Daikin has received the Investment Impact Award from fDi Intelligence, a division of The Financial Times, for its EUR 300 million [about USD 327 million] investment in a residential heat pump production site in Poland. The award recognises foreign direct investment projects in Europe with local and national impact. The ceremony took place on 10 March 2026 in France.
Daikin Manufacturing Poland won in the “Operational mid-sized projects” category, which covers investments of USD 50 million to USD 500 million. The award was given for Daikin’s EUR 300 million [about USD 327 million] investment in its 320,000 m2 (approx. 3.44 million sq ft) factory in central Poland’s Łódź region. fDi Intelligence said the inaugural awards were selected from 106 submissions.
According to Daikin, the Poland plant is part of its proximity strategy to design and manufacture HVAC-R equipment close to the European market. The company said it operates 12 HVAC-R manufacturing sites in Europe as of 2026, alongside a European R&D centre for heat-pump and refrigeration technology in Belgium. Daikin said this approach supports supply security and reduces dependence on extra-EU imports and long-distance transport.
The company also said the additional production capacity will support demand for residential heat pumps across the EU and exports within the European market. “Daikin deliberately chose Poland as the location for its largest heat pump manufacturing site,” said Yasuto Hiraoka, Managing Director, Daikin Manufacturing Poland. “We are proud that our commitment to ‘Made in Europe’, through a new residential heat pump production site in Poland, has been recognised with the fDi Investment Impact Award from the Financial Times.”