Steel erection for Ideal Heating’s £19.2m UK Technology Centre supporting the development of low carbon technologies, including heat pumps, is finished
The project by the Hull firm is backed by more than £2m of seed capital funding from Humber Freeport, having been identified as a significant project which will help the region decarbonise its industries and transition to a net zero economy.
The facility is due to be complete early next year and will house a range of simulators, test rigs and environmental chambers, all of which will advance the efficiency and performance of Ideal Heating’s product portfolio.
Ideal Heating COO Jason Speedy said: “The UK Technology Centre represents a significant investment in more ways than one. We’re part-way through a £60m development programme at our National Avenue headquarters in Hull, largely focused on heat pump production, distribution and innovation. The R&D facility forms a key part of that programme.
“But, more than that, the UK Technology Centre signals a new chapter in our 100-plus years of history in Hull. It will enable us to continue the evolution of the products which will heat homes for decades to come.”
Ideal Heating is one of Hull’s biggest and longest-established manufacturers, having been a major employer in the city since 1906 and now with a workforce of around 800 people in the city.
The UK Technology Centre will provide a purpose-designed new home for Ideal Heating’s expert R&D team, which has an increasing range of engineering roles related to design, development, electronics, simulation and product testing.
Lab facilities within the 38,000 sq ft (3,500 sq m) building will enable R&D teams to simulate a range of scenarios and conditions to test new innovations and advancements.
The centre will also house a heat pump testing area, workshop spaces and a training room.
Simon Green, CEO at Humber Freeport, which has supported the project as part of a total of £25m in seed capital funding allocated to key developments across the region, said: “Humber Freeport has aligned itself strategically to the region’s green energy sector, having recognised it as a magnet for significant investment, innovation and skilled job creation.
“Ideal Heating’s UK Technology Centre is a perfect example of this investment, which will further develop the growing skills base we have in the region in renewable energy and advanced manufacturing.
“We were pleased to support Ideal Heating through our seed capital fund. The R&D centre taking shape is another demonstration of the positive impact Humber Freeport is having within the region.”
