Pentair People: Operations Supervisor Giulio Benvenuti is making his mark.
It would be hard not to be impressed by the passion and enthusiasm of Giulio Benvenuti. He takes his inspiration from working at Pentair and inspires those around him.
Giulio only joined the company in 2021 as a Production Planner but has rapidly risen to supervising the operational production of the company’s valve range – a big responsibility on young shoulders. However, he relishes the task and is repaying the trust shown in him. We talked to Giulio about life at Pentair and what makes it so special for him.
Lean manufacturing makes for smooth, efficient production.
“As Operations Supervisor here at the Pentair manufacturing plant in Pisa, life never stands still for long,” says Giulio. “I oversee production lines of Autotrol, Fleck and Siata valves and, with a double shift running much of the time, it’s a busy schedule. In essence, my job is to ensure smooth production – and to fix things when it’s not. Thankfully, we have teams of highly experienced operators and well-established processes in place, so ‘smooth’ is the normal state.
“I graduated as a Mechanical Engineer from Pisa University and started with Pentair in 2021 as a Production Planner. Around that time Pentair was looking to insource the global production of its market-leading Autotrol valve range to Pisa, so I guess the timing was good for me and I was asked to get involved in that project. I must have done something right as, in winter 2023, I was appointed to the role of Operations Supervisor.
“Both Pentair Centres of Excellence in Pisa and Herentals follow the industry best-practice principles of Lean manufacturing. Accordingly we configure each valve assembly line or cell in an efficient ‘U’ shape, with various stations positioned depending on the product being assembled. For example, with an Autotrol line, once the heat-welded valve bodies reach the cell, they pass through a number operators at workbenches, including assembly, testing, packaging and emerge a fully finished product.”
Autotrol. Tested, proven and never bettered.
“Autotrol valves are incredibly strong yet lightweight which is part of their enduring popularity. The casing is re-enforced fibreglass coated with Noryl®, an engineering plastic with outstanding mechanical, thermal and electrical properties.
Added to that, Autotrol valves use a flapper system rather than pistons which means minimal friction, less wear and tear and ultimately little maintenance. It is a simple yet effective design which has stood the test of time.
Strong work ethic fostered by culture of trust and empowerment.
“Perhaps the most rewarding part of my role is the interaction I enjoy with other departments such as Quality Assurance, Research and Development and Logistics. It not only helps me to see the ‘bigger picture’ but confirms my belief that I am working in a very special environment. Every colleague here embraces our ‘Win – Right’ values such as ‘Customer First’, ‘Accountability’ and ‘Respect and Teamwork’.”
