Meet Rishi & Harsh
Development Engineers for heating at the EMEA Development Center
"From intense brainstorming sessions to riding out the learning curves to finally reaching that eureka moment. We know we’ve succeeded when we’ve created a unit that balances design, efficiency and performance."
“Heat pumps go beyond design and aesthetics.”
Rishi: "I’m currently working on a heat pump designed for the Scandinavian and German markets, which we call a “top-grade model.” But I soon found out that heat pump today is about more than just a great design; it must be energy efficient and meet the highest standards in quality and performance."
"Our team’s primary focus is to introduce an exceptional product with outstanding features and provide customers with total comfort.”
“Big challenges present new opportunities.”
Harsh: “My first project was to develop the new generation of ground-source Heat Pumps. Due to the high expectations from the market, our team faced various technical challenges that we had to overcome within a tight schedule. In the end we delivered a high performing unit in every aspect, which we can all be proud of.”
Rishi: “Achieving our goal for a project is the biggest challenge we face, but that’s what makes the development process exciting. It turns into a journey: From intense brainstorming sessions to riding out the learning curves to finally reaching that eureka moment. We know we’ve succeeded when we’ve created a unit that balances design, efficiency and performance.”
“A diverse team with a common goal”
Rishi: “I’m glad I get to share these special development experiences with an amazing team of colleagues. Working with such a diverse team allows you to become open to new ideas. It’s the different perspectives, experiences and knowledge that have become the building blocks of the EMEA Development Center (EDC).”
The leap to Belgium
Harsh: “I studied to be a mechanical engineer in India before moving to Belgium two years ago. Daikin Europe is my first job.”
Rishi: “This is my first job. I started my career as an intern at Daikin India while graduating as a mechanical engineer. After my internship, I applied to work at Daikin Europe, got the position and then moved to Belgium. My journey from Daikin India to Daikin Europe has been nothing short of a dream come true.”
What’s next?
Harsh: “I was made a leader for a different project. Although there’s a steep learning curve, I’m enjoying the versatility this role brings to my job.”
Rishi: “Growing from an intern to an international employee has been a massive learning curve for me and Daikin’s concept of on-the-job training is something I cherish, as it gives me ample opportunities and challenges. To sum it up, it’s been a journey of innovation, enthusiasm and motivation.”
Meet Joris
Designer for heating at the EMEA Development Center
"From a young age, I was always interested in mechanics. My parents had a garage business, and I was always working on motorcycles. But I also had a passion for design. I wanted something that merged these two interests, so I decided to pursue a degree in electromechanics."
Tell us about your career path and what brought you to Daikin Europe
"From a young age, I was always interested in mechanics. My parents had a garage business, and I was always working on motorcycles. But I also had a passion for design. I wanted something that merged these two interests, so I decided to pursue a degree in electromechanics. I joined Daikin Europe in 1996; it was my first job, and I signed the contract right before I graduated. I started my career in the air conditioning and VRV department before transferring to heating."
What does your role entail?
"My role is to focus on the structural part of a unit, specifically the casing around it. I work with external parties to create the actual design, and from there, I look to see how we can adapt the design to the unit. Then, I work with a team to test out the prototype to check that the casing helps the unit meet the latest noise regulations and Daikin’s high-performance standards."
What are some of the heating units you’ve worked on?
"I recently worked on a casing for the geothermal heat pump, and now I’m working on a casing for a new monobloc."
What are the biggest challenges when creating these units?
"One of the big challenges is the targets on sound level that we have to reach. For one of our indoor units, we ended up having to place all noisy components in an airtight metal box inside the casing. It was the right move because after several tests we were able to achieve the low operational sound we needed."
What is a project you are most proud of?
"I helped creating the new design of the Daikin Altherma 3 range, which ended up winning two big design awards. Feedback from installers on the field is the most important thing to me, and I heard they were happy about Daikin Altherma 3. This is great news because if they enjoy working with it, the more likely they are to recommend it and sell it."
When I’m not on the job, I’m…
Watching my favourite football team (Club Brugge), swimming, working in my garden or spending time with my family."
Meet Kobe
Development Engineer for heating at the EMEA Development Center
"I graduated with a master’s degree in electromechanics, and I was looking for a job in product development. I first started out with testing software before moving to the heating solutions team to develop heat pumps. Now, I write software specifications for indoor units."
Tell us about your career path and what brought you to Daikin Europe
"My career at Daikin Europe began five years ago. I graduated with a master’s degree in electromechanics, and I was looking for a job in product development. I first started out with testing software before moving to the heating solutions team to develop heat pumps. Now, I write software specifications for indoor units. I never expected to end up in this particular role, but I enjoy being an expert in this field (and having my colleagues see me as one too!)."
What does your role entail?
"My primary focus is writing software for indoor units, like the gas injection and EU HP. My job is to create the connection between an indoor unit and a controller. To do this, I collaborate frequently with our affiliate office in Ghent, and the software supplier to anticipate potential issues and conduct follow-up tests. I also work with the sales team to get real-time feedback from customers and apply those changes to our software."
What are some of the heating units you’ve worked on?
"I worked on Daikin Altherma, gas injection unit and EU HP."
What are the biggest challenges when creating these units?
"The main challenge is making sure we conduct enough tests before launching the product to detect any issues beforehand. If we do, we need to find a way to fix them in either the software or specifications."
"This is a challenge we faced when creating the gas injection unit. After running several tests, it was clear we needed to adapt the whole software because it was the first hydro split model. But that’s why testing is so necessary: the process makes sure we can guarantee the controller and unit work seamlessly together."
What is a project you are most proud of?
"I am most proud of the new Daikin Altherma and its brand-new controller. This Daikin Altherma product formed the foundation for our future heating products, and I was responsible for developing the connection between the controller and the unit. Because it was a new system, we had the opportunity to give the controller a full upgrade with a new design, features and software adjustments."
When I’m not on the job, I’m…
playing the electric guitar in my rock band or playing in a football tournament with Daikin colleagues."