New developments

Daikin Europe has embarked on creating a European Development Centre (EDC) at its HQ in Ostend.

The location for the centre was chosen by Daikin's Japanese parent company on account of its extensive expertise. The EDC will play a key role in the development of energy efficient alternatives to traditional and conventional heating solutions.

It will evolve into an important R&D base with satellite centres in the Czech Republic and Germany and will be given a high degree of autonomy to develop its own design concepts and solutions specifically for the European market. Daikin Europe chairman, Frans Hoorelbeke (pictured) says: "The EDC will enable us to develop products in the same environment in which we sell, particularly in the heating sector." The company's energy efficient, Altherma heat pump is said to be gaining a significant share of the European heating market. The EDC is expected to play an important role in meeting this market's needs across a wider base.