SIAD Group launches the construction of a new production plant for oxygen, nitrogen and argon in Tuscany, with a more than €60 million investment

Castelfranco di Sotto (Pisa), 6 July 2026 – With a new investment of over €60 million, SIAD Group has started the construction of a new production facility for oxygen, nitrogen and argon in the municipalities of Castelfranco di Sotto and Santa Croce sull’Arno, in the province of Pisa. 

The ASU (Air Separation Unit) plant – scheduled for completion by 2027 and supported by a €6.9 million capital grant from Invitalia – represents a strategic asset for the Tuscany Region, as it will be the only operational hub for the production of technical gases. 

The initiative has benefited from the support of the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, which promoted the development of the Tuscan leather district supply chain through the project “ASU TOSCANA: Local oxygen supply for the Tuscan leather district.” The project was also made possible thanks to the active collaboration of Invitalia (the Italian National Agency for Investment Attraction and Business Development), endorsing the facility's strategic importance for the region and its industrial self-sufficiency. 

The new facility has been designed to significantly reduce the environmental impact associated with logistics operations. By producing the gases required for industrial processes directly on site — particularly for the companies operating within the renowned Tuscan leather district — it will be possible to substantially reduce road transport volumes, lowering CO₂ emissions while enhancing supply reliability and operational resilience for local businesses. In addition to supporting the competitiveness of companies across the region, the plant will ensure the supply of essential gases for: 

• Companies operating in the leather-processing district; 
• Hospitals throughout Tuscany. 

In particular, gaseous oxygen will be supplied via pipeline directly to the Aquarno Consortium wastewater treatment plant, which serves the entire leather district. This solution will significantly improve supply reliability by eliminating the road tankers currently transporting oxygen from production sites located outside the region. The pipeline network will also supply the special waste treatment and storage facility operated by Hasi Herambiente Servizi Industriali. This local production model will significantly reduce both logistics costs and environmental impact, making wastewater treatment operations more efficient and supporting the development of new sustainable technologies and products. From an environmental perspective, the oxygen pipeline network will eliminate approximately 1,000 truck journeys per year, resulting in a reduction of more than 2.000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.  

“The gas market has evolved significantly over the years,” said Bernardo Sestini, Chairman and CEO of SIAD Group, “encouraging us to develop increasingly innovative solutions designed around our customers’ requirements. Today, SIAD is an integrated ecosystem, connecting expertise across Industrial Gases, Engineering, Healthcare and Energy. The new ASU facility, designed and built by SIAD Group’s Engineering Division is a tangible expression of this integrated approach, bringing together technological expertise, manufacturing capabilities and industrial innovation. This investment further strengthens SIAD’s long-standing presence in Tuscany and reflects our ongoing commitment to developing innovative solutions capable of creating value for customers, partners and communities, while fostering authentic, sustainable and long-term growth.” 

“The development of this oxygen and technical gases facility,” commented Francesca Romana Tomaselli, General Manager of the Consorzio Aquarno S.p.A., “has been characterized by a strong spirit of collaboration with Consorzio Aquarno, operator of one of Italy’s largest predominantly industrial wastewater treatment plants and related infrastructure serving the leather district. Together, our organizations will represent a model of advanced technology and effective industrial synergy, creating the conditions for further shared projects in the future.”

Once fully operational, the extremely automated plant, incorporating innovative technologies, will create approximately 20 highly skilled jobs, including plant operators, maintenance technicians and logistics personnel, while generating positive economic benefits for local businesses and suppliers. The availability of locally produced oxygen, nitrogen and argon will act as a catalyst for new industrial activities, supporting employment growth and regional development. Additional temporary benefits will also arise during the construction phase through related contracting and site activities. 

This important investment further reinforces SIAD’s long-standing relationship with the Tuscany Region, which dates back to the 1950s with the establishment of its Avenza facility (Massa Carrara) for the filling of industrial, food-grade and medical gases. SIAD has also engineered and installed several facilities in the region dedicated to the recovery and liquefaction of CO₂ from industrial process emissions and biogas, supplying leading companies operating within the chemical sector.