Daikin UK has opened its new national training centre in Woking, which includes 25 fully-operational Daikin Altherma air-to-water heat pumps. The centre is equipped with all of the latest heat pump technology within eight practical heating training bays.
The new facility provides engineers with ‘hands-on’ training on all of Daikin UK’s renewable heating products, including the Daikin Altherma Hybrid heat pump, the new Daikin Altherma Monobloc, as well as the Daikin Altherma LT Split and the Daikin Altherma high temperature heat. Other products in the centre include the range of solar thermal hot water systems, thermal stores, and the Rotex GCU, which combines a boiler and thermal store into one neat unit.
By providing practical training combined with traditional classroom-based material, trainees will be able to learn many necessary skills. Each bay has a ‘fault panel’ which the trainer can use to simulate realistic installation faults and give the trainee the opportunity to face possible problem situations in a controlled environment, thereby providing them with invaluable experience of heat pump technology.
A recent report by Daikin UK has found that more than 80% of HVAC installation companies find it difficult to hire qualified and experienced engineers. Organisations which have a technical competence test as part of their recruitment process are also facing a below 50% pass rate – a clear demonstration of the skills shortage being experienced within the sector.
Nancy Jonsson, commercial director for heating and renewables at Daikin UK, said: “Our new UK training centre will help to train heating engineers to a high standard and help combat the skills shortage within the heat pump sector. The new state-of-the-art centre gives engineers an opportunity to learn in small groups on fully operational units and provides an all-round hands on experience which will complement classroom based theory.
“We are extremely proud that we can offer a training centre with more fully operational air-to-water heat pumps than any other facility in the UK. ‘Hands-on’ training experience is vital for ensuring a quality installation and to build installer confidence in this growing technology.
“We hope that future heat pump engineers wishing to develop their business and current installers wishing to keep up-to-date, will visit our website to see the variety of courses we have on offer at Woking.”