We are officially launching our new column Global Voices, designed to introduce our colleagues from international offices, starting with a very special guest: our Andrea De Zuani, who has been with MEPPI since 2021.

Introduce MEPPI to those who don’t know it.
MEPPI – Mitsubishi Electric Power Products Inc. (www.meppi.com) is part of the MELCO group and this year celebrated its 40th anniversary. As the name suggests, it mainly operates in the Power – Electrification Business, offering cutting-edge solutions for electrical power distribution: gas and vacuum circuit breakers, power transformers, gas-insulated substations, high-voltage transmission technologies, power generators, nuclear plant services, UPS systems, and battery storage solutions. It also diversifies with solutions for railway equipment and HVAC systems for the rail sector, as well as high-definition LED mega displays for stadiums and iconic American squares (Times Square / Las Vegas).

What is your role there?
I work in the Critical Power Division, which focuses on large UPS systems and batteries serving Data Centers. Thanks to the partnership with MEHITS that began in 2021, we are working to offer complete solutions for Data Centers, from Power to Cooling, leveraging MEPPI’s strong relationships with major Hyperscale & Colocation companies in the US.
My role required—and still requires—various adjustments: when we started this adventure in 2021, we were just two people starting from zero. My main task was to instill, day by day, a culture and curiosity about IT Cooling in a team that had no knowledge of our world of Data Center cooling but had impressive potential given the type of clientele.
So, through specific application/product training for the division’s departments, supporting client meetings to present our products and solutions, and especially gathering product specifications through numerous VOC sessions and facilitating communication between the two companies.
Now, the IT Cooling Team has grown to 10 people, and responsibilities are starting to take shape across different work groups: Sales, Pre-sales, Marketing, and Engineering.

What do you think are the main differences between the American and European ways of working?
They are more pragmatic and focused on clearly defined responsibilities, result-oriented, with fast turnaround times. Their communication is direct and informal, even in client meetings. They are used to working in teams and empowering individuals. Their lifestyle is work-oriented, and vacation time is limited.
In Europe—or rather in Italy—we are less accustomed to teamwork, but we have a greater tendency to manage in all contexts. We are much more flexible in adapting… and we have an enviable lifestyle.

Is the approach to IT Cooling different?
The technologies and solutions are the same, but the focus differs. In Europe, we are more oriented toward sustainability, efficiency, “shaving off” every kW, and customizing solutions project by project, country by country. In the US, sustainability and efficiency are a plus but not a must. They want products as standardized and simple as possible (KISS: Keep It Simple, Stupid), with proven performance and installable under all the various conditions found in the US.