The Viessmann Group has announced a record revenue in 2020 of 2.8 billion euros (previous year: 2.65 billion euros). Following a global market slump at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, the family-owned company and its installer partners quickly consolidated and kept day-to-day life going for customers internationally, growing sales by 6 percent over 2019.
Maximilian Viessmann, Co-CEO of the family business, said, at the Viessmann Live digital event on March 22nd: "Thanks to a unique sense of solidarity among our installation partners and our 12,750 family members, we have successfully managed to continue to grow in a year of crisis. We did this with a lot of positive energy and for our common purpose: to create living spaces for generations to come. A crisis shows clearly who you are, and not who you want to be. Together and united, we have shown who we are. I am extremely grateful for the team spirit, the solidarity, and the sense of responsibility demonstrated by the entire team."
Renewable Energy-Based Climate Solution
Sales growth is largely attributed to Viessmann’s renewable energy-based climate solutions and digital services. Green climate solutions – which now account for approximately 50 percent of Viessmann turnover – include hydrogen-ready wall-mounted gas boilers, fuel cells (+8 percent), heat pumps (+35 percent), and batteries (+48 percent).
On the digital technology and services side, Viessmann saw dynamic growth in its subsidy management program, Viessmann Wärme/Heating-as-a-Service business, and both installer and end-user apps. Viessmann recorded notable positive growth in Germany, Poland, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Turkey, and Switzerland.
ThermoWise
Viessmann acquired a stake in ThermoWise, a renowned South African commercial heat pump specialist In 2020, Viessmann acquired a stake in ThermoWise, a renowned South African commercial heat pump specialist, laying the foundation for entry into fast-growing markets in Africa.
Viessmann also expanded its product portfolio and improved market access in Central and Eastern Europe through the acquisition of Kospel in Poland, a specialist manufacturer of electric instantaneous water heaters, electric boilers and domestic hot water cylinders. A growing presence in South-East Asia involved setting up new company locations, notably in Singapore.
Viessmann has seen double-digit percentage growth in sales in the first two months of 2021.
Successful Crisis Management During The Pandemic
Viessmann’s 20 production plants around the globe continued production during the pandemic with almost no interruptions, thanks to excellent hygiene, Covid-secure working practices, and a far-reaching testing strategy, which resulted in below-average numbers of Covid-19 cases within the company.
Responding to needs outside of the core business, Viessmann embarked on various social responsibility initiatives, manufacturing mobile ventilators, ICUs, face masks, and disinfectants. Viessmann engineers developed the new Vitovent 200-P air purification system, to supply school classrooms with continuous fresh air, removing aerosols and protecting students and teachers against viral infection. In addition, the Viessmann Foundation supported more than 80 schools during the crisis with the supply of ventilation solutions, laptops, computers, monitors, disinfectants, and masks.
During 2020, Viessmann invested more than 120 million euros in its own future. Research and development focusing on hydrogen-ready heating systems and fuel cells, and holistic solutions for purely electricity-powered houses, including digital energy management. A new development center for heat pumps in Dresden, Germany, was established. Viessmann increased the number of employees by 450 to a total of 12,750.
Co-create climate for life
The theme behind the latest climate innovations Viessmann has also unveiled a number of new products, platforms, digital and other services to tackle global warming, together with specialist partners. Highlights, relevant to the UK market, include:
- New electronics platform: a new controls system will network Viessmann energy systems – including heat pumps, ventilation systems, and electricity storage systems – with digital services to form a uniform overall system. Beyond controlling the devices, it offers simple and fast access via the ViCare app and the new Vitoguide, which now combines menu-guided commissioning, remote maintenance, and service in one digital service tool.
- Green hydrogen readiness: Viessmann’s gas-condensing boilers in the Vitodens 200 and 100 series are already certified to operate with up to a 20 percent hydrogen mix with natural gas and can even convert a 30 percent blend into heat easily and efficiently. The next generation of Vitovalor fuel cell heating devices, the new compact Vitobloc 300 NG 15 and NG 20 CHP modules and, from mid-2021, the Vitocrossal 100 gas-condensing boiler (type CIB), can also be operated with a proportion of up to 20 percent hydrogen. Viessmann’s Vitomax hot water and steam boilers can be operated today with pure hydrogen.
- New CHP units: The new Vitobloc 300 NG 15 and Vitobloc 300 NG 20 models will be launched later in 2021. They are compact, fully wired units with a water-cooled synchronous generator for producing three-phase power and heating water. They boast low operating noise of less than 49 dB(A) and maintenance is only required every 8,000 operating hours.