Climate solutions giant Daikin Europe has announced that construction is complete on a new factory for its UK-based specialist commercial refrigeration business, Hubbard Products Ltd., and that manufacturing has begun on-site.
Since being acquired by Daikin Group in 2017, and following the integration of Daikin’s UK commercial refrigeration offering into its portfolio, Hubbard has been leading the commercial refrigeration market in the UK and Northern Europe.
Its new, 7500 m² factory will give Hubbard almost 60 per cent more production space – a significant increase in capacity that will increase volumes and reduce lead times for customers, while maintaining the product quality and smooth, reliable delivery they expect.
A new research and development facility, adjacent to the new factory, is due for completion early next year. Across the new factory and the research and development facility, there are plans to recruit 60 additional highly skilled operators.
Junji Umamoto, Vice President of Daikin Europe, General Manager Refrigeration Business, said: “Among the Daikin Group of companies and the sectors and markets we serve, Hubbard has a well-earned reputation for innovation and design skill in the field of refrigeration and heat recovery. “
“We are confident of Hubbard’s continued growth next year and beyond, amid sustained demand from the pharmaceutical sector, and as the food retail and hospitality sectors continue to recover from the initial impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. “
“Hubbard offers market-leading stationary and transport refrigeration solutions to suit every part of the cold chain, minimising the impact on global warming. Specifically for the food cold chain, Daikin refrigeration solutions support the execution of the EU’s Farm to Fork strategy by enabling sustainable food processing and distribution, and by limiting food waste along the way.”
Innovation at Hubbard – in partnership with academia – is centred on the development of energy-efficient solutions, using natural refrigerant with low Global Warming Potential.
Hubbard’s ambition is to minimise the Total Equivalent Warming Impact of its entire range, which includes everything from brewery applications, vehicle refrigeration and small commercial refrigeration, to multi-packs and semi-industrial application for the retail, food processing, cold storage and pharmaceutical sectors.
Ilias Katsoulis, managing director of Hubbard Products Ltd., added: “As a total cold chain solution provider with strong customer relationships in industries from food retail to pharmaceuticals – and one of the widest product portfolios in the industry – we can have a huge impact in making cooling cleaner and more sustainable.
“Our new site, and the new team members we look forward to welcoming to Hubbard, will be our vehicle for expansion and driving positive change, in the UK and overseas.”
For more information, visit hubbard.co.uk.
About Daikin
We care for the air. We deploy our years of experience in air conditioning and our passion for innovative technologies to make the air that we live in the best possible air. And we want to do that while caring for the environment and protecting future generations. By 2050 Daikin aims to be carbon neutral in all its actions and the products and solutions it sells. That is our mission at Daikin.
Daikin Europe N.V.
Daikin Europe N.V. is a subsidiary of Daikin Industries Ltd. and a major European producer of air conditioners, heat pumps and refrigeration equipment, with approximately 13.000 employees across 24 affiliates across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It has 14 major manufacturing facilities based in Belgium, the UK, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey and Austria. Over 85% of the devices for the European market are produced in Europe, as the group pursues a local production strategy. The headquarters of the Daikin Europe Group are in Belgium, with offices in Ostend, Ghent and Brussels. The company was established in 1972. Production of equipment started in 1973.
Total HVAC and Refrigeration Solution provider
Daikin’s broad product portfolio allows for tailor-made solutions to all customer’s needs relating to cooling and heating, ventilation and air Purification as well as refrigeration. In recent years, Daikin has complemented its product portfolio and expanded its market presence in commercial, industrial and transport refrigeration. In 2016 Daikin Europe N.V. acquired Zanotti S.p.A., Italian manufacturer of industrial and transport refrigeration. In 2017 it welcomed UK based Hubbard to the group. Shortly after the Spanish Tewis Smart Systems S.L. was acquired, expanding both “off the shelf” and “tailor-made” refrigeration offer with CO2 refrigerants. At the beginning of 2019, Daikin Europe N.V. acquired the Austrian refrigeration company AHT, which produces and sells retail refrigeration show case units globally.
About Hubbard Products Ltd.
Hubbard Products Ltd., is based in Ipswich, employs 200 people, and is one of the UK’s leading designers, manufacturers and suppliers of commercial cooling equipment. Hubbard specialises in commercial refrigeration – serving the retail and convenience sectors, food manufacturing, hospitality and cellar conditioning markets – and vehicle refrigeration. The business was founded in Martlesham, Suffolk, in 1968, and became part of leading European refrigeration manufacturer, Zanotti in 2007. A decade on, in 2017, Zanotti and Hubbard Products were welcomed into the Daikin group of companies with the transfer of Daikin products and staff – most notably ConveniPack and ZEAS commercial systems – into the Hubbard portfolio.
About Daikin Industries Ltd.
Daikin Industries Ltd. based in Osaka, Japan, employs around 80,000 people worldwide and achieved sales of around 18,45 billion euros in financial year 2020 (April 20 – March 21). The company is the global market leader for heat pump and air conditioning systems, as well as air filtration. Daikin Industries Ltd. is the only air conditioning manufacturer in the world that develops and produces all important components such as refrigerants, compressors and electronics in-house.
More information can be found on www.daikin.eu and on www.daikin.com.
Media contacts
Sofie Sap - Corporate Communications Daikin Europe (Dutch/French/English
T.: +32 472 580482
Mail: sap.s@daikineurope.com
Daisuke Kakinaga – Corporate Communications Daikin Europe (Japanese/English
T. : +32 465 462 321
Mail: kakinaga.d@bxl.daikineurope.com