Production and Innovation at the Locations

The kickoff of the journey took place in Eibelshausen and began with a presentation by Birte Lübbert, member of the management board. The focus was on the current strategy and investments in the heat pump business as well as the European development and manufacturing network.

"Last year, Bosch's heat pumps grew globally by 54 percent and by 75 percent in Germany - stronger than the overall market here," Birte Lübbert is quoted by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in the article "Bosch invests in heat pumps."

Factory Tour in Eibelshausen led by Nevaf Celik

During the subsequent visit to the production, Nevaf Celik, value stream manager for heat pumps in Eibelshausen, presented the production line for the floor-standing indoor unit of the new heat pump generation with the environmentally friendly refrigerant R290, which started in early 2023.

"The special feature of the new production line is that the storage tanks are already installed in the indoor unit of the heat pump on-site, which was previously required at the specialist dealer. This reduces the installation time required for the end user. At the same time, system robustness increases and transport routes are saved," Nevaf Celik explained to the specialist magazine TGA Fachplaner.

The new heat pump generation

Maximilian Lederer illustrates the compact indoor unit of the new heat pump generation. Following the manufacturing visit in Eibelshausen, Tino Hirsch and Maximilian Lederer focused on the technical advantages and customer needs of the new heat pump generation in their presentations.

"The noise is a key factor, especially in Germany. When people see a fan, they perceive the noise louder than when the fan is not visible. Experts refer to this as 'psychological sound.' Therefore, design is a crucial point, even when it comes to the perception of sound," Tino Hirsch is quoted by the Südwestpresse in the article "Heat Pumps Every Minute."

Fernando Dias at the Research and Development Center for Heat Pumps in Aveiro

The second day began in Aveiro with a look at the site and the planned investments in the heat pump business and in the Aveiro location by Vitor Gregorio, a member of the divisional board. Insights into the production of the outdoor unit of the new heat pump generation as well as development work at the Research and Development Center for Heat Pumps in Aveiro were provided by experts Anabela Rodrigues and Fernando Dias. In the sound chamber, continuous research is conducted to make heat pumps even quieter during operation. "2,200 kilometers further south, in Aveiro, Portugal, the production lines look similar, albeit larger and somewhat more modern. From there come the outdoor units for the air-to-water heat pumps, which are delivered to Germany and many other countries. The Portuguese colleagues work on development together with their German colleagues. In laboratories, Bosch employees test the efficiency of heat pumps at below-zero temperatures, and soon snow and ice can also be simulated in Aveiro," reports Energate messenger.

However, Bosch Home Comfort's contribution to the climate change does not end after the manufacture of the heat pump. The Climate Heroes Forge and new services such as the Foundation Service, the Heating Load Calculation, or the planned Disassembly Service were presented by Oliver Schneider at the press trip in Aveiro. "With the Climate Heroes Forge, Bosch has developed an extensive certification program together with the skilled trades, focusing on business development, which goes far beyond traditional training formats in terms of content and form. Bosch partners are qualified in areas such as workflow optimization, hands-on solutions, and tips and tricks for electrification and sustainability. They can then install heat pumps more efficiently, simply, and quickly. In addition to the improved skills in heat pump installation, craftsmen also benefit from the so-called Junior Master Program, which counteracts the shortage of skilled workers in the HVAC industry," Schneider said in his presentation.

For more information, please refer to the press release at: https://www.bosch-presse.de/pressportal/de/de/waermepumpen-bei-bosch-259712.html