Responding to a growth in demand, Vaillant has announced that it is to extend its UK manufacturing facility in Belper, Derbyshire, to begin manufacturing heat pumps alongside its range of condensing boilers. From 2022, the capacity will be increased to include production of the company’s aroTHERM plus air-to-water heat pump. Launched in 2020, the aroTHERM plus is one of the only products available in the market to use the natural refrigerant R290 and is capable of achieving higher flow temperatures of up to 75°C.
Joe Dunn, plant director of Vaillant Industrial UK, comments: “This is a huge step forward for Vaillant in the UK. This is a fantastic opportunity for our existing team to develop our skill sets ready for our product diversification and create new roles for the local area. As the demand for renewable heating technologies grows at an unprecedented rate in the UK, the Vaillant manufacturing facility will be well placed to meet the demands of the market, contributing to government targets for the decarbonisation of heat.”
The move has received the backing of Business & Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, who says: “Today’s announcement from Vaillant is a significant boost to our plans to kick-start a heat pump manufacturing base in the UK so we can develop a range of new low-carbon technologies, create jobs and meet our all-important target of installing 600,000 heat pumps each year by 2028.”
Vaillant believes there must be an urgent increase of support for installers in the industry to expand their skills to accommodate heat pumps if the Government’s target is to be met. To support the transition to new heating technologies, the company offers vocational courses as well as product training which can be undertaken online or in one of six Centres of Excellence and other partner training locations across the UK.
For further information on the aroTHERM plus heat pump range, please visit: vaillant.co.uk/arothermplus