The Bosch Group’s Thermotechnology Division increased its sales from EUR 2.6 billion to EUR 2.8 billion in 2006. The sales growth was mainly driven by the positive development of fuel-efficient condensing boilers, which, for the first time, became Bosch Thermotechnik’s best-selling product segment in 2006. The highest sales growth in percentage terms was achieved by systems using renewable energy sources such as the new generation of solar collectors presented in 2006. This product segment, which comprises not only solar collectors but also electric heat pumps and solid fuel boilers, accounted for 11 percent of total sales.
“Thanks to the strong growth in resource-efficient energy systems, we exceeded our targets in the fiscal year 2006. We are convinced that new products and new technologies will allow us to continue this growth going forward,” said Dr.-Ing. Joachim Berner, Chairman of the Bosch Thermotechnology Division. “Households need to push ahead the replacement of outdated heating equipment because otherwise it will not be possible to achieve a sustained reduction in heating-induced carbon-dioxide emissions.” In Germany alone, there are still two million heating systems which are older than 20 years and cause substantial avoidable carbon dioxide emissions.
By taking over FHP Manufacturing Company, a US manufacturer of water-based heat pumps, Bosch Thermotechnik continued its growth strategy at the beginning of 2007. The main task of the new subsidiary will be to tap the potential of the still young US market for water-based heat pumps, which is expected to grow at a double-digit rate in the coming years. Bosch Thermotechnik also continues to expand its heat pump-related services. The newly established subsidiary, WQ Management, will offer complete solutions for tapping into geothermal heat sources for heat pumps. In addition, a new production facility for solar collectors was taken into service in Portugal at the beginning of March 2007. The facility has an annual production capacity of up to 150,000 collectors. Moreover, the production space for heat pumps in Sweden will be doubled to 10,000 square metres by the end of 2007.
“By expanding the production capacities for systems using renewable energy sources and offering new services, we are laying the foundation for future growth,” said Klaus Huttelmaier, member of the Board of Management of the Bosch Thermotechnology Division. The demand for resource-efficient energy systems will continue to grow on an international scale. Bosch Thermotechnik will push ahead its expansion and outgrow the market in 2007 from today’s point of view.
