Daikin retains top factory ranking
Belgium – Daikin’s manufacturing facility in Ostend, Belgium, has received the Factory of the Future award for the fourth consecutive time. It means that the factory – which manufactures many of Daikin’s heat pump products supplied to the UK market – will now have held this accolade for 12 continuous years.
Awarded by the Belgian technology federations, Agoria and Sirris, the Factory of the Future Award recognises companies that demonstrate commitment to digitalisation, talent development, smart processes, sustainable products and world-class production. In particular, the judges highlighted the progress Daikin has made in implementing digital solutions and forward-looking technology in its production processes.
Winners are allowed to hold the Factory of the Future title for three years, after which a new audit and assessment determines whether this will be renewed. Daikin Ostend first received the honour in 2017 and, having excelled at each subsequent milestone, this latest assessment reinstates the title and will carry the business through to 12 consecutive years as an official Factory of the Future.
Steve Molloy, Sustainability & Commercial Solutions Manager at Daikin UK, said: “For the UK market, this Factory of the Future accolade demonstrates that the products UK installers and specifiers rely on are being produced in a facility that is setting the benchmark for quality, consistency and sustainability.
“As demand for heat pumps accelerates in line with the UK’s Net Zero ambitions, this level of advanced manufacturing helps ensure reliable product availability, rigorous quality control and continuous innovation, giving our partners confidence that Daikin solutions are built to perform today and long into the future.”
This level of advanced manufacturing helps ensure reliable product availability, rigorous quality control and continuous innovation.
Steve Molloy, Sustainability & Commercial Solutions Manager, Daikin UK
Key developments implemented in the three years since the Ostend factory’s last assessment include improvements to the newest heat pump production lines, which are now equipped with advanced cameras and testing systems to perform rigorous quality checks, while the parts are supplied by AMR’s (Autonomous Mobile Robots).
Another highlight is the new hybrid painting line, which has a furnace that can switch from 100% gas to 100% electricity. As part of Daikin Ostend’s ongoing transition to become a Net Zero factory, this provides great flexibility and makes the line future-proof, ensuring production can continue reliably even when facing energy supply volatility.
Daikin has been developing and manufacturing heat pump heating and cooling products in Europe for over 50 years. Established in 1973, the Ostend factory was Daikin’s first manufacturing plant outside of Japan and now produces many of the company’s residential and commercial heat pumps, including the Altherma 3 and VRV5.
