The history
The story of Unox is characterised by steady and uninterrupted growth.
The search for customer value and the development of technologies and services to support our customers led to an initial fast track for the company, to rapidly expand and upgrade our manufacturing processes and then open ourselves to international markets, and at the same time expand and renew our product range. Unox has been able during this growth stage to quickly translate ideas into technological improvements and innovative products able to effectively meet the needs of customers and to streamline the existing processes.
1990
Unox was founded in 1990 with the production of Roberta and Arianna ovens, ancestors of the Line Micro™, principally for the Italian market.
1993/1995
Since 1993, with the introduction of the UFE 301, the first Combi 5 tray, and then with Rossella (Line Miss™) and Spido Cook™, came many changes for us: the introduction in the company of AUTOCAD design systems and new headquarters. In 1995 our annual turnover reached one billion lire. Above all two new technologies: the first, designed for the production of steam which dramatically improved the direct injection solution, the second uniform air distribution using a multifan solution: STEAM.Maxi™ and AIR.Maxi™ were born.
1996/1998
In 1996 the UFG210 was presented to the market, the first gas powered UNOX Combi, with this product the road was opened into European markets, turnover doubled, and the company premises were enlarged to facilitate this expansion. The production philosophy was the first important change in an industrial sense with the integration of stainless steel machining. In 1998 Unox recorded the International Patent DRY.Maxi ™, an innovative technology for the extraction of moisture from the cooking chamber.
1999
The need for production space was increased (2000 square meters of office was added to the existing production of three warehouses each one of 2500mq) and UNOX adopted the 3D CAD Pro Engineering system, Unox started rolling out products into the U.S. market.
2000/2003
The advent of the new millennium was the date in which the UNOX of today’s flagship product lines were originated. Firstly the 4-6-10 pans BakerLux™ line is born (Combi ovens for bakery, the first example of our concept for an entire product family instead of a single oven) and then the 5-7-10 pans ChefLux™ Combi ovens line. The gas powered version of both product lines was shortly released thereafter.
New technologies accompanying the birth of these new products: ROTOR.Klean™, our patented automatic wash system for ChefLux™ combis, and for SPIDO.Gas™, patent symmetric heat exchangers adopted in the ChefLux™ and BakerLux™ Gas.
2004
ChefLux™, the product line of Combi ovens dedicated to gastronomy, was now at version XV1003G: the first Combi oven in the GN 2/1 size is released. The company buildings reach 12,000 sqm, But the real news is the company's approach to the innovative Lean production system. Choosing as a pilot assembly the SpidoCook™ line Unox begins the path towards our current "lean manufacturing" philosophy that leads to the "continuous improvement philosophy”. This decision proves immediately successful and is extended to all other assembly lines. This benefits also all other aspects of business: production and logistics relationships with our suppliers and customers.
2005/2006
LineMiss™ and LineMicro™ production lines are designed and manufactured, while turnover now reaches approximately 25 million Euros.
Improvements in design are now occurring at a rapid pace. The products BakerTop™ and ChefTop™: have now become the choice of excellence for professionals, thanks also to the new technology MAXI.Link™ introduced with series 4, and a perfected AIR.Maxi™ technology, for example: 5 fans in the trolley ovens guarantees exceptional cooking evenness. 5 series ChefTop ™ and BakerTop ™ models released into the world market:2009 The XVC1015P, the first 20 tray oven GN1/1, and full set GN2/3, GN 1/1, GN2/1. 2010 ChefTop of GN 2/1 hybrid, adopting technology ADAPTIVE.Clima ™.
To continuously grow and improve, the company adopts first SAP ERP, then SAP CRM to manage customer relationships, and then the SIEMENS PLM system to manage projects and product information. On the external front we continue to expand outwards from our base In Italy with the Middle East office opening in 2007, in 2009 the Australian office, in early 2010 the French office and recently in 2010 the Asia Pacific office.
The Continuous Improvement System uses this global network, listening and adapting to the needs of those who use Unox ovens in their daily work.
A difficult economic environment requires even more innovation in order to find new ways to ensure customer quality, competitiveness and simplification of the cooking processes.
In 2011 the new oven lines ChefLux™ and BakerLux™ have been released: essential humidity convection ovens that allow the professionals to easily perform the most common traditional cooking processes for gastronomy, pastry, and bakery.
In 2011 we also continue to expand outwards Italy with the South Africa office and the new U.S.A. subsidiary openings.
The year 2012 started with the new UNOX Headquarters opening: a modern, innovative and technological building.
