Bosch Thermotechnology delivers strong performance
GERMANY – Bosch Thermotechnology grew strongly in the financial year 2015. Sales revenues were up by roughly 7 percent (roughly 4.5 percent in exchange rate adjusted terms) on the previous year to EUR 3.3 billion. “Our business showed an excellent trend in 2015. We were able to win market share in Western and Southern Europe, especially in our core markets Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Spain and Austria,” said Uwe Glock, Chairman of the Bosch Thermotechnology Division. The growth is primarily attributable to the good trend for wall-hung boilers, water heaters and floor-standing boilers. “We launched an entirely new generation of devices in 2015. They are web-enabled, intuitive and easy to operate by touchscreen and up to 30 percent quicker to install. These devices strengthen our position as the world market leader in heating systems for residential buildings and set new standards for our line of industry,” Glock said.
More than 150,000 networkable products sold make Bosch Thermotechnology the leading supplier of smart heating solutions for greatly increased comfort, energy efficiency, operational safety and service quality. The new “HomeCom” portal, for instance, provides installers with detailed information on their customers’ networked systems including disruptions and their potential causes. The end customer receives well-arranged information on his heating system, consumption data and individualized energy saving tips. On its way towards continued growth, Bosch Thermotechnology relies on three business segments: heating systems for residential buildings, domestic water heaters and commercial and industrial heating and air-conditioning systems. “We are making good progress in all three segments and want to outgrow the market. We will continue to pursue this course in 2016,” Glock said.
Bosch Thermotechnology’s new generation of devices is characterised by future-oriented design and technology. Their innovative, modular structure and the well thought-out layout of the components give installers excellent access to the individual components inside the heat generator. This makes maintenance of the devices much easier and quicker. And the black or white glass fronts make for a striking design. In 2015, Bosch Thermotechnology launched different products of the new generation under the Junkers Bosch and Buderus brands in Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Turkey, the Baltic states and Russia, among others. Other European countries will follow in 2016. The first wall-hung Bosch branded boiler of the new generation is already available in China, too. The first heat pumps, storage tanks and stoves of the new generation will be presented at the SHK fair in Essen starting March 9, 2016. In addition, the company will launch gas heat pumps for single and two-family homes as well as energy centers with fuel cell technology in 2016.
Bosch Thermotechnology is making good progress in the field of commercial and industrial HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning) applications. The company made a great step forward on its way towards becoming an international systems supplier: In March 2015, Bosch Thermotechnology and Midea CAC, China, agreed to establish a joint venture for VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) systems for the heating and air-conditioning of commercial buildings. Production in Hefei, China, is scheduled to start in late March 2016. “The joint venture will expand the technology portfolio of Bosch Thermotechnology for large-scale systems. This will open up promising growth opportunities for us in the international HVAC market,” Glock said.
A new production facility in Mexico will expand Bosch Thermotechnology’s international presence in keeping with the regionalization strategy. In August 2015, a plant for instantaneous gas water heaters for the Mexican and Latin American market was opened in Tepotzotlan, some 50 kilometers north of Mexico City. “Mexico is gaining importance as a place for business. The new production facility thus represents an important step for our growth strategy in the North American market and to expand our leading position in the international domestic hot water market as a whole,” Glock said. “Thanks to our local production facility, we are closer to our customers and know their regional requirements better. This allows us to adapt our products even more effectively to the market. A regional base therefore forms the foundation for continued growth.”