At the forefront of furnace innovation, TAV VACUUM FURNACES SPA is on an industry-leading trajectory
A global leader in custom-engineered vacuum furnace solutions, TAV VACUUM FURNACES SPA (TAV) is recognized for its reliability, extensive technical skill, and commitment to top-quality service and performance. Established in 1984 and with over 40 years of expertise, the company specializes in the production of horizontal and vertical vacuum furnaces for advanced heat treatment processes, leveraged by some of the world’s largest players within aerospace, automotive, sintering, and additive manufacturing.
It’s been more than a year since Manufacturing Today sat down with Guido Locatelli, TAV’s General Manager, to discuss the company’s history, innovation, and 40th anniversary milestone, which it celebrated in 2024. Concluding that conversation, Guido shared TAV’s five-year goal to further strengthen its position in the global furnace market and, in 2026, it’s evident that the company is succeeding in this mission. From a multitude of internal developments to new technology and expansion, this time, Marco Baretti, Strategic Marketing Director at TAV, shares details of the company’s progression since we last spoke. He begins by unveiling TAV’s internal cultural changes.
“We are evolving the way we manage and engage our teams at TAV,” opens Marco. “Our leadership team possesses a profound, ‘home-grown’ knowledge of our products – a core strength that has always defined our excellence. To build on this solid foundation, we are now integrating new specialized tools and best practices to further empower our people as both professionals and visionary leaders.
“This strategic investment in human capital is designed to shape TAV into a modern, structured organization, one that is fully in step with the times and ready to tackle the challenges of the future,” Marco explains. “As part of this cultural evolution, we have introduced a new, proactive approach to HR. Our goal is to create a seamless connection between all our offices, ensuring every team member is aligned with our collective vision. By bridging the gap between the company and our employees, we are fostering a shared culture where everyone is fully aware of and inspired by the growth they are helping to create.”
From an operational standpoint, TAV’s shift to vertical integration has been significant in boosting its productivity and efficiency, allowing it to greater serve its customers amidst the current global supply chain and socioeconomic challenges. Demonstrative of its unwavering commitment to providing excellent service, this change will also be instrumental in further supporting TAV’s strategic growth, particularly on an international scale.
“Following the pandemic, TAV embarked on a strategic journey toward vertical integration,” Marco says. “This shift has significantly enhanced our autonomy and responsiveness, ensuring that critical components are always available to support our customers with industry-leading lead times. Together with a transition to a standardized, modular design, this allows us to maintain peak efficiency while tailoring our products to each client’s unique specifications.
“Today, TAV is increasingly recognized for its ability to seamlessly integrate high-performance furnaces with automated loading systems. By combining increasingly efficient mechanical solutions with advanced software controls, we deliver fully integrated systems that enhance our deep mastery of thermal processes. For instance, our automated solutions now manage the entire cycle: picking up the load, managing the furnace phase, and transporting the components to the unloading station, creating a continuous, optimized flow for the next stage of production.”
On the topic of expansion, TAV’s growth strategy is centered on identifying prospective opportunities in emerging markets where its expertise adds the most value. “In the sales department, we have strategically balanced our resources between consolidated and emerging markets to proactively target sectors where we hold a distinct competitive edge,” Marco explains. “A significant area of focus is the rapidly growing market for advanced materials and high-performance components. As major global economies invest heavily in localizing the production of these critical technologies to ensure supply chain resilience, TAV is positioning itself at the forefront of this industrial shift. We work closely with global players to not only provide state-of-the-art furnaces but also to actively co-develop specialized industrial processes. Our goal is to be a reliable partner from the earliest stages of a project, ensuring we stay ahead of industry trends.
“This proactive expansion is powered by the TAV Performance LAB, our center of excellence where technology and innovation converge. The Lab serves as the engine of our competitive edge, utilizing latest-generation technologies and academic collaborations with prestigious universities to solve advanced industrial challenges. By acting as a comprehensive technology transfer platform, the TAV Performance LAB provides a seamless bridge between innovation and industrial application. We collaborate with customers to accelerate process development by refining specific processes well before the equipment is even installed on-site. This integrated approach optimizes the customers’ investment by significantly reducing their R&D overhead and shortening time-to-market. Ultimately, we ensure immediate operational readiness by delivering fully tested and qualified processes, allowing our partners to be productive and high-performing from day one.”
As TAV moves further into 2026, the company is well-placed to pursue new opportunities for growth and innovation. TAV aims to continue setting high standards in the vacuum furnace industry for years to come. “A cornerstone of this future is our commitment to sustainable development,” Marco states. “Through the TAV Performance LAB, we are dedicated to engineering energy-efficient solutions that reduce carbon footprints without compromising industrial performance. By optimizing thermal efficiency and minimizing resource consumption, we ensure that TAV’s growth aligns seamlessly with the global transition toward a greener industrial future.
“2025 was an exceptional year for us, and we are now projecting a further growth,” Marco concludes, optimistic about the path ahead. “To support this momentum, we are launching our new projects aiming at nurturing young talent entering the industry and to integrate established professionals into our growing team. Our vision is to significantly scale our global operations within the next five years. We are confident that our evolved approach to key markets and our focus on human capital will allow us to capture the vast opportunities ahead, establishing TAV as a global leader in vacuum furnace industry.”