Daikin Europe N.V. has announced a 50 million euro investment in its heat pump factory in Brno, the Czech Republic. It will further boost the company’s European manufacturing capacity to meet growing demand for sustainable heating solutions and contribute to the much needed energy transition.
The investment in the Czech Republic will go to the construction of an additional factory building and new production lines. It follows earlier investments to strengthen Daikin’s manufacturing bases in Europe, with major expansions of its plants in Belgium and Germany, along with the establishment of a brand-new factory in Poland by 2024.
‘We have always strived to develop and manufacture our products close to the markets we are serving,’ says Patrick Crombez, General Manager Daikin Europe Heating and Renewables. ‘Today, our residential hydronic heat pumps sold in Europe are 100% designed and made in Europe, making us the leading manufacturer of hydronic heat pumps on the continent.’
Daikin Europe has been investing heavily in heat pump technology R&D over the last 2 decades. The Daikin Altherma range, launched in 2006, quickly became the market reference for residential heat pumps. Since then, Daikin has developed a broad heat pump portfolio, offering solutions for almost any application.
‘As the world's only manufacturer of heating, cooling and refrigeration equipment and refrigerants, Daikin has developed advanced heat pump technology over its nearly 100-year history. The urgency to decarbonize gives us the opportunity to leverage our technological know-how and manufacturing experience and take the lead in the race to fossil fuel free heating in Europe.’ says Hideki Hara, President of Daikin Device Czech Republic.
The investment underlines Daikin Europe’s growth ambitions, which will also be accompanied by a strong growth of its workforce. Today, the company already has over 12,000 employees working in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). To achieve the ambitious targets in its strategic management plan ‘Fusion 25’, the company is looking to recruit another 5,000 people by 2025.
‘Daikin Europe has built a strong reputation as an attractive employer thanks to its people-centred management. This makes us confident that we will find the right people to achieve our goals, even in a tight labour market.’ says Hilde Goossens, General Manager HR & General Affairs EMEA.
