Heat pump production begins at Ideal Heating
7th August 2023
UK: A visit by energy efficiency and green finance minister Lord Callanan has marked the start of heat pump production by Ideal Heating at its Hull factory.
Traditionally a boiler manufacturer, Ideal Heating announced the launch of its first monobloc heat pump for the domestic UK market in May. Now the business is undergoing a major transformation as it engineers the heating solutions to support the UK’s drive to net zero.
The new heat pump production line forms part of a £60m investment programme at the Hull site, which includes an expanded distribution hub and research and development centre in addition to the heat pump manufacturing facility.
The company, a subsidiary of Groupe Atlantic, has also invested more than £2m in a heat pump training centre, capable of accommodating up to 5,000 installers per year.
Shaun Edwards, CEO of Groupe Atlantic UK, Republic of Ireland and North America, described the transition to low carbon heating solutions as “the biggest transformation in the business since we moved from coal to gas-fired boilers in the 1930s”.
Reflecting on the decades of the Ideal name being associated with boilers and other heating products, he said: “With the start of heat pump production and the many other investments we’re making, we’re now pushing strongly forward with renewable technologies that will play an ever-growing role in heating the UK’s homes and commercial premises.”
Ideal Heating has a 800-strong workforce in Hull – the majority in manufacturing roles – with a total of around 1,500 employed across the UK by the company and its sister businesses.
During his visit, Lord Callanan also officially opened Ideal Heating’s £2.2m National Training and Technology Centre in Hessle, on the outskirts of Hull.
Related stories:
Ideal launches monobloc heat pump – 7 May 2023
UK: Ideal Heating, a company with a tradition in gas heating, has launched its first monobloc heat pump for the domestic UK market. Read more…
Ideal invests £10m in heat pump R&D centre – 3 April 2023
UK: Ideal Heating has submitted plans for a new £10m R&D facility for low carbon heating solutions, such as air source heat pumps, at its UK headquarters in Hull. Read more…
