Ideal Heating has launched its first UK heat pump production line as part of a huge investment in low carbon technologies.
Ideal Heating has been manufacturing many of the country’s best-selling boilers for over a century at its headquarters in Hull.
Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, visited Ideal Heating’s Hull factory to mark the start of heat pump production by the company in the UK.
The new heat pump production line forms part of a £60m investment programme at the Hull site, which includes an expanded distribution hub, a research and development centre and a heat pump manufacturing facility.
Ideal Heating has also invested more than £2m in its flagship training centre – where up to 5,000 installers every year can gain the skills to install and service heat pumps.
Shaun Edwards, CEO of parent company Groupe Atlantic UK, Republic of Ireland and North America, said: “The transition to low carbon heating solutions including heat pumps is the biggest transformation in the business since we moved from coal to gas-fired boilers in the 1930s.
“The major investments we’re making at our Hull site send out a very clear signal about our commitment to the net zero transition and to re-modelling our business to meet the needs of our customers today and into the future.
“For decades the name Ideal has been associated with boilers and other market-leading heating products. 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.
Lord Callanan officially opened the new facility and met members of Ideal Heating’s Expert Academy training team and installers undergoing training at the centre.
Jason Speedy, chief operations officer at Ideal Heating, said: “Backed by our parent company Groupe Atlantic, we’re excited to be investing massively in our site in Hull, and to establish our new training centre, as we diversify our product portfolio and continue to innovate new technologies.”