KSB invests in manufacturer of large heat pumps
FRANKENTHAL: The Frankenthal-based pump and valve manufacturer KSB has invested several million euros in the Austrian developer of industrial heat pumps ecop. By acquiring an interest of almost 20 percent, KSB is expanding its energy business and securing access to the rapidly growing market for large heat pumps for thermal outputs of between 500 kilowatts and 10 megawatts.
ecop was founded in Vienna in 2011. The specialist company has developed a highly efficient, single-stage rotation heat pump that can achieve a very high temperature lift. Thanks to the use of a gaseous mixture as the working fluid and rotation technology, the heat pump can be used efficiently in a very wide and flexible temperature range. This enables existing heat sources to be utilised particularly effectively. The process can be used in industries that require heat, such as the paper and textile industries, food manufacturers and local and district heating operators, and can replace heat generation based on fossil fuels. With heat generation up to 200 °C, ecop covers the important market for large heat pumps in the output range up to 1 megawatt. Numerous patents protect ecop’s innovative technology. The company currently employs around 20 staff.
For KSB, this partnership is a strategic step towards the decarbonised generation and storage of thermal energy. “We are seeing an increasing demand for energy worldwide, with the energy mix shifting significantly in favour of processes that avoid carbon emissions,” explains Dr. Stephan Timmermann, CEO of KSB. “Heat accounts for around two thirds of the energy needed by industry. The decarbonisation of thermal energy offers huge potential. ecop and KSB are not only linked by cutting-edge tech¬nology, but also by their shared goal of sustainability.”
The two companies benefit from numerous technology-related synergies, from pump components through to research and development. Fabian Sacharowitz, CEO of ecop: “With KSB on board, we have gained the partner we need to expand our technology worldwide and become a leader in the higher output ranges of large heat pumps as well.”
KSB is a leading international manufacturer of pumps and valves. The Frankenthal-based Group has a presence on five continents with its own sales and marketing organisations, manufacturing facilities and service operations. With a workforce of around 16,400, the KSB Group generated sales revenue of approximately € 3 billion in the 2024 financial year.
Press release: KSB invests in manufacturer of large heat pumps