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German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel and Tarek Al-Wazir, Minister of Economics, Energy, Transportation and Regional Development of the state of Hesse, have opened the Viessmann Innovation Centre (“Technikum”), the Viessmann Group’s new technological research and development centre. The €50 million investment by Viessmann, one of the leading international manufacturers of heating, industrial and refrigeration systems, sets a milestone in interdisciplinary development and innovations.
“In the future, the Viessmann Innovation Centre will be our breeding ground for innovations related to the energy transition and in the area of digitalization. It is where we are bundling development activities across the entire product engineering process – from the initial idea stage up to the start of production,” says Prof. Dr. Martin Viessmann.
The Viessmann Innovation Centre is an interdisciplinary research and development centre that will employ 100 people and up to a further 60 additional colleagues in various teams. They will develop prototypes and turn them into marketable products, as well as carry out admission and long-term tests. The innovation centre is the biggest single investment in the hundred-year history of this family enterprise.
During the inauguration ceremony at Viessmann company headquarters, the Chancellor emphasised the innovative strength of the manufacturer of heating, industrial and refrigeration systems. With reference to the Innovation Centre, the Chancellor said to Professor Viessmann: “Today, you are demonstrating the great importance of research and development within your company.” Looking back at 100 years of Viessmann and the company’s internationalisation in the past 25 years, she added: “What began in a small workshop, is now a globally active group of companies; the development in those 100 years is something to admire.”
In the light of the increasing digitalisation of the economy and industry 4.0, Chancellor Merkel said: “What is really exciting is that one can build a completely new relationship to the customers. Consumers want individual products, they want to know how to use a product best.” And she was confident that Viessmann will be offering these products.
Hessian Economics Minister Tarek Al-Wazir pointed out Viessmann’s role as a highly innovative company and an active partner in the energy transition. “As far as energy efficiency in the heating sector is concerned, Viessmann products are leading the way. What is more, the company is committed to energy efficiency in the production process and is actively involved as a cooperation partner of several universities. Viessmann represents an important economic factor for the state of Hesse. With the new innovation centre, this location is once again strengthened.”
“One key concern when we were designing the Viessmann Innovation Centre was to include all departments that could contribute to the development process of successful and innovative products. Among others, this included research and development, product management, quality management, production engineering and series production,” explained Dr. Klaus-Peter Kegel, CEO of Viessmann’s Heating Systems Division.
