3 minute read - 25th November 2022
Vaillant unveils new £4m heat pump production line
Vaillant Group has unveiled its new multi-million pound heat pump production line at its headquarters in Belper, making it the first manufacturer to produce both heat pumps and high-efficiency boilers in the UK.
The new line was officially opened this week, marking a £4m investment in the Derbyshire factory’s low carbon production capabilities, in what the company says reinforces its commitment to ensuring that all UK homes can be heated via the most effective technology.
The new heat pump line will be dedicated to producing Vaillant’s aroTHERM plus air-to-water heat pump. Launched in 2020, the aroTHERM plus is the first UK manufactured heat pump available in the market to use the natural refrigerant R290 with a global warming potential (GWP) of just three. It is capable of achieving higher hot water flow temperatures of up to 75 degrees, meaning the water is stored in the cylinder at a useable temperature without the need for a backup heater.
Vaillant Group has unveiled its new £4m heat pump production line at its factory in Belper / Picture: Vaillant Group
With current incentives and policy in place, the UK heat pump market is expected to gain momentum as the industry aims to meet the government target of installing 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028. This latest move sees the company playing an important role in the UK government’s strategy for reducing of carbon emissions from heat and hot water demands.
Henrik Hansen, managing director of Vaillant Group UK & Ireland, said: “We know there is no single solution when it comes to heating our homes in the UK as the breadth of property type is diverse. Heat pumps are a here and now technology that can offer decarbonisation benefits, however the future is likely to be made up of a mix of heat pump, hybrid and boiler technologies. Ultimately, we want to help consumers feel in a position to make an informed choice about what will work for both their lifestyle and their property.
“Vaillant has seen many ‘firsts’ in its nearly 150-year history, and I’m delighted to now be announcing the commissioning of the company’s new heat pump manufacturing line in the UK. It’s a huge testament to our incredibly talented and dedicated team, and their vision and commitment to taking the business forward, that we are celebrating this latest milestone.
“Indeed, the widescale need to transition to low carbon is a once in a generation occurrence. The popularity of heat pump technology is growing at pace and is expected to continue to do so as homeowners become comfortable with the workings of lower carbon heating systems. This important move means we can help increase the availability of UK made heat pumps and further our support for installers via supply, training and installation guidance, as they make the shift to new heating technologies.”
Joe Dunn, UK plant director at Vaillant, added: “This is such an exciting time to be part of Vaillant in the UK as we diversify our product offering and grow our team to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead. It is wonderful to see our aroTHERM plus air-to-water heat pump production line now fully functional and producing products for the UK market, alongside our high-efficiency boilers.”
Vaillant has been producing heat pumps for the UK market since the early 2000s. This latest addition to the Belper plant furthers the company’s vast experience in innovation and developing industry-leading heating technologies and follows a £55m investment in its research and development facility at its headquarters in Remscheid in 2018.