HiRef Begins Construction of Its First Plant in Mexico

The Italian company HiRef has laid the cornerstone for its new Advanced Manufacturing plant in the Platah Industrial Park in Villa de Tezontepec, Hidalgo—a project involving an investment of approximately US$11 million—which is expected to become its first production facility in the Americas.

The company, which specializes in precision cooling solutions for critical infrastructure, expects to complete the project and begin operations between late 2027 and early 2028. From this facility, it will manufacture equipment for data centers, telecommunications, and infrastructure connected to artificial intelligence.

HiRef has had a direct presence in Mexico since 2020, but until now it had no local production. According to projections by the Hidalgo state government, the project will generate 320 highly specialized direct and indirect jobs.

The new plant will manufacture precision air conditioners, chillers, chilled water systems, and liquid cooling technologies—solutions designed specifically for high-density data centers and artificial intelligence applications.

During the ceremony, Alejandra Castellanos García, director of HiRef Mexico and Latin America, noted that the expansion of data centers poses the challenge of increasing computing capacity without unnecessarily increasing energy consumption and the use of natural resources.

Therefore, one of HiRef's goals will be to develop solutions that reduce the amount of energy used to cool technological infrastructure, thereby freeing up electrical capacity for other productive activities and reducing the emissions associated with operations.

The plant in Hidalgo will serve a regional function, and the company plans to use it as a platform to support projects in both Mexico and other markets on the continent, while local manufacturing will allow the company to bring equipment closer to its customers and adjust part of its logistics strategy.

HiRef estimates that production in Mexico could reduce delivery times by up to 50%, as well as facilitate the integration of regional suppliers and technical capabilities.

Part of the company’s strategy is to establish partnerships with universities and educational institutions in Hidalgo to promote technical training, internships, knowledge transfer, and talent development in areas such as engineering, automation, electromechanics, energy, information technology, and industrial processes.

The arrival of HiRef marks a strengthening of the trade relationship between Mexico and Italy. Lorenzo Vianello, president of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Mexico, emphasized that bilateral trade has recently exceeded US$11 billion and identified Mexico as the leading destination market for Italian exports in Latin America.

With this investment, HiRef hopes to establish advanced manufacturing capabilities in Mexico to meet part of the thermal infrastructure demand driven by the expansion of the digital economy and data centers.