Fire at Rubinetterie Condor in Italy: Production Restarted Within One Month After Site-Wide Contamination
A fire at Rubinetterie Condor in Northern Italy left the entire facility contaminated, but production was back up within a month. This was made possible by an immediate response, early stabilization, and a structured approach to decontaminating both the building and the machinery.
“The day after the incident, BELFOR was already operational. The people who worked every day, from Sunday to Sunday, were highly professional and always available.”
Gianluca Pinciroli, Plant Director, Rubinetterie Condor Srl
Fire and smoke affected the entire production site
On Saturday, May 11 at 12:00, 2024, a fire broke out at Rubinetterie Condor Srl, a manufacturer of components for coffee machines and tap systems. Firefighters brought the blaze under control, but the impact went far beyond the ignition point.
The area of origin suffered major structural damage, including partial destruction of roof elements and skylights. At the same time, fine smoke particles spread throughout the building. Walls, floors, and production equipment were all contaminated, leaving even undamaged areas unsafe for continued operations.
Response began within hours
BELFOR Italy was contacted the same day and arrived on site by 19:30 to carry out an initial technical assessment. Acting quickly helped limit secondary damage.
By Sunday morning at 8:30, stabilization work was already underway. Teams secured the site and applied corrosion protection. This “stop corrosion” phase is critical after a fire, as residues from smoke and extinguishing agents can quickly damage metal, electronics, and machinery if not treated.
Clear priorities enabled early production restart
Working with the client, BELFOR set clear priorities to bring key production areas back online as quickly as possible.
The first focus was the turning department. Although it was less directly impacted by the fire, it was still heavily contaminated. After a detailed assessment, decontamination started immediately. Surfaces were cleaned using high-pressure methods, followed by the application of encapsulating coatings to bind remaining residues.
At the same time, specialist teams treated machinery and production systems. This included cleaning, deoxidation, and chemical neutralization to remove corrosive deposits and restore functionality.
By May 27 at 18:00, just 16 days after the fire, this critical area was fully cleaned and ready for use.
Work resumed in the most damaged area after structural clearance
Once the first production zones were secure, work shifted to the area where the fire had started.
Access was only possible after structural engineers confirmed the building was safe. Following that clearance, BELFOR teams began cleaning and restoring both the structure and the remaining equipment.
All affected surfaces were decontaminated and repainted. Machinery and tools went through the same cleaning and deoxidation processes to remove fire residues and corrosion.
Full restoration completed within one month
By June 14 at 17:00, just over a month after the incident, the project was complete. Rubinetterie Condor was able to resume full operations.
The recovery timeline was driven by immediate mobilization, continuous work, and a clear focus on restoring production-critical areas first.
Recovery timeline
- Date of loss: May 11, 12:00
- First site inspection: May 11, 19:30
- Start of intervention: May 12, 08:30
- Completion of turning department restoration: May 27, 18:00
- Completion of full intervention: June 14, 17:00
See also: Incendio – Industria Rubinetterie (VC)
