Since the war in Ukraine, heat pumps have made headlines more often than ever before.

After all, they are considered an alternative to gas heaters, and therefore a tried and tested means of reducing dependence on natural gas, especially of Russian origin.

Apart from their possible importance in the geopolitical context, the pragmatic question was in which buildings they are particularly useful and in which less so.

There is a gradient from new to old buildings.

Uwe Marx

Editor in Business.

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The latest developments at Viessmann also have something to do with heat pumps: the family company from the north Hessian town of Allendorf, with a total of around 13,000 employees, will invest more in the next three years than ever before in the 105 years of its company history, and primarily in the further development and production of heat pumps.

All in all, Viessmann, which, in addition to heating systems, has also devoted itself to the topics of air conditioning, cooling, water and air quality, spends one billion euros.

It was "a historic investment decision," says Martin Viessmann, Chairman of the Board of Directors, who has now handed over management of the company to his son Max Viessmann.

It enables the expansion of production capacities, benefits research and development and the expansion of green climate solutions with a focus on heat pumps.

The company has 22 production sites in twelve countries.

Where what sums are invested, it did not say.

"Unprecedented geopolitical developments require unprecedented responses," said Max Viessmann.

It is about more speed and pragmatism to combat climate change.

Since moving to the top of Viessmann, he has increasingly positioned himself politically, including in the so-called National Hydrogen Council,

In order to be able to estimate the considerable volume of the investment, a look at the past year helps: sales rose to 3.4 billion euros, the year before it had been 2.8 billion euros.

Heat pumps also played a major role in this development, as their sales increased by 41 percent.

In view of these figures, participations or takeovers, which are common in the entire industry and also at Viessmann, are downright lost.

The Hessians recently gained access to the Australian market for the first time by investing in a service company.

There were also takeovers in Poland and Great Britain.

There it was about a so-called after-sales platform.

The focus here too: heat pumps.