with no history, like many other families living at that time in this Habsburg city. The building consists of three floors built around a courtyard featuring overlaid arches, accessible from the road by means of the original wooden entrance and a large underpass. Nowadays Casa Maier 1798 is the name given to this renovation work, which has taken six years to be completed, and has revealed, behind the fallen ceilings and other abandoned rooms, a sober and well-proportioned building, which is now inhabited by high-class people and is the venue of high-quality business activities.

In this impressive environment, Epoca property developers' in-house designers have decided to fit in the underpass a very smart load bearing glass entrance gate on oxidised brass wings, separating the main entrance facing the road from Casa Maier internal courtyard.

To automate this gate, which required an aesthetically pleasing solution, Ditec was selected for its know-how. The model installed by Ditec was Cubic 6, the underground automation for swing gates suitable to operate prestigious gates, as it perfectly blends in with the design of the gate without affecting its aesthetic value.

To make Ditec photocells even less obtrusive, they have been mounted inside the oxidised brass uprights, manufactured in the same material as the frames, the lift doors and the large windows fitted to the building. Even the cover plate of the underground automation has been manufactured in the same material, to give the whole building a harmonious look.

The ground glass of the wings also allows the heart of the palace to be seen, i.e. the courtyard which houses an impressive forged iron sculpture, weighing 1,800 kg, made by Basque artist Carlos Lizariturry, linking the old palace to the new Casa Maier.
Both sides of the glass wings also feature the sandblasted drawing of the frame, enhancing the beauty of the original wooden entrance, which still stands as a guardian for this beautiful work of art.

Another example of blending old with new, handled by Ditec with its usual skill, whilst keeping the integrity and the harmony of this historically valuable building.

To expand on this piece of news, we have asked Alessandro Beltrame of Epoca srl, property developers, some additional information on the work undertaken to renovate Casa Maier.

“ In via di Cavana no. 14, Trieste, a three-storey 2200 sqm building with two staircases and two lifts was converted into 15 flats and 5 shops. Quality was on top of the agenda during the design stages, pursued and achieved with common sense, without wasting money. All design choices were made with consistency, throughout the building, always pursuing the same common thread, explained by all decision makers involved with the project and then understood and approved by all the workers. The best products, materials and processes were selected with humbleness and patience. The project was set up to achieve quality of life, innovation, overall beauty, whilst protecting the history of the building, in the pursuit of simplicity, lightness, balance, and uniqueness without exaggeration. Quality which started from the building site, where the workers were handled with care and respect. Quality which was part of the friendly relations with the customers, who were taken care of from the presentation to the finishing and furnishing stage. The outcome of the project was a comfortable house, where anybody who visited, whether involved with the project, assessing its aesthetic value or just ordinary people, has been able to feel the care taken and the completeness achieved by this project. It is not the garden of Eden; our home is very human, we have experienced rage and disappointments, but the result has been successful, and will lead us to do it again... with the same style but with different, always new ideas.
We have asked Ditec an unconventional project for the automation of a gate requiring the fulfilment of very specific performance, reliability, and after-sales quality requirements, which are part of our systematic project as much as our customers’ smile.”

27/03/2009 -

Close to Tiefenbrunnen railway station, near Zurich, Switzerland, a disused area once belonging to the Swiss railway company, one of the most unique car washes to be found in Europe has been built.

The car washing facility, boasting a modern and appealing design, features a cosy piano-bar on the upper floor with a private lounge, designed to entertain waiting customers.

The area has a rectangular shape and is squeezed between the railway and a very busy and noisy road.
This makes it undesirable for any other use. Due to its good position, within easy reach by car and well connected to a major road, the area seemed suitable for the installation of a car wash. Starting from this business project, the building shown in this picture was designed and built by Autop, a car wash chain.

The building is located near a shipyard and the lake. The long shape of the ground inspired the abstract “ship” shape design.

This original “ship”, well integrated with the local industrial estate and reminiscent of a car at speed, meets the requirements of the customer, who wanted to give the structure an easily identifiable style.

The ground floor houses a 50 m long washing line.
A sound and fireproof glass wall divides this section from the self-service coffee shop. This see-through section gives a very stunning visual impact with the water spray.

The upper floor features a lounge with a piano-bar, boasting a stunning view of the lake and featuring an outside balcony. The ceiling under the piano-bar area includes walk-on see-through glass panels, giving customers a clear view of the area used to clean the inside of their cars. The bar is also open at night; on Saturdays and Sundays, closing time is extended to the early hours of the morning.

The front walls and the entrance automatic doors

All parts which make up the front of the building have a diamond shape.

The main front wall features five automatic sliding doors which slides parallel to the glass areas, also featuring a diamond shape.

The doors, automated by Ditec Over actuator and installed by local Ditec Expert Katrak, feature a highly complex shape and are made of multilayer insulating glass.

Over is a Ditec automation designed to operate heavy sliding front doors.

The automation has two main technical features: a 24 V motor and an encoder.
The encoder allows travel and decelerations to be controlled, both when starting and stopping, thus avoiding physical and mechanical stresses to the entire structure and ensuring a longer life to the door.
Easy to install, the automation operates quietly thanks to a rubber belt.

These high-tech doors are fitted with overhead suspensions and runners fitted with rollers sliding on the ground.

As all the five doors can be opened, two runners with different sliding directions were required.
The automation also includes a complex electronic control system monitored by photocells, which controls all opening and closing operations and ensures safety to the people using the doors.

The front door glass panes are level with the building front aluminium frame.
Each of the two external side doors also features an emergency exit on the same plane, designed to automatically stop the door if accidentally opened without hindering its movement.

This remarkable and futuristic car washing system combines unusual architectural shapes with unprecedented luxury items.
The shape of the building, the front walls and the innovative techniques which make it possible to automatically operate the diamond shaped wings are sure to give designers and architects very interesting ideas to work from.

1 4 mm diamond shaped, powder painted thick aluminium plate
2 Sika Tack adhesive
3 Aluminium bracket with bayonet connection
4 Front support
5 Threaded adjusting screw
6 Parallel sliding door
7 Runners
8 Multilayer insulating glass for structural bonding

24/03/2009 -

On 12th of March the new, big Montedoro Freetime shopping centre in Muggia, near Trieste, first opened its doors.
The new shopping centre, built by the company Coopsette, covers a total area of 27,000sqm and provides over 100 shops, a multi-screen cinema, a fitness centre and several sporting facilities, including a go-kart track and an indoor skating rink.
There are also plans to build a new 4 star hotel.

The shopping centre includes Ipercoop, a large hypermarket, where several Ditec Bis automatic doors were selected for the offices, whilst Ditec FLAP flexible swing doors were selected for internal departments and access doors between warehouses and sales departments.

A further 44 Ditec BIS automatic sliding doors were installed at the entrances of underground car parks.

BIS automatic doors, all TUV certified, are the most popular solution selected for large distribution shopping centres, an area where Ditec has already gained a wide experience. BIS automatic sliding doors brilliantly cope with all heavy traffic areas and are fitted with the very latest safety systems, capable of handling emergency situations. These doors are also Energy Saving as they allow power to be saved both during operation and when in stand-by mode.

FLAP flexible swing doors are by far the most widely used doors to divide and to provide access between the loading areas and the warehouse thanks to their good value for money, sturdiness and safe operation. Ditec model boasts PVC flexible curtains reinforced in the highest contact and highest stressed points, and is available in the see-through, colour or in the special anti-abrasive rubber version. The uprights used to insert the curtains are monolithic metal structures (made of galvanised or stainless steel) with wings supported by ball operated mechanisms. FLAP doors are available in three styles: Standard, automation free, push to open; Contact, semi-automatic and operated by a piston which opens the doors in both directions by gently pushing the curtain; and Automatic, with full one-way automation by means of a radar or a remote control operated by two pneumatic pistons. The doors are always closed by springs.

This new reference in the large retail industry makes Ditec one of the leading European automation specialists for top large distribution companies, with major work orders carried out for brands such as Ipercoop, Auchan, Castorama, Obi, Leroy Merlin, Bennet, Il Gigante.

Ditec: a leading brand not only as far as product reliability and quality, but also for their after-sales services.

04/03/2009 -

Slideshow of our stand for everyone who has not been able to visit us and for those who have but still wish to relive with us the 4 exciting days spent at the fair!

Once more, Ditec has focused on safety, design, functionality and energy saving to offer the best and the most efficient technological solutions for any type of door automation and architectural design in the residential, commercial and industrial areas.
From the automatic gate to the garage door, to the restaurant or office entrance, from the operation of very large sectional doors to simple house doors: each end application requires the right solution.

Ditec offered
Valor, the new top-of-the-range automatic door
Onda, the smart, soft lines curved automatic door
Civik, the new automation for glass recessed or sliding doors
gate automations designed with energy saving in mind thanks to new and sophisticated electronic control panels.

The automations have been displayed in a dedicated area of the stand, to enhance their functional and aesthetically pleasing features.

Visitors who were interested in motorbikes were able to admire two MotoGP and Superbike world champion Ducati bikes: Casey Stoner's Desmodsedici and 1098, the bike ridden by the legendary and accomplished Troy Bayliss.

03/03/2009 -

Where the former Officine Savigliano, located in one of the major industrial Turin sites of the beginning of the 20th century once upon a time produced hundreds and hundreds of railway and tram coaches, which have carried millions of passengers through Italy and over the world, today this site is crossed by hundreds and hundreds of people working in the new site of Seat Pagine Gialle SpA, one of the main world operator in the multimedia and Internet telephone directory publishing industry.

These people can now take advantage of the reliable operation of Ditec Bis O automations complete with Pam frames to gain access to ground floor and upper floor entrances of the newly built six blocks of flats, the heart of Seat Pagine Gialle operations.

The six blocks of flats are one of the main urban redevelopment projects ever carried out in Italy of a former industrial area located in the Northern area of Turin, where over 78,000 square metres have been converted in office blocks, residential buildings, services, shopping centres, shops, public places and parking areas. The project, called Spina 3, is located in the heart of Turin technological area, near other major technological sites such a Environment Park, IT Faculty and Virtual Reality and Multimedia Park and, near this site, an underground station for the Turin-Milan High-Speed railway line will be opened.
What remains of the former Officine Savigliano is a large section of the historically valuable building built at the end of the 19th century, which has now been turned into management offices.

The internal areas of the new Seat Pagine Gialle Spa site have been designed with people in mind, i.e. by taking into account their professional and personal needs and to promote creativity, to ease communications and to share the company know-how.

The twenty-six automatic doors have been installed by the company Eurosistemi of Giuseppe Berti, one of the most established Ditec Expert Specialist in the Turin area who has already undertaken door automation projects for public and private companies.
The automatic doors installed in the new Seat Pagine Gialle site are all monitored by the DMCS (Door Monitoring & Controlling System), a monitoring system developed by Ditec professional engineers, which allows multiple accesses to be remotely and smartly controlled from a dedicated control room.

A prestigious location for Ditec automatic doors, where yesterday technology meets tomorrow’s technology.

22/12/2008 -

With Gandhi’s co-operation, Ditec was been able to join the important international fair CEMAT INDIA held in Bangalore, India, from the 10th to the 13th of December.

The new features of this second edition of the international trade fair for Intralogistics CeMAT INDIA, an instant success last year with its 150 exhibitors, were the “Contract logistics” and the “Fresh logistics”.
Due to the lack of national infrastructures, the logistical costs are very high in India compared to standard international costs. Being able to access practical logistical systems is therefore becoming an ever increasingly more competitive challenge for local companies.
This is where Ditec comes into its own, with its full range of products, a consistently high standard of quality, allowing the company to offer the widest range of automatic entrances for all fields of application.
Practical products, full customer management, from surveying the site to quoting, from installing to technical servicing and maintenance.

We take the opportunity to thank Gandhi for its great input both at the Cemat trade fair, where it was able to skilfully present Ditec products and services, and on the field.

11/11/2008 -

Ditec automated sectional overhead doors fitted to the
sixty garages featured in the Valencia (Spain) street race track

3, 2, 1…GO... WITH DITEC!!!

Once again, Ditec will open the doors or, more appropriately, the garage doors to car and motorbike racing teams!
This time Ditec has fitted special automations for sectional overhead doors installed in the 60 garages featured in the new Valencia (Spain) street race track.
After fitting entrances to the paddocks of Ducati Corse, Ferrari Corse, and of other famous Motomondiale teams (Aprilia, Yamaha, Honda), Ditec products can now be seen in the more “strategic” area of one of the top European street race track circuits.

Ditec Spanish subsidiary (Ditec Espanola) has supplied and installed, with the co-operation of the Spanish company Puertas Metàlicas A. Ferrer, as many as 60 Globe automations for sectional overhead doors. Thanks to their efficiency, safety and technological innovation, these automations are perfectly suited to operate the action packed “back stage” of car and motorbike races, requiring continuous and relentless usage.

Valencia race track is located in the “Barrio del Grao”, Valencia harbour area. Despite being a “street” race track, its performance and safety levels are set to be quite high, comparable to those found in permanent race tracks. In fact, the race track logistical and structural plans comply with the strictest standards currently being used.
The race track is 5,473 metre long and features 25 bends (11 to the right and 14 to the left) and, according to estimates, should allow race drivers to reach average speed of around 201.3 km/h.
The most spectacular section of the track is undoubtedly where the vehicles cut across the harbour by going over the bridge over the sea. The race track layout features two medium length straights and several small sharp bends, forming the shape of varying sharpness horseshoes. Certainly not a very predictable circuit, featuring several points “open to interpretation”, to the delight of thousands of racing fans.

Globe drive unit, ceiling fitted and fully sliding, reliably operates any type of garage door, not just sectional overhead doors. The heart of the product is an innovative system with encoder which controls travel, speed and decelerations of the sectional overhead door and can therefore detect obstacles when opening and closing. This is an essential safety feature in the garages of the Valencia windy race track, where all the work has to be crucially controlled and each movement made by mechanics, engineers and drivers must be made as easy and smooth as possible.
To fulfil this requirement, the customer has chosen Ditec Globe automations, the most reliable in the market, and Ditec Espanola as its most skilled partner.

Another outstanding achievement for DITEC, a supplier closely linked with the world of car and motorbike racing; a major reference to be added to the already long list of the European company’s accomplishments, assured by their on-going commitment and innovation which make them the market leader.
Smart as a racing car, fast like a motorbike, Ditec faces all their challenges with outstanding commitment to cross the finish line when the chequered flag is being waved.
Ditec, the automation supplier with an edge.

The pictures have been taken from the local TV channel TV3 report, featuring interviews to Ferrari engineers in their garage, before a Formula 1 race.

21/10/2008 -

On a wooded hillside along the shores of the river Sile, near the Regional Park with the same name, we find a villa, originally built as a residence for friars, which dates back to the fourteenth century. Today, after the latest renovation work carried out after a long period of disrepair, this villa has been transformed into an elegant private residence, surrounded by a large and lush park covering an area of eight hectares, crossed several times by the river and its tributary canals.

The current look of the villa is still reminiscent of its eighteenth century orientation, which boasts delightful features typical of Venetian aristocracy. Until the Austrians ruled the city, this residence belonged to the aristocratic Venetian family Manomesso, as proved by the San Marco’s Lion door plate, fixed to the outside wall of the house, and by the decorations applied to the chimneys inside the villa.
The old features have been mixed with modern additions which, whilst blending in with the architectural and living features of this prestigious and historically significant residence, have equipped it with innovative living and technologically advanced comforts, undoubtedly impossible until a few years ago.

As for the finishes used for this residence, a fully automated and centrally controlled window frames opening and closing system has been selected, which speeds up and eases this operation on the large number of windows fitted, and also provides added security, an essential issue for such an isolated residence.
All the windows frame shutters, designed to fully blend in with the building aesthetics, have been fitted with Ditec RADIUS automations, a simple and unobtrusive linkage sliding on black anodised aluminium runners, rustproof and perfectly blended with the frontage of the building, which may be fitted also where metal grilles are fitted to the windows for security purposes.
RADIUS allows the shutters to be opened and closed not only by pressing the wall mounted control but also by means of a remote control, or to be centrally controlled by connecting all switches to a single control unit.
The low voltage power supply (12V) ensures the automation to be safely operated by users, who can also keep the shutters partly opened, instantly stop them should they be accidentally closed, or manually release them in the event of power failure.

This example proves how Ditec automations can also be used in a prestigious architectural and urban environment, making life easier and providing additional security.

20/10/2008 -

The French region of Alsace stretches over the Rhine valley and the Vosgi mountain chain and it features thick and green forests covering hills and mountains, so thick that its population believes that these mountains are a sort of umbrella protecting the large number of vineyards which have produced wines for centuries. Its production of white wines, in fact, represents around 20% of the entire French wine production.

Visiting this area to discover its culture, food and wines is perfect in autumn, ideal in spring, and will take you through thick forests, colourful villages and the glistening vineyards of the world famous wine trail locally called the “Route des Vins”.

In this picturesque region we find the hotel “LE MITTELWIHR”, located half way between Colmart and Strasburg.

This charming 3 star hotel managed by the STEINLE family is bound to fascinate you with its original architecture, typical of the area (somewhat reminiscent of the Northern European countries crossed by the river Rhine), a mix of modern, comfortable and traditional.

The hotel “LE MITTELWIHR” has 15 bedrooms, all differently laid out, but all equipped with a comprehensive range of modern facilities. The hotel also offers its guests a leisure centre featuring a sauna and a solarium. Furthermore, to make your stay even more enjoyable, the STEINLE family has opened its own restaurant next to the hotel, offering a full range of tasty traditional dishes enhanced by a “touch of modern”.

The entrance of the hotel has been automated with a smart DITEC BIS V straight sliding automatic door, installed by Mr. José Farinha of RIQUEWIHR, one of our experts installing DITEC automatic entrances in the Alsace region.

15/10/2008 -

The partnership between DITEC and the large retail chains continues.

A new addition to the list of large retail chains in Ditec customers portfolio boosts the company’s already established leadership in providing automations for entrances and access doors fitted to large commercial outlets.
After installing automatic pedestrian doors and different types of industrial doors for large retail chains such as Ipercoop, Auchan, Castorama, Leroy Merlin, Obi, Il Gigante, it is now the turn of Bennet hypermarkets, the Italian large retail brand that selected Ditec to automate the entrances fitted to four of its hypermarkets in as many shopping centres.

Like Ditec, Bennet is a fully Italian owned company set up in Como in the early sixties and now regarded as the second leading Italian private company in the large retail chains. From its first Bennet hypermarket opened in Lombardia over forty years ago, the company has continued to expand throughout the North of Italy and currently owns 59 hypermarkets, operating mostly in the regions of Lombardia and Piemonte, but also in the regions of Emilia Romagna, Liguria, Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
A very important job order for Ditec, given the size reached by the Como-based brand throughout the North of Italy and its future development prospects.

Bennet hypermarkets based in Megliadino (PD), Pradamano (UD), Gavardo (BS), and Iesolo (VE) now feature various models of Ditec automatic doors, fitted to different types of entrances: from customer entrances to transit accesses between warehouses and shopping areas or loading and unloading doors.
To welcome customers, we have opted for the very popular and highly reliable Bis, the smart, safe and very efficient straight sliding door, the most suitable solution for heavy traffic areas, now directly requested by our costumers.
For the internal doors connecting warehouses to shopping areas we have selected Kronos, the self-repairable, interchangeable-section rapid roll-up doors, very sturdy and very safe for the usage they are subject to, easily installed in all environments thanks to their compact size.
Generally speaking, they have the added advantage of offering the customer a very large range of modular coloured or see-through curtains to choose from, both in terms of quick replacement in case of damages caused by accidental knocks and, in the case of see-through curtains, in terms of higher safety level when used. The inherent self-repairing feature of these doors also helps to minimise damages, and therefore to reduce maintenance operations.
For loading warehouse doors, we have also used the sectional Lisbon model.

Reliability and customer care are common to both brands, Ditec and Bennet, two companies boasting constant growth and on-going innovation.
Ditec also ensures on-going research and development commitment, innovation and reliability of its products, certified to the most stringent European standards.

06/10/2008 -

For over a year a more European feel has filled the streets of Padova, the Italian city located in the Veneto region, after the completion of the three years long construction work of the brand new Metrotram, the public monorail transport system which crosses the city from north to south and, once fully completed, will be over 10 kilometres long.
The last time a vehicle on rails was seen in the city dates back to the sixties.
Today the Metrotram is a new single rail public transport system which is quiet and pollution free, being powered by electric motors.

APS, the Padova based transport company commissioned to construct the Metrotram, has chosen Ditec to automate the main depot entrances in the Guizza area which, once fully completed, will control the entire Metrotram system.

The Guizza depot will be used not only to store the vehicles but also to maintain, control and monitor the entire line: the 20.000 square metres wide complex will include the tram South terminal, a 600 spaces car park, as well as a building housing four stations to be used to carry out carriage maintenance, washing and cleaning operations. A three storey office building will also be built to house the control centre.

Guizza control centre is therefore the heart and brain of the system, where logistics plays a major role.

Ditec has supplied to the new Metrotram headquarters 12 Lisbon industrial sectional overhead doors, 10 Traffic high-speed folding doors and 2 Qik barriers.

Lisbon industrial sectional overhead doors, fitted in the Metrotram depot station, are the optimal solution to make the best use of the transit opening, being unobtrusive both inside and outside the depot.
Lisbon doors slide vertically and cleverly match the architecture of the building, including its shape and colour. The doors are also safe, quiet, highly resistant to the elements and, featuring insulated panels, offer good thermal and sound insulation.

Traffic high-speed folding doors are the best solution for outdoor entrances, where a large number of carriages go through.
Traffic doors are sturdy and versatile as they feature a flexible PVC, weather resistant curtain, fitted over sturdy metal tubular sections.
They are ideal to quickly open and close the door to let the carriages through, effectively protecting the operators who carry out maintenance work inside the building from temperature changes.

The new Qik automatic barrier, featuring a very modern, rounded design, is the ideal solution to let in and out of the internal forecourt the new smart and modern carriages of the new Metrotram.

Padova is the first Italian city to run a monorail transport system. Ditec is proud to be part of this event.

Ditec. The faster and more effective automatic entrance system to open the doors to the city.

29/09/2008 -

Where there are entrances, there are Ditec automatic doors!

This time the location is Naples, on Mergellina cableway, which first opened in 1931, and connects Mergellina coastal area with Posillipo residential area.

Mergellina-Posillipo cableway has been reopened to the public a few days ago after being closed for a few months, required to carry out a general overhaul of the stations and the line, as well as to technically update all the systems. This installation has been commissioned to the Turin based company Agudio Spa, a real specialist in the provision of cableways and ski-lifts.
The 500 metres long line features a route with four stops and, in certain sections, the gradient is staggeringly high, exceeding 45%, with all the issues it entails in terms of system safety and efficiency.
Within the scope of updating the system, new automatic doors needed to be fitted to the cars and to some of the stations. This installation was carried out by Ditec, with the co-operation of Eurosistemi, owned by Giuseppe Berti, Turin based Ditec Expert Specialist and Agudio Spa.
This installation has proved to be highly “creative”, given that adapting Bis automations to the diagonally located cableway cars required a certain degree of reengineering and converting some standard components to “ad hoc” products.
The automations used for the car doors are the well established Bis O automations, whilst the entrance and exit doors at the top station have been fitted with BISV automations and DITEC PAM35F fully kitted door frames, with ASME and AST breakout wings, certified as emergency exits and enhanced with the installation of the new dual technology control and safety radars model PASAM24W – ACTIVE8.

The development and outcome of this further challenge taken up by Ditec will be described in details in the next October issue of the Nuova Finestra magazine. The author of this article interviewed Giuseppe Berti to find out the “secrets” of this unusual and extraordinary job order.
The end product is a great and interesting article, certainly well worth reading.
Do not miss the next issue of Nuova Finestra.

24/09/2008 -

Ditec partnership with the Ducati Corse team has been signed for the fifth consecutive year.
Opting to confirm Ditec as the official partner for the reigning world champion team means making a strategic choice, as well as sharing common values and the commitment to constantly improve and to work with a solid professional attitude.

These two brands started their partnership when they were not fully known yet to the public at large; however, thanks to their dedication and determination, they have worked together and deservingly succeeded. Their success has led to national and international recognition and appreciation of both brands.

Sponsoring Ducati Corse has ensured Ditec an invaluable added value.

The agreement allows the events of the two motorbike championships, both in Italy and abroad, to be used both as a public relations opportunity with our key customers and to enhance our distribution network.
In the course of our partnership, we have spent unique and unforgettable moments with our customers in the GP and Superbike competitions on circuits all over the world.
Ducati offers their sponsors a VIP hospitality packet, giving them the incredible opportunity to be truly involved and feel part of the event!

The 2002 Ditec Convention held at the Misano Adriatico circuit on the terrace above the sponsor reserved pit-lane is still remembered as one of the most exciting and better attended events.

Being a sponsor means being able to visit the production plant and, above all, being able to attend working meetings with our customers inside their Borgo Panigale site.
The conference room at our disposal is a truly exceptional setting, located inside the historical museum, where the history of Ducati competitions can be truly and fully relived.

“The guest of honour” of several of our stands at the fair is the Ducati DESMOSEDICI, featuring tyres worn out by the tarmac.
The winning bike, placed on a platform inside our stand, attracts an endless number of visitors, who can literally “touch” a dream!

It did not take us long to realise that people like “anything associated with Ducati”!

We have supplied our DITEC Experts with a full line of working clothes, enhanced by a Ducati Corse Official Sponsor logo.
We have also designed a range of promotional items dedicated to promotional and advertising events held by our customers, also embellished by the legendary Ducati badge.

Two great “movement” champions such as Ditec and Ducati were bound to meet up!
Our on-going commitment and co-operation are part of a common winning strategy.

22/09/2008 -

Ditec, undisputed leader in the door and window automations industry, offers a range of innovative products which help to improve the use of living areas, making them also suitable for people who, for safety, disability and reduced mobility reasons, cannot move around as quickly and independently as able-bodied people.
Indeed, the doors of lifts, entrances and bedrooms and external outside door and window frames can often be a major obstacle for people who are unable to move around freely and safely.

Ditec automations, on the other hand, make living areas more comfortable and more accessible and really do help “weaker” people by removing the physical and psychological barriers which stop them from living their life easily and independently.

Equally as importantly, Ditec automations help to make the best use of the house where, for example, the spaces available for door openings are narrow.

The customised, comfort seeking solutions offered by Ditec are many.
Amongst them, we have picked out three products which are particularly suitable for installation inside a house.

OLLY C, THE AUTOMATION FOR INTERNAL SLIDING DOORS
Olly C is one of the latest automations for hideaway internal sliding doors, specially designed for Scrigno mock frames, but equally as suitable for pre-existing frames.
Practical, smart and space-saving, hideaway doors are a great solution to help handicapped and older people with reduced mobility to move around the rooms with ease, as well as being a must where space is at a premium.
Olly C, just like all other Ditec automations, is easy to fit thanks to its plug&play electrical connection, which does not require any cabling for the controls, apart from the electrical power supply to the product.
Door opening and closing operations are fully automatic thanks to the sensors or the doors can be manually operated by a slight pull towards the sliding direction; safety is also ensured as the automations are equipped with an automatically operated antipanic release system, the OC Loka locking device.

DOK M, THE MOTORISED DRIVE FOR SLIDING DOOR FRAMES
Dok M is Ditec technologically advanced solution to automate linear sliding door frames.
Thanks to its microprocessor based control, Dok M system is best suited where straight motion is required, such as automatic internal doors of houses and public places, ensuring an easier access for people with reduced mobility.
Easy to install and suitable for a very wide range of applications, it can be assembled with different layouts as the gear motor and the electronic control panel are located in a single, side fitting block.
Being equipped with special control and safety accessories, Dok M automation is safe and reliable. Indeed, a power system featuring an additional battery allows the automation to be used even in emergency conditions or in the event of sudden power cuts.
Dok M is available in different solutions to efficiently meet people’s requirements: with infrared radar to automatically open the door or with push-button panel and/or remote control.

CIVIK, AUTOMATIONS FOR AUTOMATIC PEDESTRIAN DOORS
Civik is the new Ditec automation suitable for pedestrian doors which is able to fully satisfy all application requirements in residential, commercial and industrial buildings for all types of standard use.
Civik is a motor complete with a sliding guide with control panel, microprocessor and “encoder”, suitable for light traffic areas and especially suitable for internal linear sliding doors in domestic applications.
Civik is also an automation for door frames which helps less able people to overcome the many difficulties they encounter when carrying out apparently simple daily actions like opening and closing a door.

As an added benefit for users, including those with little technical experience, all Ditec automations are easy to install even on existing frames, as they have very low maintenance and are very compact, making them easy to fit and suitable for any type of architecture and project.

Furthermore, Ditec automations are safe, being equipped with very low voltage (12V), and feature easy to use control and safety devices.

Ditec: simple solutions for an easier life.

18/09/2008 -

A mix between history and legend, Rotari takes its name from the Longobard king Rotari who, right here, in the northern Italian region of Trentino Alto Adige, fought some of the most important battles in the history of Italian occupation.
Rotari is also the name of a famous Italian sparkling wine produced by Rotari wine cellars, which is fermented in the bottle with the traditional classical technique.
Sheltered from the cold northern winds, the region of Trentino Alto Adige boasts ideal microclimates which promote the growth of top quality grape varieties. Sharp temperature differences between day and night and the strong climatic difference between summer and winter, an unspoilt landscape and a mountain - Mediterranean climate give the wines produced in this region exclusive scents and aromas.
Founded in 1904. the Mezzacorona group is one of the most forward looking and modern Italian wine producers.
Rotari, a famous white sparkling wine, is produced in top quality vineyards spreading over 25000 hectares, grown on the hills of the Adige valleys, daily tendered to with care and passion by the agronomists and farmers who own the wine cellar. All the wines produced are obtained from grapes grown in the grapevines owned by Mezzacorona farms and the wines are produced by using the most modern techniques available. The local climate, with very light and warm days and cold nights, is ideal for growing grapes and ensures optimal results when making the basic sparkling wine produced with classical techniques.
The most popular growing technique used locally is the “twinning” pergolas, giving the landscape its typical “undulating” look.
These exclusive pergolas found here have also inspired the architect who designed the new site for Rotari wine cellars, in the village of Mezzocorona. The resemblance with the vineyards and the hills not only enhances and matches the look of the building with the traditions of the local people, but also greatly reduces the environmental impact on the nearby areas and helps to keep the building cool. Large and gentle hills, with upward growing vines which almost reach the roof.

A well worth visit for all motorists who go through this area (Brennero motorway A22 – S. Michele all’Adige exit) for a guided tour to the complex and fascinating world of Trentino wine and sparkling wine, where they can join wine tasting sessions or purchase one of the their fantastic wines.
The complex also houses a large and well stocked point of sale.

At the entrance, visitors will notice a fantastic Bis model Ditec automatic door.
Reliable, safe and untiring, the door welcomes hundreds of tourists and visitors who, every daily, visit the cellar to purchase one of their fantastic wines.

11/09/2008 -

Savelli Arte e Decorazione Srl has provided services for the cultural world and for the city of Rome for over one hundred years.
The company, located in the heart of the city, was in fact set up as long ago as 1898 and is a famous and traditional institution actively involved in the decorative arts which, over time, has become a solid and important reference point, culminated in the awarding of a plate of distinction by the Italian President.
Savelli shops have been a feature in Saint Peter’s square for over one hundred years, and offer million of tourists a selected range of top quality religious items and souvenirs.
Tourists can find a wide range of precious objects d’art, including the traditional Vatican school mosaic, as well as a collection of small mosaics collected and preserved from extinction by Savelli.
The shops also offer a large selection of low cost items suitable for small gifts, as well as more expensive, important gifts, all sharing the same undisputed high level of quality, and all soberly displayed to the public.
The floor at the entrance boasts a precious mosaic and a reliable Ditec automatic door. Reliable, quiet and discreet, this door has operated this smart crystal glass door for many years.
Inside, other two Ditec automatic sliding doors welcome hundreds of visitors entering the display rooms.

11/09/2008 -

Auchan new shopping centre, the newest and one of the largest Auchan shopping centres in the North of Italy, was opened on the 25th of August 2008 in Via Lario, Monza, occupying a total area of 30,000 square metres.
It is the “greenest” shopping centre as a large area is located underground, in order to cut down on heating and air conditioning energy consumption and to reduce its environmental impact on the area, which will also be enhanced with the addition of a 70,000 squared metres of cycle paths leading to the famous Villa Reale.
This environmentally sustainable shopping centre and associated facilities– a bank, a chemist, a newspaper kiosk, a tailor’s shop, a restaurant as well as many other shopping outlets – also features a low consumption LED outdoor lighting system; as for the park, the lights will be powered by solar panels.

It should not surprise why, within this environmentally friendly shopping centre, Ditec has been selected to automate entrance doors both inside the shopping centre and the warehouse area doors fitted to the Auchan hypermarket, located underground.

To operate the various entrances of the new Auchan shopping centre, as many as twenty-five BIS automatic sliding doors have been installed, which ensure not only low energy consumption efficiency, but also boast important features conforming to safety and emergency standards.
In addition to automatic pedestrian doors, Ditec has also installed other eight Kronos rapid roll-up sliding doors, reliable and sturdy, which also have the important feature of self repairing the sectional curtain should it go off the retention guides because of accidental knocks, often occurring when handling goods in a hypermarket.

It is certainly not the first time that Ditec supplies automations for the large distribution area.
Ditec historic specialisation, prompt response to the customers’ needs, product reliability in terms of quality, safety and, from today, energy consumption, installation speed and quick and effective warranty and servicing, have made Ditec one of the most popular brands requested by the large retailers.

Auchan has consolidated Ditec reputation as an excellence based supplier for the most popular large distribution brands in Europe.

10/09/2008 -

Rome, Saint Peter’s square, where the shop windows directly overlook the Basilica.
This is where the Vatican bookshop is located, featuring a Ditec automatic sliding entrance which welcomes thousands of visitors every day.

This prestigious, perfectly ordered establishment is quiet, peaceful and smells of sacred, freshly printed books.

One of Ditec automation devices fitted is Rex, which smoothly and quietly opens and closes a smart crystal wing door reflecting the most famous basilica of the Christian world.

01/08/2008 -

DITEC, a leading company in the automatic doors industry, boasting an export over 70% of its turnover, sponsors DUCATI CORSE, one of the most famous Italian names in the world.
DITEC is known amongst industry operators as a reliable and safe conscious brand, producing a comprehensive range of top quality automatic entrances. In short: a very popular and respected company. The same applies to DUCATI: just mentioning the name brings out the passion in people. Legendary motorbikes, legendary champions.

Another example of Italian technology at its best.

DITEC has signed a mutually satisfactory partnership agreement with DCATI CORSE since 2003, which connects the company with the prestigious bike manufacturer both in the Motomondiale and in the Superbike Championship.
A strategically crucial, image raising relationship, sure to enhance the stature of DITEC brand.

“It was only natural that two technologically advanced and constantly innovating brands should meet up” – said Renato Calza, DITEC’s General Manager - “especially because we both deal with motion: we focus on automation, they focus on speed, but we both aim to achieve technological supremacy, at all times. The agreement will enable the Italian company to use the events of the two bike championships, in Italy and abroad, to enhance their public relations with their key customers and to extend their distribution network. This is only the first of a long list of added value strategic operations carried out by DITEC brand even outside the industry it operates in.”

Over 70% of DITEC turnover comes from export sales. The selection of this partnership stems from this figure, which required a synergy-based relationship with a world famous brand... and DUCATI certainly fits the bill.

Furthermore, DUCATI boasts several positive features, very useful for a co-marketing and global communication strategy:
1) DUCATI is an Italian company operating in the sports industry linked with great performances and great events.
2) the brand boasts a winning technology linked with mechanical “motion”.
Another key strength for this “winning” relationship is the dual colour company logo: red and grey for both companies.

DITEC wished to establish a connection outside the traditional industry it operates in, with a sports partner taking on a new, highly important challenge. The success achieved by DUCATI CORSE both in Moto GP, with the champion Casey Stoner, and in the Superbike, with the equally as legendary and unfading champion Troy Bayliss, was very fitting to meet this requirement.
The recent victory of DUCATI CORSE in the Moto GP stems from great traditions and from over ten years of domination in the Superbike.

Following the partnership with DUCATI CORSE, we are setting up meetings with DITEC customers in Australia, Germany, Holland, France, Portugal, Spain, China, Italy.

With this partnership DITEC – DUCATI CORSE “Official Supplier”, displays and advertises its brand inside Ducati’s Hospitaliy for the Moto GP, and inside Ducati’s Hospitaliy, the Team’s garages and vehicles for the SBK.

In terms of communication, DITEC can boast DUCATI CORSE brand for the most diverse international merchandising operations.
A good success has been achieved with Ditec new range of working clothes, specifically designed for its retailers, as well as all the merchandising materials which, inside the large number of local fairs attended by DITEC retailers, boast and enhance DITEC stand, or are handed out to all who visit the stand.

31/07/2008 -

Que dire du Lac de Como, sinon plaindre les gens qui n'en sont pas fous ?
(Stendhal, 3 août 1827)

DITEC. Bellagio, lake Como (July 2008)

At the end of the first world war, in the early ’20s, Silvio Ponzini built an inn in a stunning location on the shore of lake Como: two simple rooms and a bathroom, a large fireplace, a bowling area.

Since then, four generations have looked after this charming establishment by the lake.
Today, the owners still welcome the tourists with the same traditional hospitality and consideration inherited from their great-grandfather almost a century before.

The hotel and restaurant is set in a location of rare natural beauty, artistic and cultural value.

The surrounding scenery is stunning and truly romantic, encompassing with a single look the view of the lake and the neoclassical villas.
From the bedrooms balconies and the restaurant veranda, under the American grapes berceau, the view embraces Villa Melzi, with its park and orange groves; the fishermen’ allotments and houses; the old stone harbour with Comballi Giulia and Rosina, large nineteenth century sailing boats used to transport both goods and people; the Romanic Santa Maria di Loppia’s bell tower, Villa Gerli and the Villas of Tremezzina, on the opposite shore of the lake.
From 4 generations, the “Silvio” restaurant has served fish by lake Como offering a simple yet refined and traditional cuisine. The owners, who are professional fishermen on lake Como, ensure the freshness of the fish they offer.

Inside the establishment, now fully modernised, guests can also admire 3 smart doors boasting imposing glass wings, automatically operated by Ditec Bis automations.
The entrance to the restaurant and to the veranda goes through smart glass and quiet operation of Ditec Bis automations.

The installation was carried out by Wolf Claudio, an expert in Ditec automatic entrances, in co-operation with the Ditec Distribuzione branch which, to meet the owner’s requirements, have customised the automation with special details such as the automation casing, featuring the same finish and colour as the walls, in order to make it unobtrusive and smartly integrate it to the style of the establishment.

By matching the colour of the wall and offering a very quiet automation, Ditec have proved to be able to discreetly install their automations and add a touch of elegance to the place they are installed in when installed by a professional Ditec automations expert.

A stunning view and Ditec automatic door technology.
A perfect combination for a romantic evening by lake Como.

22/07/2008 -

DITEC has supplied its Sector automatic flexible doors to the CERVE Spa glassworks, located in Vedole, near Parma.
This is a very important installation for two reasons: one is connected to the technical features and to the installation requirements made by the customer, the second relates to the customer’s site, recently renovated according to innovative Ergo Chromatics principles developed by Ergolab, a Udine-based company.

DITEC Sector industrial high-speed doors have been installed to connect offices, painting systems and warehouses in the CERVE, Bormioli Group glassworks, a company specialising in glass for home, industrial and promotional use. These environments were located in two separate buildings, which needed to be connected.
The connection between these two buildings, where the ambient temperatures and pressures are different, had to be insulated and the two doors had to open one at a time to avoid any loss of insulation.
DITEC Sector doors have been installed in two transit passageways and are therefore synchronised with a logic interlock to perfectly synchronise one door opening with the other door closing.

But what makes this installation even more valuable is the selection and location of Ditec products in an environment boasting state of the art solutions and unusual details, aimed to ensure workers a more comfortable and pleasant workplace.
A rather unusual setting, especially as we are talking about an industrial environment, where implementing quality improving solutions for the workplace is certainly not commonplace; in this case, the environment fully complies with DITEC mission, which aims to implement comfort improving technologies for living areas.
The ergo chromatic solution has been provided by Francesco Marcolin, a European certified ergonomics expert, by carrying out a preliminary ergonomic assessment of all environments and machinery on site, and by taking into account the interaction between the activities of in-house staff and contractors who go through the site.
According to Ergo Chromatics, a branch of ergonomics which studies the application of colour in industrial environments, developed to improve safety and human relations in the workplace, colour does not just affect the emotional conditions, but also affect the body and, if appropriately used, can help to improve efficiency in the working system, where people, environment and machines coexist.
The applications of Ergo Chromatics are based on scientific evidence accrued from studies on colours, in compliance with standard UNI 5643.

In the Cerve Vedole site colour, or rather colours, are a main feature in all environments, from the offices to the warehouses, to the production and logistical departments, to the machinery and internal instruments, whose colours have been changed according to the function and interaction with the workers who use them.
“This ergo chromatic improvement made by Cerve has led not only to a better relationship between members of staff, but also between the staff and the suppliers, and between the company and all public bodies and regulators for workplaces, who have praised the choice made by the company, using it as a model to be followed by other local companies”, said Mr. Marcolin, who designed the improvement project.

In line with this philosophy, applied to an environment traditionally less developed with ergonomics and comfort in mind, using DITEC automatic doors is even more meaningful, and is in line with a shared objective of comfort applied to the industrial environments as well.

08/07/2008 -

Milano Santa Giulia. The new ideal district in Milan takes off with “Volo”, Ditec curved sliding door.

The background of the ideal city
The background of Milano Santa Giulia starts from the closure of Montedison and Acciaierie Redaelli, a chemical and steel production factory respectively, in the south-east area of Milan. Several building projects have been submitted to reclaim and rebuild the area. The selected project was the most global and consistent project for the Montecity and Rogoredo areas. This project will bring to life Milano Santa Giulia, a totally new district in Milan which, given its features, many people have already named “a city within the city”. It will be seamlessly integrated in the current urban environment, but will be boasting modern and functional features.
Milano Santa Giulia will host residential, commercial, hospitality and sporting facilities, all designed with human needs in mind, connected with the city centre and surrounded by green areas: a really ideal city.

The project
The Milano Santa Giulia project has been thought out with people who will live and work in mind. It will be a truly liveable environment. The green areas will be large and will be provided with facilities, the cars will follow dedicated routes, often underground, pedestrians will have large areas for their own use. The social scene will be centred around the pedestrian promenade, which is 600 meters long and boasts impressive buildings, full of shops and useful services.

The size of the area
Milano Santa Giulia covers an area of 1.200.000 sqm. This is also the reason why it is called “a city within the city”.

Foster and Partners
The project has been commissioned to one of the top modern architect: Norman Foster. The company the entire project has been assigned to gives it an international appeal and marks the beginning of a prestigious co-operation with some of the top architectural practices in the world.

Ditec is already there
The company given the task of promoting and developing the area opens the doors to the future with Ditec. The entrance of its head office, in fact, specifically designed to take care of the operating development of this major project has been fitted with two Ditec automatic doors; the curved door Volo, internally matched with the sliding door Ten.
The elegance of this curved moving door, together with its quiet operation and the smoothness of DITEC automations give this entrance a smart and prestigious look.
The full height of Volo and Ten automation is only 10cm.
Reliable, thanks to well proven DITEC electro-mechanical components, quiet, thanks to the synthetic drive belts and reinforced nylon wheels, and safe, thanks to the microprocessor based electronic panels, they make optimal use of the available space.
Volo and Ten are designed and manufactured in Italy by DITEC, they are TÜV certified and are supplied complete with safety, control and monitoring accessories, fully compliant with all current standards.

07/07/2008 -

DITEC confirms to be a preferred global supplier of automatic entrances in the car dealership industry.

Via dei Missaglia 89, south of Milan.
This is the address of one of the leading car dealership area boasting one of the largest number of car manufacturers in the whole city of Milan: Ferrari, BMW, Fiat, Peugeot, which are represented here in the Car Zeta Spa, Rossocorsa, Mocauto Spa and Peugeot Milano dealerships respectively. Given that all these top car maker dealerships are all concentrated in the same location, this area has appropriately been called “Città delle Auto” (Car city), built after a renovation and conversion project of an old industrial area in Milan, which housed the factories of long established paper mills. The end result is a distinguished commercial area dedicated to some of the top and most prestigious car manufacturers.

Once again, Ditec has played a part in this centre of excellence by installing a wide range of automatic doors and entrances for the sales, display and servicing areas housed in the over 15,000 square metres of Car Zeta, the top BMW car dealership in Milan and in the North of Italy, as well as in the large adjacent areas of the Peugeot Milano car dealership.
This work order shows once again that Ditec is able to offer and supply different and specific solutions for any type of entrance, ranging from entrances on the road, to warehouse doors, to pedestrian doors, giving the customer the great advantage of relying on a single supplier specialising in automatic entrances.

On the premises of these two car dealerships in via Missaglia, Ditec has supplied all the products required to automate the different types of entrances: from gates, automated with strong and powerful CROSS 30 gear motors, able to operate heavy traffic large sized gates, to UpperUp8E automatic barriers, sturdy steel structures suitable for openings up to 8 meters wide.
From folding industrial doors with window sections and articulated wings, operated by DOR automation, featuring a telescopic arm, to SECTOR, rapid roll-up flexible doors, featuring interchangeable sections and counterweights, widely used in garages and body shops.
Lastly, Ditec supplied several GOLD ALU sectional overhead industrial doors featuring window sections, very smart yet practical whilst, for the pedestrian entrance and transit areas, the elegant, efficient and reliable BIS automatic doors were fitted, the most popular doors for commercial outlets.

As expected, Ditec has not simply supplied and installed its products, but also offers a valuable repair and maintenance service carried out with the professional, helpful ad efficient attitude of its local Ditec Expert, Mr. Massolini, who, helped by our Ditec Distribuzione branch in Cologno Monzese, has been able to win this prestigious contract.

Ditec has proved to be an excellent partner, able to fulfil all the requirements of entrance automations in commercial establishments seeking different solutions, such as those of large car dealerships and car service centres.

18/06/2008 -

Several issues come into play when it comes to buying a house: looks, comfort, practicality and, above all, security. Convenience and security start from the entrance.
Cubic 6, the new range of underground automations for swing gates, is DITEC solution which meets this requirement.

Ideal for gates of architectural value, the visible parts of Cubic 6 are unobtrusive and the automation ensures the gate to be opened and closed without affecting its look and design.
This is what makes Cubic 6 the ideal solution for fine gates and entrances, such as those fitted to the finest or listed buildings, or for any application where style, look and design need to be kept unaltered.

The pictures received from the German company Arutor, a true leader in the automatic gates industry, show it is crucial not only to select the correct automation but also to have it installed by a truly professional installer.
Arutor, in fact, has not simply installed the automation, but has also paid special attention to the details.
The surface of the foundation casing cover, for example, has been specially treated to match the colour of the gate and to perfectly blend in with the floor slabs.

Fine and clean looks are combined with the peace of mind of purchasing an automation designed to ensure long term reliability.

Simple and practical, Cubic 6 features an underground electrically galvanised steel foundation casing to increase its resistance to the elements, where the gear motor and all mechanical linkages which operate the gate wings are housed.
This is a highly versatile solution which can be customised to individual requirements:

allows the gate to be opened at a very wide angle, up to 180°;
combined with DITEC electronic panels, the automation allows the motor to successfully overcome any initial friction caused by bad weather conditions such as ice;
can also be used in applications requiring fast access.

Cubic 6, like the rest of our products, has been designed and manufactured in Italy by DITEC and has been completed with safety, control and monitoring accessories fully compliant with all current standards.
The key features of the product are listed below:

IP67 rated watertight gear motors and galvanised steel foundation casing;
aesthetically pleasing release system with key and lever which may be operated from both sides;
works even at very low temperatures;
standard opening angle of 110°, optional 180° opening angle with chain;
motor protected by an internal temperature probe;
wing support system on hardened steel ball.

Some of the specially designed accessories are listed below:

internal mechanical stop both for opening and closing operations;
magnetic mechanical stops;
customisable DIN key.

Cubic 6. Designed to last.

26/05/2008 -

DITEC TEAM NO (based in Bergamo) chosen by DHL EXPRESS as a trusted partner
On the 7th of May the new Bologna – Leipzig air route run by DHL Express Italy was started; the operational base for the new route will be the company’s new air terminal built in record time inside the Bologna airport Guglielmo Marconi.

The whole turn-key terminal building operation was commissioned to Bergamo-based company Ditec Team Nord-Ovest which, within four months from signing the contract, was able to deliver to the prestigious international express air freight leader a mobile tensile structure covering 2,600 sqm, complete with electrical systems and six DITEC Sector automatic industrial doors, fitted to the various goods handling warehouse entrances.

The new automated DHL warehouse, located inside Bologna Guglielmo Marconi airport, covers an area of over 5,000 square metres, 3,000 of which have been allocated to parking and handling area. The warehouse has been automated by using two sorting conveyor belts, 20 container supporting platforms and is equipped with all required safety and handling automations.
After reaching full operating speed, the system will be able to handle 15,000 kg/day of goods in and over 32,000 kg/day of goods out, which are then flown to the Leipzig-based DHL European hub.
This new air terminal was built at a cost of around 2 million Euros.

DITEC Sector flexible, heavy duty rapid roll-up doors are cleverly built, practical and safe: the compact, height reduced door covering structure houses the motors, the control and safety devices and the balancing systems.
The modular counterweighted balancing system ensures high operational and safety standards. The curtain flexible sections are modular and interchangeable and can be quickly replaced in the event of breakage. The Sector doors are equipped with an optional anti-panic device which allows the curtain to be reopened without power supply by operating the counterweights.
Furthermore, the anodised aluminium quick reversal safety rib is equipped with a rubber stop and an anticrash system which avoids curtain damages in case of accidental knocks.

This new Bologna airport air terminal is the third DHL hub, after Ciampino and Bergamo airports, to have been constructed with the co-operation of Ditec Team, which has proved to be a professional and reliable supplier for customers with high-profile requirements, and to possess great coordinating skills, which have ensured a quick turnaround and high quality work, praised both by the customer and by the company running the Bologna airport (Guglielmo Marconi airport).

19/05/2008 -

Monza based Mariani Motors is undoubtedly one of the top five BMW dealerships in Italy.
Its site occupies an area extending over a staggering 16,000 square metres, and is built on three floors.
This magnificent structure houses a show-room, a workshop, a bodywork repair shop, offices, warehouses and a sales department offering new and used cars; the access and transit doors to all departments and rooms are therefore in large numbers and differ by function, dimension and type.
What other company, if not Ditec, could have been commissioned to automate all entrances featured in the dealership? Ditec Team Nord Ovest, a Bergamo based Ditec partner, serving key commercial and industrial customers in the Lombardy region, was contacted to fulfil this job order.
Ditec Team managed the commercial and technical relationship with Mariani Motors and has fully automated the entire site occupied by the dealership, and has also created its own “off site”, unique show-room in this famous and prestigious dealership.
A large number of doors and automations have in fact been installed, representing the top Ditec products for all those product ranges which are more widely used in environments such as a large car dealership: from industrial sectional overhead doors (over 10 solid and window sectioned doors, such as the very smart Gold Alu) to automatic rapid roll-up and folding doors (five Sector automatic rapid doors and two Traffic doors).
Fireproof sliding industrial doors, roll-up shutters and, to enhance the look of the show-room entrance, BIS automatic sliding doors, featuring smart glass wings.

The best for the best … once again, for the umpteenth time, we are very grateful to Mariani Motors for giving us this opportunity to show off Ditec quality!
The best of Ditec products displayed and operational on a key Italian site featuring the show-room of one of the most prestigious European car makers.

24/04/2008 -

We are finding ourselves in an increasingly more difficult economic climate. Radios and newspapers talk about an increasingly harder system-country. This does not just affect Europe, of course; economy globalisation and social news cause the western world to feel uncertain due to current market performance.
People are less trusting, individuals and communities need to be part of a safe and stable environment.

What bearings does all this have on our work? Undoubtedly a great deal …
Experience, and competence, are back again as key values to be pursed, and quite rightly so!
Professional experience is in fact an undisputed advantage assured by DITEC Experts.

When customers need to purchase an automatic door, an entrance door or an automatic gate, they know it will be an investment and therefore expect quality - from the technology used for the door frames, to the large range of products which allow automations to be perfectly integrated in any architectural infrastructure, to the peace of mind assured by certifications. From the installer, they require proven reliability, competent advice, prompt service, thorough maintenance of the automatic entrance installed, compliance with any new standards.

DITEC Expert: the name itself is already associated with total peace of mind.

Because DITEC circuit of Experts can count on professional door, door frame and automation installers, who boast a large experience in this industry and, being sole agents within their local area, they are able to offer their customers the quality assured by DITEC entrances.

Because DITEC supports its Experts with training, advice, professional meetings where skills and international information are exchanged, thus enhancing their know-how.

Ditec has channel specific reference materials and merchandising items: DITEC/DUCATI working clothes, internal and external signage for show rooms, stickers to customise shop windows, cars and trucks. Huge investments have been made in technical design and development of DITEC products.

DITEC Experts, who are scattered all over the country, represent the cutting edge of DITEC technology, reliability and know-how; they also pursue the same, ambitious objective; to become irreplaceable suppliers, able to assure total satisfaction to their customers.

Ditec is also able to offer telephone customer service, updated technical documentation downloadable from the Web; to give their business partners the opportunity to exchange interesting experiences; to provide skills and tools required for local marketing.

Numbers do not lie: the number of Ditec Experts in Italy has risen from 74 in 2001 to over 600, not only in Italy which, however, still remains the largest concentration, but also abroad.

Ditec Expert project has also been extended to other European countries, although with different development associated with local and business conditions.
This project is bound to expand in future!

We thank our partners for their commitment and for pursuing our common objectives.

07/04/2008 -

The Iulius Mall shopping centre located in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, is spread over an area of 150,000 square meters, which undoubtedly makes it the largest in South-eastern Europe.
The shopping centre boasts an Auchan supermarket, one hundred and forty shops, a total of thirty bars and restaurants, two banks, a post office, a multiplex 10 screen cinema and a fitness centre with swimming pool.

To operate all pedestrian entrances in the brand new Romanian shopping centre, DITEC has been commissioned as many as 40 automatic pedestrian straight sliding doors, complete with door frame and Bis automation, tested for over 3,000,000 cycles and fitted with PAM 30 aluminium frames, very popular in Europe as they are easy to install, they can be fitted with safety glass and have a smart look, allowing them to be used with larger glass areas.
PAM 30 aluminium frame system for single wing, double wing or telescopic doors features a sturdy structure despite the visible sections it contains which, thanks to their plain and smart design, blend in perfectly with any type of building.

The high flexibility and sturdiness of Bis automation for sliding doors, are perfectly suited for very heavy duty applications, such as the relentless and high number of operations they are subject to in the establishments of a large shopping centre, boasting the latest high-tech innovations to be found in the automatic door industry, thanks to their proven reliability and their last generation electromechanical components.
Bis can also be fitted with TUV certified antipanic safety systems (such as wing and fixed side breakout systems; redundant motors), and, more specifically, its design allows a single DMCS monitoring system to control several doors, ensuring once again the success of this automation. In common with all other DITEC automations, Bis is also TUV certified, being compliant with the strictest European standards (EN), to further enhance the quality and reputation of its products.

In virtue of their outstanding reliability and suitability for any type of building, Ditec automatic sliding doors have already been selected by large retailer chains such as Castorama, Leroy Merlin, Brico, Auchan, Il Gigante, Obi and Ipercoop.

The supply of 40 BIS Ditec sliding doors in the largest Romanian shopping centre, aided by the crucial co-operation of Aluterm, one of DITEC local partners for over 10 years, further enhances DITEC brand stature, currently recognised as the European leader in entrance automations, and the skills of the engineers working in its distribution and service network.

21/03/2008 -

At the successful Geneva 2008 Motor Show ended on the 16th of March, Fiat erected a stand with a “mega” model of the newly designed Fiat 500, firstly introduced in 2007 with huge success.

The Big 500, or Cinquecentone, is a brilliant and faithful 7:1 scale fibreglass reproduction of the new Fiat 500 made by Centro Stile Fiat with great attention to details both outside and inside.
The mega model has been successfully exhibited in the last international motor shows, including the Geneva motor show, where the visitors queued for long periods of time to admire the incredible setting inside the model, which housed seats, a steering wheel and a dashboard, all 7 times larger than their original size, as well as a bar and a lift used to take the visitors to the second floor, where emotional footages were shown.

At the Geneva motor show, however, Fiat wanted to add a touch of class.

To access the inside of the model, this time the wheels have been turned to uncommon doors to enter the model.
The smart crystal glass door wings are operated by DITEC Bis automation, selected to ensure easy and fast operation, able to reliably withstand the high number of opening and closing door operations, as well as the several installation and moving operations required by such a mobile structure.
A test of reliability and logistic efficiency brilliantly handled once more by Ditec with the great flexibility and modular design of their automations, perfectly installed and always effective in all operating conditions and very frequent and highly demanding operations.
The teamwork between Ditec Team Italia, which followed this important customer in the pre-installation of the whole structure in Turin, and the technical skill of Geneva based Ditec installer Mr. Jean Julien Bock, proved to be a winning choice. Mr. Bock has shown outstanding co-operation and promptness and has successfully met all requirements made by this prestigious customer by sorting out the hard logistic issues during the final installation stage at the show.

Once more, Ditec has won this “challenge”, and is proud to be connected with another great name in the history of car and motorbike makers!

11/03/2008 -

The automatic doors fitted to the brand new DAT centre provided by the Don Gnocchi Foundation publicly opened a few days ago in Milan in the presence of top officials are supplied by DITEC.

The DAT service (Home automation-Aids-Occupational therapy) is an innovative centre offering an automated home fitted with high-tech devices, a permanent exhibition displaying walking aids and four occupational therapy gyms aimed to help disabled people to live independently at home, work and school.
The DAT centre provides specially qualified professionals and sophisticated technologies in order to ensure full independence to disabled people in their daily activities.

Milan based HB Group, a company specialised in Human Basic Design, has run the architectural, furnishing and automation projects and has found DITEC to be a reliable partner, a more important issue in projects like this, requiring special care to protect the users they are designed for. DITEC and the Milan based design office have already worked together in a specially featured project: designing and fitting automation for the doors of the “Moduli AUSing” small apartments in the Milan based Niguarda hospital Dual Structure Spinal Unit, which were opened in the spring of last year.

DITEC automations, designed to ensure the safe opening and closing operations of the DAT centre internal doors, have been selected both for the type of doors (sliding or swing doors) and their application.
Different automations were therefore used: OLLY C for sliding doors, selected for their compact size and ease of installation, WEL, sturdy automations ideal for swing doors subjected to heavy usage and to the elements when fitted outdoors, and lastly SPRINT, a small automation ideal for installation on internal swing doors.

All three automations have features and functions specially designed for people with disabilities or walking difficulties.
The following are some examples: Low Energy, allowing the door to be automatically opened and closed featuring low energy consumption and reduced speed or Push&Go, an operating mode which allows the door to be opened with a light manual push, ideal for example for the transit of wheelchairs.
The automations are also fitted with interesting optional safety devices such as the anti-crushing device and infrared area sensors.

20/02/2008 -

DITEC gives service the same weight as quality and reliability of its automations.
As it is often the case, this turns into a substantial added value for the customer, who can rely on standard compliant installation and service as well as advice on design and usage.

This is exactly what happened with the Orange “more than just a launderette” chain automation project, starting from the new concept-store newly opened in San Giovanni Lupatoto (VR).
This innovative point of sale gives launderettes a new dimension in that the areas used to wash, dry and iron clothes are combined with relaxing areas where customers can enjoy the time they spend waiting for washing, drying and ironing their clothes (60 minutes for a full cycle).
The shop will feature the following facilities: a reading area, one or more Internet stations, a soft gym fitted with games for the little ones, a Playstation corner, a snack area with drinks and a self service drug dispenser.

Naturally, the store has been fitted with a DITEC BIS straight runner automatic pedestrian doors, manufactured with new generation electromechanical components and equipped with the innovative DMCS (Door Monitoring & Control System), which allows all available facilities and access to be remotely controlled by using a remote control or a PC. BIS automations are suitable for very high traffic conditions and are TÜV certified.

But there is more.
Thanks to the local Ditec Expert planning skills, Mr. Ivan Battistoni, an innovative control system already tested in some stores of the same franchising network has been provided, and will be extended to all future Orange stores.
The buyer's requirement was indeed associated with remotely controlling several electrical and electronic pieces of equipment in the store (from the washing and drying machines to the multimedia stations, from the security cameras to the automatic doors, to automatically open and close the entrance of the point of sale).

The Orange formula, in fact, does not require a store manager to be physically present inside the store as the equipment it contains can be remotely controlled.

Ditec Expert Ivan Battistoni has met this requirement by designing a dedicated software, able to remotely control, by means of a PC or a PDA, all the electrical equipment fitted inside the shop and, wherever possible, to deal with any faults.

By providing this innovative solution Ditec Experts, DITEC specialised installers’ club, have confirmed their skill in providing the best possible customer service and in promptly and ingeniously identifying and meeting specific requirements.

20/02/2008 -

One of the reasons why DITEC has gained a good reputation in the European automatic entrance market is the important contribution ensured by DITEC Experts, a network of professional installers who chose to join DITEC to enhance and increase their business.
The figures are self explanatory: from 74 partners in 2001, a year after the official project launch, the number of fully operational DITEC Experts is now over 600, and not only in Italy, where, however, their number is larger and more widespread.
DITEC Expert project has indeed successfully taken off, albeit at different paces, associated to different local and business environment, and now include European countries such as Belgium, Spain, UK, Hungary and Turkey. Furthermore, this project is set to grow even more!
There are many reasons for this: the benefits and opportunities offered by partnering a leading and reliable brand such as DITEC are many, and may increase business success of the companies which joined the project.

Let’s have a closer look at these benefits and opportunities:

Products for any type of entrance
DITEC undoubtedly offers the widest and most diverse European range of systems and products to automate all residential, commercial and industrial entrances. A major opportunity for all companies wishing to expand their operations and to offer their customers innovative automation systems for all applications. With such a wide product and accessory offering, each DITEC Expert is able to really offer each customer a highly customised solution and, above all, the very best for each requirement.

Future ready solutions
The quality of DITEC products and solutions gives DITEC Experts a competitive edge, as they can count on reliable, high-tech products in terms of safety, developed by focusing on energy consumption and environmental sustainability.
DITEC is indeed focusing its technological research on energy saving solutions both in stand-by mode and in operational mode, and on fully efficient solutions in terms of power consumption, as they are operated by renewable energy sources (solar panels).
With these products, which now carry two more special markings, “DITEC Energy Saving ®” and “DITEC Solar Energy ®”, to be expanded in future, users can rely on future ready products if they wish to purchase environmentally friendly solutions even before standard compliance comes into place.

High impact brand exposure
In terms of exposure, DITEC Experts can rely on a very well advertised brand.
Brand exposure is very important for a company to be successful in the market place, which is why DITEC focuses on achieving the best brand image and development by means of different activities and communication tools, ranging from press to web adverts, from radio adverts to internal communications.
Furthermore, each DITEC Expert can count on excellent point of sale merchandise and professional image, which is also printed on their vehicles and clothing, further enhanced by the company’s prestigious marking Official Sponsor DUCATI CORSE.

Moreover, the far reaching scope, in terms of communications, ensured by signing the sponsoring agreement with the Ducati Corse team, has ensured excellent results in terms of fame and loyalty.

Ongoing Professional Training Courses
Being a DITEC Expert requires more than just professional skill to ensure excellence. It requires added value, ensured by professional ongoing training and improvement courses provided by DITEC to its partners by means of an integrated system of constantly updated information and training courses. Furthermore, DITEC is also committed to providing telephone support, making sure that its technical documentation is always up to date, available and downloadable from its Web site, swapping interesting experiences amongst its partners, offering skills and local marketing tools.
And much more, in order to follow the development stages achieved by each DITEC Expert, always and profitably.

A network of Leading Partners
The strength of a network also lies in being able to offer highly beneficial conditions to some professionally interesting partners.
For some time, DITEC Experts have benefited from the special agreements made with leading companies, which have ensured them services and products at excellent conditions. The following are some of DITEC current partners: Autogerma (cars), Seat Pagine Gialle (adverts), Usag (commercial vehicle furnishing systems), Würth (working equipment and consumables), Snickers (technical and safety clothing).
More partners will follow to increase the number and quality of services offered to DITEC Experts.

Local Marketing Events
Creative and proactive entrepreneurial skills and full co-operation in following and promoting DITEC brand through suitable events is greatly valued in a DITEC Expert.
“Think globally, act locally” has never been so true for a DITEC Expert wanting to expand its business by contributing in developing targeted events and winning ideas.

Communication activities that a DITEC partner can set up locally are essential in order to gain exposure and get leads; this has recently been proved by some DITEC Experts which have been able to benefit from partnering the DITEC brand by implementing a smart promotional strategy, with an ensuing fast growth of their business.

Two Real Success Cases
Wolf
One good example is the case of DITEC Expert based in Missaglia, near Lecco, Mr. Claudio Wolf, who enthusiastically joined our project from the very start. Boasting over 30 years experience with DITEC, the step of becoming a Ditec Expert was a logical outcome of a mutually satisfactory business relation. In 2006 a further development took place: the introduction by DITEC of a wide range of sectional overhead doors. To advertise DITEC brand and their new product to potential customers Mr. Wolf, who saw the potential of a winning product of potential interest to his customers, decided to invest in direct promotion activity and started to display and promote the new products in local fairs and shopping centres.
In 2007 Mr. Wolf’s company carried out around 10 weeks in promoting and demonstrating the products in local shopping centres and hypermarkets. The outcome? 45% of the company turnover comes from garage sectional overhead doors and Wolf has truly become a Ditec Specialist in the residential area, with great satisfaction for the parties involved and for the final users.

Elettro 2000
A similar experience was recorded by the company Elettro 2000, near Biella, owned by Mr. Loro Piana and partners, DITEC Expert since the end of 2003. The company, which was initially set up to install residential and industrial electrical systems, decided to enter the residential automation market due to increasing demand from its customers. By introducing garage sectional overhead doors and by carefully planning its promotional activity, which included exhibiting every year in at least three trade fairs, each lasting on average 8 days, Elettro 2000 has seen its business soar. In the short space of three years, the number of sectional overhead doors installed by the company has gone from half a dozen a year to nearly seventy in an area which has gradually widened both in the area around Biella and in the entire county of Valle d’Aosta.

19/02/2008 -

Energy saving: a concept more and more often mentioned by the media, it is now fast becoming a common word in our vocabulary, encompassing increasingly wider and important values and meanings.
In our wealth based society, saving, including energy saving, may seem a paradox but is indeed a primary need for each person, society and company which cares for the quality of life of each individual and of the community as a whole, not only now but also and, more importantly, in the future.
Saving energy is no longer regarded as a mere wish put forward by inflexible environmentalists or only as a slogan to be ostentatiously waved, but has now turned into a necessary and essential attitude to have for all involved, i.e. citizens, societies and companies, aimed to control the use of energy, to reduce pollution, to lower the high costs associated with balancing the energy expenditure and, ultimately, to repay the environment for what has so generously given us so far.
DITEC has also embraced this pledge not only by planning and scheduling all those actions which identify a morally outstanding company by modifying the energy supply systems, the frames, the components and the materials used, but also by developing new products featuring higher efficiency and reduced, if not even zero power consumption.
DITEC has invested huge amounts of money in designing and manufacturing automations which, whilst still ensuring high performance, greatly reduce power consumption both when they are operational and in the stand-by mode, as enough power must be supplied to the automations to control the detection and safety sensors (photocells and radars).
More specifically, the direct current automations give higher performance and, at the same power output, require less power input.
Other alternated current systems, when not in use, thanks to their reduced power supply systems, ensure power savings which, in turn, lead to lower electricity bill for the user.
All our technical and sales documentation will highlight all the products’ features, in order to allow our customers to make a careful choice with the view to saving energy. This is why the special logos Ditec Energy Saving ® and Ditec Solar Energy ® have been developed.
To give a real example of the effective energy saving achieved in stand-by mode, the power used when the automation is not operational is less than 15W and is proportionally lower (even up to 2 or 3W) the fewer accessories (photocells, indicator lights) are connected.
The “reduced power consumption when in use” products, by using a DC, high performance electric motor, ensure a considerably lower power consumption when operational compared to the single phase motors, which is as low as 30% of the latter. Quite clearly, as this benefit is gained only whenever the gate or entrance door is moving, the energy saving will be more substantial the higher the number of daily operations made.
The real revolution made by DITEC, however, relates to the “zero power consumption” which is achieved by introducing power supplies designed with solar panels, which convert solar energy in electrical energy.
A good example is the new QIK barrier range, introducing a few models supplied by a high-tech solar power control box: the higher the number of operations per day, the higher the power saved, obviously taking into consideration the size of the panels and the number of sunny days in the area where the automation is installed. Another important factor that plays a part in economic saving is avoiding the high costs associated with connecting the automation to the power supply (digging, laying electric cables etc) when the gate or barrier to be automated is located in an awkward position.
The specifically designed Ditec Solar Energy ® logo will be printed on this and on other similar products currently being designed, to be gradually launched in the course of the next two years.
DITEC is therefore one of the first companies in its industry to believe that saving today will ensure a better future tomorrow.

09/10/2007 -

We wish to inform our customers that the new product brochures are now available.

RADIUS, automation for swing shutters
WEL - SPRINT, swing door automations
OLLY - DOK, automations for straight sliding doors and frames.
These brochures may be downloaded by filling in the “brochure request form” provided, which may be found in the download area.

27/09/2007 -

THANKS CASEY! DITEC thanks the new Moto GP world champion

Celebrations all round both at Ducati and Ditec: at last, an Italian manufacturer wins the Moto GP!

It’s official! Borgo Panigale based Desmosedici has won the world championship.
Casey Stoner, the leading rider with 297 points, has mathematically won the Moto GP championship 3 days before the final race, by securing the top position in front of his rival, the legendary Valentino Rossi, 83 points behind.

Casey Stoner’s victory takes an Italian brand right to the top, 34 years after the glorious MV Agusta, breaking the dominance of the Japanese greats and placing Ducati at the pinnacle of the Moto GP’s Greats.
This is a huge success for the Borgo Panigale based brand, who also celebrated Loris Capirossi’s victory in the same race.

“Casey’s victory is the best example of Ducati’s excellence” was Gabriele Del Torchio’s statement soon after the event. ”The triumph of Italian intelligence, skills and genius which are an unconditional heritage of our country.”

The whole of Ditec joined in the celebrations, led by General Management and Marketing!

“We have been Ducati Corse’s official partner for four years because we have always believed that the excellence of this Italian constructor would eventually lead to great achievements” said Renato Calza, Ditec group’s Managing Director.

“We have chosen to support Ducati Corse also because we share a great deal: we are both Italian companies who have made excellence their flagship and international coverage their mission. In this moment of glory, we are proud to have sponsored such a prestigious brand as this sponsorship has allowed us to achieve great results in terms of exposure and customer loyalty.”

“Right from the very beginning of the championship, Casey Stoner has given us hope, if not certainty, that this year “we” would make it right to the top! And this is what “we” did.” Ermanno Minotti, Ditec group’s Marketing Manager was truly overjoyed. “Casey is not only a great champion, but is also unpretentious and “fair” competitor, a really nice person. We are very pleased to see that people like him, together with Loris and all the other members of the team portray a good image of a team founded on genuine and clean values, driven by entrepreneurial skills and a strong will to achieve. Just like us at Ditec group! ”

This brilliant victory has rewarded Ditec’s far-sighted strategy, which was able to identify Ducati Corse as the ideal partner to ensure our success on the global market.

The winning team Ditec Ducati has reached the top!

11/09/2007 -

For the Borgo Panigale based DUCATI DESMOSEDICI team, 2007 has proved to be a truly outstanding year, taking the team right to the top of the Moto GP championship.

The successes achieved by their rider Casey Stoner have allowed the Italian motorcycle industry to prove its technological superiority over all the big international names.

DITEC, connected to DUCATI CORSE by a successful sponsorship, celebrates their triumphs and joins them in this truly magic moment; it would be right to say that DITEC automations have a weak spot for the world of sport! After being fitted in the leading DUCATI CORSE and FERRARI CORSE paddock entrances, they have now acquired new customers in the Moto GP world

DITEC automatic doors have always ensured efficiency and faultless operation in hospitality areas, where they need to be constantly removed and refitted, and impressively withstand knocks and vibrations when transferred from circuit to circuit, major temperature differences and the most extreme weather conditions.

Thanks to their truly remarkable reliability, DITEC automatic doors have now been selected for the highly dynamic world of Moto GP, where they are now deservingly fitted in the other top teams’ hospitality paddocks.
DITEC Bis automations are also fitted in the paddocks of the following teams: Aprilia, Honda Konica Minolta and Yamaha Fiat, superchampion Valentino Rossi’s team.

The paddocks featured in the motorcycle circuits are constantly being subjected to intense strain and movement; this is why their components, specially their supporting structure and their entrances, must be sturdy yet quick and easy to set up.
All these requirements are being met by DITEC door frames and automations, and are also coupled with a responsive and wide service network, available in Italy and in the main countries in Europe and in the rest of the world.

DITEC. A remarkable year and a weak spot for the world of sport.

07/09/2007 -

Boasting over 2 and a half million visitors a year, Pompeii archaeological digs are the most visited Italian cultural site after the Vatican Museums.

This extraordinary setting, the true “picture” of the catastrophic Vesuvius eruption in 79 A.D. which totally wiped out the city of Pompei, discovered with the first digs two and a half centuries ago, also houses a major and well known catering facility open to the visitors.

The “Ristorante Internazionale” has recently been fitted with as many as four, fully kitted out DITEC Bis automatic doors, which ensure a faster and “smoother” flow of customers who crowd the restaurant every day.

A further example of how DITEC automations can handle even the busiest of catering facilities.

05/06/2007 -

Breathtakingly beautiful. Unostentatiously imposing and majestic, Costa Serena is the new, impressive Costa Crociere cruise flagship.
Entirely built in Italy, the ship has been designed, built and kitted out to give her passengers a dreamlike and unique voyage, surrounded by sumptuous and unique works of art and settings, inspired to Greek and Roman mythology.

These are the figures that make this ship so outstanding.
Costa Serena is 70 metre high: equal to a 23 storey skyscraper.
Around 3,900 buses can fit inside the ship.
Her weight (when empty) is equal to the weight of about 110 Boeing 747 Jumbo jets
The weight of her steel construction is almost 3 times the weight of the Eiffel tower.
The total power installed on the ship is equal to the power consumption of a city of 50,000 inhabitants.
Her bars and lounges cover an area equal to 5 football pitches.
The height of her distinctive yellow funnel featuring a blue “C”, is 23m tall, like an 8 storey house.
The total length of electrical cables installed on the ship can cover 5.5 times the distance between Rome and Milan.
All the tablecloths on board the ship could set a 27km long table.
Her store and cold rooms cover an area equal to 9,900 domestic fridges.

The ship has 20 DITEC automatic doors, installed in different points and on different decks of the ship.
They are single wing and double wing sliding doors, fitted with DITEC Bis or swing type Wel automations.

The ship can carry 3,800 passengers per cruise.

It is easy to imagine how many door operations our automations have to handle, as well as the weather battering they continuously have to endure.
The well established reliability of DITEC automations, already tried and tested on all other Costa fleet ships, has paid off once again.

We are really proud to be on board of a ship which is undoubtedly one of the most stunning cruise liners currently sailing the seas.

DITEC S.p.A.
Marketing Office

27/04/2007 - DITEC Automations Fitted to the Hungarian Parliament.]]>

DITEC, world leader in the sliding door automation industry, has been chosen for the entrance doors of the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest.

The selected product is Rex, the automation for straight sliding doors; its efficiency, versatility of use and smart look, are perfectly suited for one of the most famous, attractive and largest building in the country.

The Hungarian Parliament is a typical example of neo-gothic style and historically inspired and eclectic architecture seen in the period between the nineteenth and twentieth century. The bid to plan the building was called for in 1844, but was awarded only in 1882 to Imre Steindl, a professional engineer working for the polytechnic in Budapest. Steindl’s project was influenced by the House of Parliament in London and by the cathedral in Cologne. The architect was able to skilfully mix these two styles. The outside of the building is inspired to a Gothic revival style, whilst the plan and the internal layout are inspired to Renaissance and Baroque styles.
Built between 1885 and 1904, it is one of the largest parliament buildings in the world. It is a staggering 268 metres long and 118 metres wide and lies along the bank of the Danube. The building boasts 691 rooms.
A huge number of tall arches and statues of Hungarian rulers lead to a 96 metres tall dome overlooking the symmetrical wings of the palace. Inside the room under the dome the Holy Crown of Saint Stephen, the national symbol for over one thousand years, stands tall.
The Parliament has 27 entrances and 10 courtyards. The main entrance is located in Kossuth Lajos ter square. The National Assembly room mirrors the Conference Room. Both rooms have horseshoe shaped galleries opened to the public. Outside, there are the lobbies where members of Parliament gather to talk.
Inside the Parliament a library is located, boasting over 500,000 books, which is also the reference library for the European Council.

Rex is a very popular automation thanks to its ease of installation and versatility of applications. The installation is also speeded up by the drive unit and the electronic panel being located in a single assembly. Rex is a highly flexible system, allowing different configurations to be obtained in order to meet specific installation requirements. Rex, like all other DITEC automations, is safe and quiet and may be fitted with a wide range of genuine control and safety accessories, greatly appreciated in institutional, heavy traffic environments.

The Hungarian Parliament is yet another prestigious installation, an example of perfectly blended past and present ensured by DITEC automations for a higher level of comfort.
Aprile 2007

02/04/2007 -

DITEC has welcomed over 180,000 visitors who enter the magical Ferrari world every year.

DITEC automation has indeed been selected for the prestigious Galleria Ferrari entrance in Maranello, the company museum where past, present and future of the legendary prancing horse brand are perfectly blended to allow all visitors to relive the charm of one of most fascinating Italian legends.

DITEC automations have been selected by Ferrari for the third time – the first automation was fitted to the entrance of Ferrari Store in Milan, located in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, the luxury department store designed by architect Massimo Iosa Ghini, the second one to the entrance of Ferrari Corse paddock area.

Once again, the selected product was BIS, the automation for straight sliding doors which, for its efficiency, safety, high technology and elegance, is the perfect solution for glamorous settings such as Galleria Museo Ferrari.

Galleria Ferrari was opened in 1990 and expanded in 2004, enhanced by new display areas and services, now occupying a total of 2,500 square metres.
The company museum has been split into four sections (Formula 1, technological innovation, amphitheatre, photo galleries) exhibiting not only racing cars and their components, engines in particular, which have made Ferrari famous in circuits throughout the world, but also memorabilia, prizes, photographs and other historic evidence (such as the reconstruction of the first design office built by Enzo Ferrari in the historic racing stable located in Modena), sure to attract not only Ferrari and racing cars enthusiasts but also anyone wishing to relive the history of the Italian motor racing industry. Other major attractions are the simulators built from real Formula 1 cars and the display of wind tunnels with Formula 1 models used for aerodynamic studies carried out for one seat racing cars.
Theme, art and photographic shows are also held inside its premises.
Galleria Ferrari, which is located only three hundred metres away from the factory, also boasts a shop, a bookshop and a café.
Galleria Ferrari is visited every year by over 180,000 people.

BIS is, in fact, one of the most innovative automations currently available on the market, boasting new generation electromechanical components, a unique and innovative function which ensures remote control and adjustment, through an infrared or PC remote control featuring the advanced DMCS (Door Monitoring & Controlling System), developed by DITEC to control all functions available and multiple accesses. The BIS range is also certified to the stringent TÜV standards, which ensure total safety and reliability of the product and materials used, and increasingly more often included in technical specifications.

The BIS range also features other interesting devices, such as the encoder controlled electronic anti-crushing device, a battery operated emergency system built in the automation, as well as special antipanic systems.

Galleria Ferrari is the second prestigious DITEC installation, the first one being the “special” entrance in the Ducati cult bikes Museum located in Bologna.

27/03/2007 -

Castorama, the first largest DIY chain in Europe and third largest in the world came to Italy in 1988, when the first store was opened in Paderno Dugnano, near Milan. Today, Castorama Italia is a rapidly expanding; currently boasting 27 stores, it is the top DIY brand in Italy.

Castorama has recently opened a new point of sale in Marcon, near Venice, and has chosen DITEC as the supplier of its automatic entrance doors.

Twenty Bis O automatic doors have been installed, all equipped with antipanic breakout device and safety and control systems.

For depots access, the Kronos and Traffic roll-up and folding flexible, automatic doors have been selected.

After the initial period of use, special praises were given to the Kronos door, thanks to its self repairing system, which allows door operation to be immediately restored after an accidental knock.

This is ensured by specially designed, adjustable flexible runners, which avoid the rib from being damaged by allowing it to safely jump out of the curtain retention guides.

The rib can then be restored to its working position by simply pressing it with a hand.

DITEC and CASTORAMA. Two business giant are brought together ... automatically!

Marketing Office

12/03/2007 -

DITEC has decided to continue its partnership with the biking world and, more specifically, with the DUCATI Corse team, by renewing for another year its sponsoring agreement as “Official Sponsor”, initially signed in 2003.

“The decision of renewing the agreement with the Bologna-based motor bike manufacturer, one of the main contenders in the Motomondiale championship, has come about “automatically”, so to speak – said Renato Calza, DITEC S.p.A. CEO – During the last four years or partnership, we have achieved far greater results than we expected in terms of brand fame and loyalty. It also gave us the opportunity of attracting a large number of customers and DITEC Expert distributors during the races held both in the Motomondiale and Superbike championships.”

Choosing to continue the partnership with DUCATI Corse still holds a strong strategic value and brings together two Italian companies linked by “motion” (automatic for DITEC, “superfast” for DUCATI Corse) which have both been spreading the quality of their “made in Italy” technology throughout the world: DITEC reliability, in fact, is recognised in over 70 countries.

According to the conditions stated in the agreement, DITEC brand will be displayed inside the Ducati Hospitality areas, available both in the Motomondiale and the SBK championship, where BIS automatic doors supplied by the Italian company leader in the entrance automation industry will be installed.
In the SuperBike championship, DITEC logo will also be displayed in the garages and on the vehicles used by the team.
The partnerships will also enable DITEC customers and distributors both in Italy and abroad to closely live the emotions in all the races to be held in the Motomondiale and Superbike championship circuits.

11/03/2007 -

The widest range of automatic doors, entrances and gates.

DITEC complete and versatile automations and doors on show in the Saiedue Living fair held in Bologna.

DITEC group was a major player in the SaiedueLiving fair held in Bologna, to prove its undisputed leadership in the entrance automation industry by displaying its complete and versatile technical solutions for a wide range of applications, be it residential, commercial, or industrial.
The new, 300 square metre large stand exhibited many interesting new products for different residential applications, all featuring an ever increasing application range.
These products were designed and manufactured with functionality, reliability and safety of use in mind, initially for industrial and commercial applications, but have now been extended to the residential area.

Olly C, the new automation for recessed sliding doors
A new, interesting model has now been added to the Olly range, featuring automations for internal doors and straight sliding door frames.
The brand new model is called Olly C, a product introduced by DITEC to meet an ever increasing demand to automate one of the most popular types of doors installed in new houses: recessed doors.
Practical, smart and “space saving”, recessed doors are now an ever more popular choice when it comes to house furnishing, as they ensure a better use of available space.
DITEC has designed the new automation Olly C for mock frames manufactured by the most popular recessed door manufacturers (Eclisse and Scrigno), which, however, may also be used for other makes.
Olly C is a very easy automation to install, featuring the added advantage of being versatile and quiet, the latter being a very important issue in a house.
Olly C can be installed without laying additional cables, but simply by electrically connecting the product (plug&play). The door moving unit is contained in a single and compact casing, for a smarter look, and is able to operate single and double wing doors. Furthermore, the aluminium guard finish can be selected by the customer to blend in with the rest of the furnishing.
The automation allows the door to be automatically opened by means of sensors, as well as to be manually opened and closed by means of a slight push towards the sliding direction (push&go or pull&close). Another interesting feature is the OC Lok anti-panic automatic release device, which allows the door to be opened without power supply.
Olly C is also fitted with a low energy feature, very useful when the door is being used by people with reduced mobility, as it allows the door to be opened and closed at slower speed and with reduced energy consumption.

New version of Radius, the automation specifically designed for swing shutters
Radius is the technological solution designed by DITEC to automate swing shutters in residential houses. This is a widely used solution able to offer clear advantages in terms of time and safety as it enables the user to close the shutters with a single action, regardless of how heavy or large they are, as well as to control their operation from inside, even in the event of bad weather.
Radius is a small, discreet and quiet mechanical actuator, fitted with a simple linkage system, very easy to install and to connect to the power supply (plug&play).
Its adjustable mechanical arms provided with pre-drilled holes allow the actuator to be built into the wall or discretely hidden in the frames or to be installed on existing frames, whilst remaining unobtrusive thanks to its compact size.
Radius can be operated by means of a single wall mounted control or a radio control; furthermore, the actuator can also be provided with a central connection to enable the user to control all the shutters from a single location without having to walk to each window.
The new version displayed at the Saiedue Living fair is also fitted with an interesting partly open control, which enables the shutters to be left in a half-open position.
The runner and the sliding arms are made from black anodised aluminium, which ensures a longer life and better resistance to oxidation.

Wel F, the new automation for fireproof doors.
Fireproof doors are more widely used in newly designed blocks of flats, for example to isolate the garage area or the gas and electricity meters, or in any area where fires or short-circuits may develop. Even for this type of doors, DITEC has designed a new automation, Wel F, which is included in the high tech, reliable and versatile Wel range of automations for swing doors.
Wel F is the final touch for a fireproof system installation as it is certified to the most stringent European standards. The automation is fitted with a Fire PCB which controls the smoke and heat sensors.
Wel F is offered with a very wide range of features: the push&go feature, which allows the door to be automatically opened by means of a slight initial push; the low energy feature, which allows the door to be opened and closed at lowed speed and reduced energy consumption; the Brake feature, which adjusts the closing speed even in the event of a power failure and, lastly, the limit switch feature, which adjusts the door wing opening angle.

Facil, the newly designed, easy and versatile automation for swing gates
Facil is one of the most versatile and simple automations for swing gates, the ideal solution for heavy and very heavy duty applications.
Facil is used to automate the gates of private houses or small blocks of flats with pedestrian or vehicle entrances featuring very “complex” fixtures, such as wings/gates supported by very large pillars.
Facil, as the name suggests (in Italian it means “easy”), is “easy” to install and connect, it may be fitted with different types of motors, and is smart and “easy” to install in different contexts, thanks to its smart and minimalist design, which makes it “easy” to adapt it to any type of entrance, from classic to modern.
The new ABS guard also ensures a good resistance to the elements.

QIK, the automatic pedestrian barrier with that bit of extra speed
The pedestrian barrier displayed by DITEC at the Saiedue Living fair is not your average pedestrian barrier:
Qik is in fact an innovative, smart and above all, a truly high-tech pedestrian barrier.
Qik is fitted with a pickled and painted aluminium arm which, as well as being weather resistant, also features an original, pleasing to the eye, rounded rotation pin, and is fitted with rubber guards on both ends (top and bottom); furthermore, its elliptical shape makes it more wind resistant and, in the 6 metre version, avoids any “swinging” problems. QIK is the ideal solution to control accesses with a medium to high traffic such as blocks of flats and in all areas to be accessed only by authorised people, such as in the parking areas reserved to the block of flats.

This operating mode may be accessed by means of different access systems, according to the type of uses: remote control, key or keypad operated selector switches; LAN transponder system, coin system (when the barrier is used in commercial environments) or magnetic loop system, with transit detector.
In the event of power failure, Qik can be released by means of a key operated lever system, located on the inspection side; furthermore, two limit switches, in the alternated current version, and an encoder, in the direct current version, enable further adjustments to be made to tackle all possible circumstances.

The Qik system can be fitted with a wide range of accessories to ensure an ever safer and readily available access: from the red reflective strips to the vandal-resistant electrically operated lock, from the aluminium skirting to the arm pivot fitted at a 90° angle, to the battery pack and light kit.
To ensure a better visibility in the most critical conditions, the direct current version is also fitted with an arm light kit: the LED goes off when the arm is open, flashes when the arm is moving and stays on when the arm is closed, in order to highlight its outline.

DITEC stand has displayed the new Ducati Desmosedici model, ridden by Loris Capirossi, to confirm the renewed sponsoring commitment undertaken with DUCATI Corse, the famous Bologna-based bike manufacturer DITEC has been highly successfully associated with for some years.
In 2008, DITEC will exhibit in the new MADE Expo Milano fair.

08/03/2007 -

DITEC now also offers complete, finished and ready to fit frames.

Thanks to our PAM profiles, all compliant with applicable standards and specifically dedicated, our customers can now purchase a complete frame.

Fewer problems, more safety with DITEC frames.

05/03/2007 -

Practicality, safety, high quality, architectural value, passage control and, in air conditioned areas, maximum energy saving: the are the key advantages ensured by our automatic pedestrian doors.
In addition, BIS offers the latest innovations with its new generation electromechanically operated components and its innovative control panel, based on microprocessor controlled logic, which allows adjustments and control operations to be carried out remotely by means of an infrared remote control or a computer, whilst the Door Monitoring & Controlling System (DMCS) controls access through the door.
The highly compact horizontally located cover allows special architectural requirements to be catered for.

BIS DITEC automation, boasting a classy design and leading technology, has now being installed in “sport excellence cult locations”: the Ducati Museum, where the history of this famous bike manufacturer can be relived, and the new Ferrari store, located in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, right in the centre of Milan.

The Ducati Museum has a total area of 1000sqm and stores memorabilia from the competitions entered by the company in over half a century, as well as a large chunk of the history of the company, which is based in Borgo Panigale and was founded by the Ducati brothers as far back as 1926.
Bis allows the visitor to enter the museum through two separated ways: the first one leads to an area where the bikes are chronologically exhibited in a circular style; the second one is laid out in a parallel manner and features “theme based rooms” exhibiting more detailed information on the company history.

In 2005 Bis automation, designed by the architect Massimo Iosa Ghini, entered the Ferrari world to ensure automated access control of the ninth floor of the Ferrari store, currently the largest in the world, opened by the company to establish a direct link with their fans and to portray the Ferrari image in the main cities in the world.
The design carried out by an architect has added value to the large window frontage by means of some elements of high visual and emotional impact: an automatic door designed by DITEC, an LED video wall and a Formula 1 car mounted on a specially designed steel door frame: metaphorically speaking, the BIS door enhances the feeling of movement and opens a path which turns into a true journey of discovery of the company history.

For DITEC, this was a highly prestigious project: to open the doors for top achievers like Ducati and Ferrari… and get them together - this is the beauty of automation.