daikin-europe-invests-in-new-sheet-metal-line-for-its-plant-in-ostend-belgium
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Brussels, 7 February 2022 - Belgian factory gears up to meet growing demand for sustainable heating solutions
Daikin Europe NV invests in a new sheet metal line and a fully automated die warehouse for its factory in Ostend, Belgium.
The new sheet metal line allows to increase production capacity at the plant while improving safety on the factory floor.
The investment is part of Daikin’s Fusion 2025 plan to strengthen the company’s manufacturing abilities in the EMEA region and fulfil the growing demand for sustainable heating solutions such as heat pumps.
Increasing capacity and productivity in the factory in Ostend
On the 2nd of February 2022, Daikin Europe’s Ostend plant commissioned a new line of sheet metal presses. The new presses are used to manufacture the outside metal casing of Daikin’s heat pumps. “Until now we relied on external suppliers for a significant part of our sheet metal work,” explains Steven Van Impe, Deputy General Manager Manufacturing. “With the new presses we will be able to manufacture more of our metal casings within the walls of our factory, which increases our production capacity and quality control. They also support our environmental efforts, because with them, we significantly lower the transport volume of semi-finished sheet metal to our factory.”
Along with the new presses, a number of new technologies are introduced to enhance safety on the factory floor. “Throughout the years, the sheet metal plates we use have been getting bigger in size, making it increasingly difficult for our workers to handle them manually,” says Andy De Wilde, Department Manager Production Engineering. “That is why the new presses are now fed by robots. We have also fully automated the warehouse for the dies that are used to press the plates. The dies – which can weigh up to 5 tons – are now automatically removed from storage and loaded onto the presses.”
The increased capacity not only requires investments in new technology, it will also have a positive effect on employment at the factory. Daikin Europe will be rolling out a massive recruitment campaign in spring to fill more than 200 new vacancies at the Ostend plant.
Gearing up to meet increased demand in Europe
The investment is part of the Fusion 2025 plan that was announced by Daikin Europe in October 2021. The plan encompasses a total investment of 840 million euro over the next five years. “Demand for sustainable heating solutions is growing rapidly,” says Hiromitsu Iwasaki, Vice President of Daikin Europe. “Annual sales of heat pumps are expected to increase in Europe from 1 million units in 2021 to over 4 million in 2030. The Fusion 2025 plan will put our company at the forefront of this major transition to a carbon-free society.”
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About Daikin
Daikin Europe N.V.
Daikin Europe is a subsidiary of Daikin Industries Ltd. and the leading provider of heating, cooling, ventilation, air purification and refrigeration solutions in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The company designs, manufactures and brings to market a broad portfolio of equipment, as well as tailor-made solutions for residential, commercial and industrial purposes. To date Daikin Europe has over 12,000 employees working at more than 59 consolidated subsidiaries. It has 12 major manufacturing facilities based in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Austria and the UK. The headquarters of the Daikin Europe group are in Belgium, Ostend. The company was established in 1972, production in Europe started in 1973.
About Daikin Industries Ltd.
Based in Osaka, Japan, Daikin Industries employs over 89,000 people worldwide. The global company is market leader for heat pump and air conditioning systems, as well as air filtration. It is the only air conditioning manufacturer in the world that researches, develops and produces all important system components, such as refrigerants, compressors and electronics, in-house. The company achieved € 23.7 billion sales turnover in financial year 2021 (1 April 21 – 31 March 22).
Media Contacts Daikin Europe N.V.
Sofie Sap – T.: +32 472 580 482 Mail: sap.s@daikineurope.com
Daisuke Kakinaga – T.: +32 465 462 321 Mail: kakinaga.d@bxl.daikineurope.com
