At a historic moment when innovation and sustainability are no longer just buzzwords, but real necessities for the global industry, we proudly took part in the tenth edition of Italian Design Icons (IDI 2025), the prestigious showcase dedicated to the excellence of Italian design and technology, held at the 800 Show in the heart of the Jing’an district in Shanghai, from 19 to 23 November. This year’s edition focused on the central theme “Design for a Better Life”. Within this context, UFI was invited to participate in a panel dedicated to the green transition and the circular economy, with a speech from Simone Trazzi, CEO Asia Pacific & India.
On this occasion, we were recognized with the “Most Influential Speaker of Italian Design Icons” award, a testament to the quality and impact of our contribution.
From Italy to Asia, our mission remains the same: turning innovation into sustainable progress.
Our vision: technology and responsibility for decarbonisation
During the panel “Green Transition and Circular Economy: The role of Italian enterprises in China’s decarbonisation process during the 2020–2030 energy transformation decade”, Simone Trazzi presented our Group’s approach to the green transition, understood as a process of transformation. As a System Solution Provider, we develop advanced filtration systems, thermal management solutions, and hydrogen technologies, supporting clean mobility and smart energy.
But what does this mean in practice? It means transforming research into tangible solutions — technologies that make vehicles and systems more efficient every day through three lines of technological development:
- Filtration: with systems that improve air and fluid cleanliness, affecting consumption, emissions and the lifespan of engines and machinery.
- Thermal management: for new energy vehicles, we design heat exchangers and integrated systems for the thermal management of batteries and transmissions, ensuring consistent performance and customisation for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
- Hydrogen: UFI Hydrogen is the company dedicated to the development and production of Membrane Electrode Assemblies (UFI MEA) – the heart of electrolysers and fuel cells for the production and use of green hydrogen – with a specific focus on reducing the use of critical materials such as iridium, to make the technology more competitive and scalable globally.
Integrated sustainability: responsible innovation
In design and production, UFI adopts criteria of responsibility and efficiency, prioritising sustainable materials and processes that reduce emissions and energy consumption. The new UFI GREEN plant in Jiaxing Xiuzhou, for example, integrates photovoltaic panels, advanced insulation systems and VOC recovery, ensuring cleaner air and safe working conditions. At Group level, we promote continuous improvement programmes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency, and maximise recycling.
“Glocal” strategy: global innovation, local action
UFI’s strategy in China, as elsewhere in the world, is based on a global vision and local action, with Innovation Centres in Italy, China and India and an engineering and production presence firmly rooted in the territory. We co-develop customised solutions for automotive and heavy-duty manufacturers, responding quickly to market needs and verticalising production processes to accelerate innovation.
Partnerships and a sustainable future
The Italian Design Icons panel highlighted UFI’s strategic role as an Italian company in China capable of supporting the decarbonisation process through advanced technologies and local partnerships. The objective is to create long-term value for people, industry and the environment, thus making a tangible contribution to China’s sustainability goals and beyond, by 2030.
UFI: where innovation, sustainability and global vision come together to build the future of mobility and energy.
