Sierra: Custom Heat Exchangers for Refrigeration and HVAC/R

Who we are

Sierra SpA is an Italian company specializing in the design and production of finned block heat exchangers for residential and industrial applications. Founded in 1970 in Isola della Scala, Verona, it is part of the Giordano Riello International Group and boasts over fifty years of experience in the heat exchange sector.

The company's business is characterized by a highly technical approach and a focus on product customization . Sierra goes beyond simply manufacturing the exchanger; it collaborates with the customer from the early stages of the project to identify, size, and implement a solution consistent with the machine's characteristics, required performance, and operating conditions.

Who are our solutions intended for?

Sierra solutions are primarily aimed at manufacturers of refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pump and heat exchange machines and systems , who need to integrate specifically designed components into their equipment.

The interlocutors are therefore mainly technical and R&D offices, production managers, purchasing offices and technical contacts involved in the development and industrialization of the machines.

The business focuses primarily on OEM components and serial production , rather than supplying individual spare parts or standard off-the-shelf products. The exchanger is developed based on the specific application and the requirements defined together with the manufacturer.

What we offer

Sierra manufactures finned pack heat exchangers intended for heat exchange between air and primary fluids such as water, refrigerants and brine solutions.

The solutions find application in:

• refrigeration systems, evaporative and condensing;
• air conditioning equipment;
• heat pumps;
• systems powered by water or brine solutions;
• applications with A1 and A2L refrigerants;
• new generation refrigeration machines and systems;
• industrial applications and special projects.

Exchangers can be configured with different geometries, materials, and surface treatments. The range includes copper or cupronickel tubes, aluminum or copper fins, and flat or specially designed finned packs, as well as various treatments designed to meet the application's environmental and operating conditions.

The advantages of our solutions

One of Sierra's distinctive features is its custom approach, geared towards integration into the customer's machine . The exchanger is designed considering not only the performance of the individual component, but also its behavior within the system in which it will be installed.

The collaboration can therefore include sizing, configuration, performance verification, testing and subsequent industrialization , accompanying the manufacturer in the development of a solution suitable for series production.

The availability of different geometries, materials, circuits and treatments also allows the product to be adapted to the operating conditions and required performance.

Research, design and testing

Research and development is a central part of Sierra's business. The company has the CERT3000 center, a 450 m² laboratory where heat exchangers and equipment are tested under controlled operating conditions.

The laboratory includes an enthalpy tunnel that allows for efficiency tests on exchangers powered by hot or cold water or A1 and A2L refrigerants, in evaporation and condensation. Calorimetric chambers allow for verification of the operation and energy performance of the entire machine.

This infrastructure allows Sierra to collaborate with developers and designers early in the project, using test results to optimize the exchanger configuration for the final application.

Materials and treatments

Configurability also includes materials and heat exchanger protection. Sierra offers different combinations of tubes, fins, frames, manifolds, and distributors , as well as specific surface treatments.

The available options include hydrophilic, pre-painted, powder coating and cataphoresis treatments, which can be used depending on the environmental conditions and corrosion protection needs.

Innovation and sustainability

The evolution of Sierra products follows that of HVAC/R technologies, with research activities dedicated to the development of solutions compatible with new needs in terms of energy efficiency, refrigerants and heat exchange performance.

Sustainability is also part of Sierra's declared corporate principles, which include reducing the impact of production processes, using resources responsibly, and addressing the effects of climate change.