Ostend, Belgium – In a significant move towards promoting sustainable industrial practices, EU Greens MEP Sara Matthieu visited the Daikin Ostend factory to discuss the Clean Industrial Deal. The visit aimed to highlight Daikin's contributions to the Clean Industrial Deal and showcase the company's innovative approaches to achieving a sustainable future.
During her visit, Sara Matthieu was given a comprehensive tour of the Ostend facility, where she observed firsthand the cutting-edge technologies and processes that Daikin has implemented to reduce its environmental footprint. The Ostend factory, a key site for Daikin's European operations, has been at the forefront of the company's efforts to integrate sustainability into its manufacturing processes. Daikin produces heat pumps for homes and businesses on its premises in Ostend.
Innovative Approaches to Sustainability
One of the highlights of the visit was the presentation of Daikin's award-winning hybrid painting line. This innovative system takes a unique and flexible approach to factory sustainability. It features a furnace that can switch from 100% gas to 100% electricity. This flexibility allows the factory to balance energy sources based on availability and cost, making the line future-proof and supporting Daikin's goal of achieving net-zero factories.
The hybrid painting line is a prime example of how Daikin is leveraging technology to reduce CO2 emissions. On windy or sunny days, when electricity is cheaper than gas, the factory can operate the painting line for free, maintaining CO2 neutrality. On top of that, the factory is rolling out additional investments in solar energy to accelerate the emission reductions even further.
Commitment to Clean Industrial Deal
Daikin's commitment to the Clean Industrial Deal is further demonstrated by its investments in new technologies and processes across its European factories. The Ostend factory's new R7X heat exchanger line exemplifies this commitment. The R7X line integrates best practices from other Daikin factories, which lead to a 54% increase in productivity, and significant improvements in ergonomics and quality.
These innovations are part of Daikin's broader strategy to enhance efficiency and reduce environmental impact. The company's manufacturing divisions worldwide share knowledge and best practices through a common digital platform, accelerating the implementation of sustainable practices across all sites .
A Call for Positive Dialogue
During the visit, Sara Matthieu emphasized the importance of collaboration between policymakers, industry leaders, and workers to achieve the goals of the Clean Industrial Deal. She praised Daikin's efforts and encouraged other companies to follow suit in adopting sustainable practices.
"We need to work together to create a sustainable future," said Matthieu. "Daikin's innovative approaches and commitment to reducing their environmental impact are exemplary. I hope to see more companies taking similar steps towards sustainability."
Daikin's Ostend factory team, led by Stefaan Simpelaere and Hara Hideki, expressed their gratitude for Matthieu's visit and reiterated their commitment to continuous improvement and sustainability.
As the discussion on the Clean Industrial Deal continues, Daikin remains a leading example of how innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand. The company's investments in new technologies and processes not only contribute to a cleaner environment but also enhance productivity and quality, setting a high standard for the industry.
About Daikin Europe N.V.
The Daikin Europe group is the leading provider of heating, cooling, ventilation, air purification and refrigeration (HVAC-R) technology in Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Daikin designs, manufactures, and offers customers a broad portfolio of products, maintenance services as well as turnkey solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes. To date, Daikin Europe has over 13,800 employees across more than 59 subsidiaries. It has 14 manufacturing sites in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, the United Kingdom, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Headquartered in Ostend (Belgium) for over 50 years, the Daikin Europe group is a subsidiary of the global group Daikin Industries.
About Daikin Industries Ltd.
Daikin Industries (DIL) is a worldwide leader in heat pump, air conditioning, and air filtration technology with more than 98,000 employees. Founded in Osaka in 1924, it is the only manufacturer in the world that develops and manufactures heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration equipment, as well as compressors and refrigerants in-house. Daikin was named one of the world’s top 100 most innovative companies by Clarivate (UK) and LexisNexis (USA), recognized for its leadership in technology research and intellectual property patents. For its fiscal year 2023 Daikin reported a record sales result of € 28 billion sales (1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024).
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
