World News

Industry news and insights from Europe and around the World

UK News

Latest news and developments in the United Kingdom

Products

Keep up-to-date with the latest new products and technology

Features

General articles, applications and industry analysis

Daikin Europe begins construction of €140m R&D centre

BELGIUM: Daikin Europe has begun construction of its new €140m EMEA Development Centre (EDC) in Ghent and announced further increases in heat pump production at Ostend. 

Scheduled for completion in 2024, the 30,000m2 facility will house 400 engineers – a significant increase on the current 250+ staff – and bring together all heat pump heating and refrigeration R&D activity in one location. 

At the same time, the company has announced additional investments in its heat pump production capacity, with another two production lines in Ostend, Belgium. Including the production line that was inaugurated last month, Daikin’s latest investment in the Ostend plant totals €23m.

The new EMEA Development Centre on the University of Ghent’s Technology Park in Zwijnaarde brings together Daikin Europe’s research centre in Ostend and satellite centres in Ghent. 

The groundbreaking event today was attended by the Flemish Minister of Innovation, and the Mayor of Ghent, Daikin Europe top management, as well as representatives from industry groups.

First announced in 2020, the building was originally scheduled for completion in Q2 next year. Testing activities are still expected to commence from next year with construction now due to be completed by April 2024. It will comprise 14 office floors and a technical building. One floor of the building will be reserved for innovative start-ups and spin-offs.

The technical building will house 22 test chambers essential to Daikin’s product development and able to simulate operating effectiveness and efficiency under extreme climate conditions. Centrepiece will be a double EMC test chamber to carry out electromagnetic interference tests. 

Daikin Europe claims it will be one of the very few companies in the industry in Europe to operate this scale of testing capacity in-house.

Toshitaka Tsubouchi: “EDC Ghent will become a global R&D hub”

“EDC Ghent will become a global R&D hub that builds on Daikin’s own knowledge and experience, but also on the research being done right here at the University of Ghent and the innovations that come from new spin-offs and start-ups,” said Daikin Europe president Toshitaka Tsubouchi. 

These latest investments are said to be part of the Japanese manufacturer’s Fusion 25 plan, which will see Daikin Europe investing €840m by 2025, creating 4,000 new jobs in Europe.

Related stories:

Daikin wins Flanders investment award23 March 2022
BELGIUM: Ostend-based Daikin Europe has won the Foreign Investment of the Year Trophy, awarded by Flanders Investment and Trade (FIT). Read more…

Daikin Europe plans growth13 May 2021
BELGIUM: Daikin Europe is to become Daikin Industries’ global centre of expertise for low carbon heating solutions and its heat pump technology. Read more…

Daikin plans new European development centre25 November 2020
BELGIUM: Daikin Europe is set to build a new €140m EMEA Development Centre (EDC) in Ghent. Read more…

Latest News

28th March 2024

CO2 compressor for multiple applications

ITALY: Frascold’s new TK HD series transcritical CO2 compressors are designed for a wide range of refrigeration and air conditioning applications, as well as high-temperature heat pumps up to 100°C.
28th March 2024

Copeland releases 50hp scroll in Asia

CHINA: US compressor manufacturer Copeland is to launch a 50hp scroll for heat pump OEMs in Asia.
27th March 2024

Daikin redesigns Perfera R32 air conditioner

BELGIUM: Daikin Europe has announced a next generation All Seasons Perfera R32 air conditioner with redesigned indoor and outdoor units, making them easy to install and use.
27th March 2024

Press fittings go large

UK: Conex Bänninger has expanded its >B< MaxiPro range of press fittings with the addition of a 1⅝in fitting.
27th March 2024

Distilling the zero carbon benefits of heat pumps

IRELAND: An Irish distiller is now producing carbon neutral whiskeys following the installation of high temperature heat pumps from Finnish manufacturer Oilon.
27th March 2024

Daikin acquires Danish distributor

DENMARK: Daikin has acquired its Danish HVAC distributor BKF-Klima A/S from Swedish refrigeration and air conditioning wholesaler Beijer Ref.