Daikin Europe invests €3.9m in new Hubbard factory to drive progress in sustainable cooling

Daikin Europe has announced that construction is complete on a new factory for its UK-based specialist commercial refrigeration business, Hubbard Products Ltd., and that manufacturing has begun on-site.

Since being acquired by Daikin Group in 2017, and following the integration of Daikin’s UK commercial refrigeration offering into its portfolio, Hubbard has been leading the commercial refrigeration market in the UK and Northern Europe.

Its new, 7500 m² factory will give Hubbard almost 60 per cent more production space – a significant increase in capacity that will increase volumes and reduce lead times for customers, while maintaining the product quality and smooth, reliable delivery they expect.

A new research and development facility, adjacent to the new factory, is due for completion early next year. Across the new factory and the research and development facility, there are plans to recruit 60 additional highly skilled operators.

Junji Umamoto, Vice President of Daikin Europe, General Manager Refrigeration Business, said: “Among the Daikin Group of companies and the sectors and markets we serve, Hubbard has a well-earned reputation for innovation and design skill in the field of refrigeration and heat recovery. “

“We are confident of Hubbard’s continued growth next year and beyond, amid sustained demand from the pharmaceutical sector, and as the food retail and hospitality sectors continue to recover from the initial impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. “

“Hubbard offers market-leading stationary and transport refrigeration solutions to suit every part of the cold chain, minimising the impact on global warming. Specifically for the food cold chain, Daikin refrigeration solutions support the execution of the EU’s Farm to Fork strategy by enabling sustainable food processing and distribution, and by limiting food waste along the way.”

Innovation at Hubbard – in partnership with academia – is centred on the development of energy-efficient solutions, using natural refrigerant with low Global Warming Potential.

Hubbard’s ambition is to minimise the Total Equivalent Warming Impact of its entire range, which includes everything from brewery applications, vehicle refrigeration and small commercial refrigeration, to multi-packs and semi-industrial application for the retail, food processing, cold storage and pharmaceutical sectors.

Ilias Katsoulis, managing director of Hubbard Products Ltd., added: “As a total cold chain solution provider with strong customer relationships in industries from food retail to pharmaceuticals – and one of the widest product portfolios in the industry – we can have a huge impact in making cooling cleaner and more sustainable.  

“Our new site, and the new team members we look forward to welcoming to Hubbard, will be our vehicle for expansion and driving positive change, in the UK and overseas.”