Blupura Wins KAIZEN™ Award Italy 2025 for Excellence in Continuous Improvement
Bologna, 19 June 2025 – Watercoolers Europe is proud to announce that Blupura, Italy’s leading manufacturer of mains-connected water coolers, has been awarded the KAIZEN™ Award Italy 2025 in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) category.
This prestigious national award, promoted by the Kaizen Institute, recognises organisations that excel in implementing continuous improvement, lean thinking, and innovation in their processes and culture. Competing alongside high-profile names such as Bauli, Lavazza Group, Brembo, Baker Hughes, Bitron, and NSG Group, Blupura stood out for its people-driven, holistic transformation strategy.
The award-winning project began as a pilot on select production lines and evolved into a full-scale Lean transformationdeeply embedded in daily operations and leadership routines. Results included improved productivity, reduced waste and lead times, better space utilisation, and streamlined workflow across the organisation.
Since becoming part of the Culligan Group in 2017, Blupura has adopted the Culligan Business System (CBS) to structure and accelerate its improvement journey. The successful implementation of Lean principles has been driven by cross-functional teamwork, hands-on leadership, and sustained coaching—supported by both Culligan and the Kaizen Institute.
Looking ahead, Blupura plans to expand its transformation even further, with strategic goals that include optimising plant layout, integrating warehouse operations, and deploying its Strategic Deployment Process (SDP) to align long-term goals across departments.
“This award is a testament to the collective commitment of our entire team,” said Gianni Grottini, Founder & Managing Director at Blupura. “It confirms that investing in people, standard processes, and shared goals is the most sustainable way to grow—both operationally and culturally.”
With this achievement, Blupura joins a distinguished group of organisations recognised for their operational excellence and long-term dedication to continuous improvement—values that lie at the heart of the watercooler industry.
You can learn more about Blupura’s achievement by visiting their website: Blupura wins the 2025 Kaizen Award Italy