Frankfurt: Baxi Group experienced strong growth in 2006, and is well positioned for a successful 2007 with a portfolio of new technologies to meet the emerging green agenda.
At a press dinner marking the opening of this year's ISH trade fair, Baxi Group CEO Mark Edwards reported: "In 2006 we achieved strong sales and profit growth including a strong recovery in the UK and continued growth in all of our other markets with the exception of France. 2006 also saw the successful integration of Roca into the Group. Including the first time full year impact of Roca, sales grew by 19% in 2006, and by 8% on a like for like basis."
Markets in Eastern Europe, Turkey and Russia are all growing rapidly as a combination of expansion of gas networks, new house build and government policy increase demand for gas fired boilers.
At ISH Baxi is showcasing a number of new innovations designed to ensure the space and hot water heating market is able to meet changing consumer and regulatory demands across Europe.
New products are being announced in the areas of micro combined heat and power (CHP) heat pumps, biomass and to our high efficiency gas fired boiler product range.
Speaking at the dinner on the importance of fully integrated heating systems, Mr Edwards added: "Our products are designed to be interoperable and so offer easier, simpler installation. This will be increasingly important as consumers' demand more domestic renewable energy and micro CHP moves up the agenda for policy makers."
"During the R&D process, Baxi engineers think through different system configurations and possible issues thereby simplifying specification and installation. The same integrated approach delivers greater efficiencies for the user throughout the life of the heating system."
In addition to Baxi's extensive range of renewable and high efficiency products it will present four new products at ISH that use pioneering fuels, provide greater energy efficiency or improved ease of use.
Baxi is announcing an advanced prototype Stirling engine Micro CHP wall hung appliance. Using what promises to be the first commercially viable technology - the Stirling engine - the product can generate heat and electricity with efficiency of over 90%. National grid approaches to power generation are less than 35% efficient due to central generation technologies and lost energy through transmission. The unit, currently in pre-production trials is expected to be field tested by the end of the year.
Also in the area of micro generation, Baxi will present its BETA 1.5 plus - a fuel cell based CHP product based on Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) technology. The product has already been successfully field trial tested. Further details will be given at a press conference (11am, Wednesday at the Baxi stand).
Looking to more conventional boilers, the new EcoTherm plus WGB Pro is a new wall hung boiler range using a low energy modulating pump. This pump is easier to maintain and is more reliable than existing models and, crucially, halves required operating electricity consumption.
Finally, building on the success of biomass boilers in the Nordics that burn grain, wood and fuel pellets, a complete automated biomass boiler has been unveiled. This unit automatically feeds the boiler with fuel as it is needed and also cleans out the residual ash from the burner. This makes running a biomass system much easier and more convenient for consumers.
