Modern technologies for independent energy supply

As part of continuous development and growing awareness of environmentally friendly heating solutions, the focus is increasingly on heat pumps. They represent a clean, efficient way to heat homes and supply them with hot water using energy from the surrounding area. This technology is not only an answer to the challenges of climate change, but also a step towards a more independent energy future.

In this article, we introduce you to leading heat pump manufacturers and show you how their innovative solutions pave the way for sustainable heat supply.

History of heat pumps in Germany

The development of heat pump technology in Germany began significantly in 1968, when Klemens Oskar Waterkotte started up the first low-temperature floor heating system, which was coupled with a geothermal heat pump. This innovation marked an important milestone in the history of heat pumps, as it created the basis for the economic use of this technology. The oil crises of the 1970s led to an increased search for alternative heating systems and increased interest in heat pumps, supported by the growing environmental awareness of the population. In 1978, the Act to Modernize Homes and Save Heating Energy also promoted the installation of heat pumps in Germany, although the technology has since lost popularity due to poor insulation standards in many buildings.

In addition to Waterkotte, Viessmann also played an important role in the early development and dissemination of heat pump technologies in Germany. Viessmann, founded in 1917, expanded its product portfolio over the years to include heat pump systems. Another important player was Stiebel Eltron, founded in 1924, which specialized in the production of heating and hot water technologies and invested early on in the development of heat pumps. Their products have made a significant contribution to establishing heat pumps as efficient and environmentally friendly heating solutions.

Introduction of some selected heat pump manufacturer

In this section of the article, we highlight some of the most reputable and advanced manufacturers of heat pumps.

Stiebel Eltron

• founding: 1924 in Holzminden, Lower Saxony, is known for electrical, hot water and heating appliances as well as heat pumps.
• Staff: employ around 6000 people.
• Product variety: air-water, air-to-air, brine-water and water-water heat pumps as well as hot water heat pumps.
• functionality: High air quality, smartphone control, integrated hot water tank.
• areas of application: New construction, modernization and single-family homes.
• Special feature: Stiebel Eltron heat pumps are multi-functional, enabling ventilation, heating, cooling and hot water heating, offer high air quality and are easy to control via smartphone, including an integrated hot water tank.

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Tecalor

• founding: 2001, part of the Stiebel Eltron Group, with a focus on sustainable home technology.
• staffs: Employ around 1000 people at the company headquarters and in production.
• Product diversity: Tecalor offers a wide range of heat pumps that are suitable for a wide range of applications, from private households to industry.
• specifics: Tecalor heat pumps are characterized by innovative technologies in the area of heating and ventilation technology. They are designed to offer environmentally sustainable solutions.
• areas of application: Tecalor products are used both in new buildings and in modernization projects and are suitable for single to multi-family homes as well as for commercial and industrial facilities.
• certifications: Tecalor is certified in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001, 14001, 50001 and ISO 45001, which underlines the company's commitment to quality, environmental protection, energy efficiency and occupational safety.

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Viessmann

• Founding: Founded in 1917 in Allendorf (Eder), Hesse, Viessmann is known for its wide range of heating technology products, including heat pumps.
• Staff: employ over 14,000 people.
• Product diversity: Air-water, brine-water, water-water heat pumps and hot water heat pumps are available with heating capacities of up to 42.8 kW and flow temperatures of up to 70 °C.
• Innovative solutions: Viessmann not only offers a wide range of heat pumps, but also additional options such as PV system coupling, electricity and hot water tanks. Some models allow you to use an ice store for increased efficiency.
• multifunctionality: Viessmann heat pumps are characterized by their versatility, including the option of coupling with photovoltaic systems and using innovative technologies such as ice storage, which makes them suitable for a wide range of applications from new buildings to apartment buildings and commercial properties.
• Significant company sale: In 2023, Viessmann sold its climate division, including heat pump technologies, to the US group Carrier Global. This significant deal worth 12 billion euros brought Viessmann 20 percent of the purchase price in the form of a share package, making the company one of Carrier's largest shareholders. This strategic step strengthens Viessmann's global presence in a growing market for sustainable heating solutions.

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samsung

• founding: 1969; founded in Korea. Originally started as a trading company, it soon diversified into areas such as food processing, textiles and electronics. Samsung Electronics' headquarters are located in Suwon, South Korea.
• staffs: Employs around 270,000 people worldwide in all areas.
• Product diversity: Offers air-water heating systems for year-round comfort with innovative heat pump technology.
• technology: Integrated heat pump solutions for heating, water heating and air conditioning cooling using WindFree™ technology.
• flexibility: Efficient water heating and heating in winter, additional cooling option in summer.

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bosch

• founding: 1886; renowned for innovative heating and air-conditioning solutions, including heat pumps.
• staffs: Around 14,200 employees, with a strong focus on research and development.
• Product diversity: Includes air-to-water, brine-water heat pumps and hot-water heat pumps with wide heating capacity ranges.
• Innovative solutions: Integration into smart home systems, coupling with photovoltaic systems and energy management, remote control via Bosch easyRemote app.
• multifunctionality: High-quality products for new construction, modernization, single-family and multi-family homes as well as commercial buildings, with a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency.

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Buderus

• founding: founded in 1731, acquired by Bosch in 2003 with headquarters in Wetzlar
• staffs: Over 13,000 worldwide
• Product diversity: air-water, brine-water heat pumps with heating capacities of 2 to 17 kW and flow temperatures of up to 55 °C
• specifics: Buderus heat pumps feature integrated solutions such as hot water tanks or gas condensing boilers for peak load coverage. Optional integration of ventilation units in new buildings and possible combinations with PV systems for modernization projects.

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Vaillant

• founding: 1874 in Remscheid, specialising in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning technology.
• staffs: Over 15,000 worldwide.
• Product diversity: Offers air-water, brine-water, water-water and hot-water heat pumps with heating outputs of up to 77.5 kW.
• Flexibility and sustainability: It is characterized by flexible applications and the use of recyclable materials, supported by the Green iQ label. Standard app control and intelligent energy management complement the offering.

Daikin

• founding: founded in 1924 in Osaka, Japan. The German branch has existed in Unterhaching near Munich since 1998.
• staffs: with around 89,000 employees worldwide.
• Product diversity: Offers air-water and brine-water heat pumps with heating capacities of 0.8 to 16 kW and flow temperatures of up to 70 °C.
• specifics: Efficient cooling function and solar system connection possible, Internet control via DAIKIN app, models available with environmentally friendly refrigerant, are priced in the low to medium segment.

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OCHSNER heat pumps GmbH

• founding: 1978 in Haag, Lower Austria, originally as a heating system provider, specialized in heat pumps since 1992.
• staffs: Employ around 500 people.
• Product diversity: air-water, brine-water and water-water heat pumps as well as hot water heat pumps.
• multifunctionality: Heat pumps provide heating, cooling and hot water heating; are Smart Grid and Smart Home ready.
• functionality: Silent mode for quiet operation, option for drinking water storage on most models.
• areas of application: New construction, modernization, single-family homes, multi-family houses, commerce, industry.
• specificity: OCHSNER offers an extensive product portfolio for every type of heating requirement, integrating cutting-edge technologies for efficient energy management solutions.

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Hoval heat pumps

• founding: 1897 in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, Hoval has developed from a small metal workshop into an important player in the area of heating and air-conditioning systems.
• staffs: The company employs around 2300 people worldwide and sees itself as a large, globally-minded family.
• Product diversity: Hoval offers a wide range of heat pump types, including air-water, brine-water and water-water heat pumps, which are suitable for private households and industry.
• multifunctionality: The heat pumps are prepared for integration into smart home systems and offer functions such as control via app.
• areas of application: Use in new buildings, modernizations and in both single-family and multi-family homes.
• specificity: Hoval heat pumps are known for their innovation and quality, in particular through the use of advanced technologies and the focus on sustainable energy efficiency.

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iDM heat pumps

• founding: 1977 in Matrei, East Tyrol; IdM has specialized in the use of natural resources and the manufacture of heat pumps since 1997.
• staffs: The company employs around 400 people.
• Product diversity: Offers air-water and brine-water heat pumps as well as water-water heat pumps with heating capacities of 2 to 500 kW and flow temperatures of up to 70 °C.
• multifunctionality: The heat pumps are designed for use in private households, businesses and industry and offer flexible installation options such as split devices and monoblock for indoor and outdoor installation.
• areas of application: Are suitable for new construction and modernization and can be used in single-family homes, multi-family buildings as well as in commercial and industrial applications.
• specificity: iDM heat pumps are characterized by high performance and are very versatile. They offer the option of being equipped with an additional drinking water tank of up to 270 liters, which is particularly interesting for large applications.

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Wolf GmbH

• founding: 1963 in Mainburg, Bavaria; start of heat pump production in 2010. Taken over by the Aristion Group in 2023, under which Wolf continues as an independent brand.
• staffs: Over 2,000 at the company headquarters and in production.
• Product diversity: Offers air-to-water, brine-water and water-to-water heat pumps as well as hot water heat pumps.
• multifunctionality: Air heat pumps have a heating and cooling function and are extremely quiet to operate.
• areas of application: Suitable for new construction and modernization in single-family homes.
• specificity: All heat pumps are Smart-Grid-Ready and can be powered by a photovoltaic system. Hot water heat pumps are also suitable for apartment buildings, which allows a wide range of applications in various living situations.

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Alpha Innotec

• founding: 1998 in Kasendorf, Bavaria; specializes in heating, ventilation, solar and air-conditioning technology.
• staffs: Employs around 490 people directly at the German site.
• Product diversity: Includes air-to-water and brine-water heat pumps as well as hot-water heat pumps.
• multifunctionality: Air heat pumps with silent mode for quiet operation, can be combined for heating and hot water heating; optional cooling function.
• areas of application: Can be used flexibly in new buildings, modernizations, single and multi-family homes and in commercial buildings.
• specificity: The heat pumps offer intelligent control via app and are known for their particularly quiet operation in silent mode and their multifunctional application options.

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August Brötje GmbH

• founding: 1919 in Rastede, Lower Saxony.
• staffs: Over 300 employees in the area of heating systems and technology.
• Product diversity: Offers air-to-water, brine-water heat pumps and hot-water heat pumps.
• multifunctionality: Options for passive cooling, heating and hot water heating, some models with integrated drinking water storage.
• areas of application: Mainly designed for new construction and modernization in single-family homes.
• specificity: Broetje heat pumps are known for their combination options with photovoltaic systems and energy management at a comparatively low price, with a primary focus on single-family homes.

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Remko GmbH & Co. KG

• founding: 1976 in Lage, East Westphalia; specializes in heating and air-conditioning technology.
• staffs: Employ around 250 people.
• Product diversity: Includes air-to-air and air-water heat pumps with heating outputs of up to 32 kW.
• multifunctionality: Heat pumps offer heating and cooling functions as well as intelligent room climate control via a smart app.
• areas of application: Use in new construction and modernization projects for single and multi-family houses.
• specificity: Remko heat pumps are characterized by their cooling function, quiet night operation and the option of an integrated drinking water storage tank, which is also designed to be connected to a solar thermal system. The integration of an energy manager is also planned, which makes Remko's solutions particularly versatile.

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Max Weishaupt GmbH

• founding: 1932 in Schwendi, Baden-Württemberg; specializes in energy technology.
• staffs: Almost 4,000 employees in a family-run medium-sized company.
• Product diversity: Offers air-to-water, air-to-air combination, brine-water and water-to-water heat pumps as well as hot-water heat pumps.
• multifunctionality: The heat pumps are designed for heating and hot water heating and some also offer a cooling function.
• areas of application: Suitable for new construction and modernization in single-family homes, multi-family homes and commercial buildings.
• specificity: Weishaupt heat pumps are designed for both private and commercial use and can be combined with solar collectors to further increase energy efficiency.

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LAMBDA heat pumps GmbH

• ^founding: 2019 in Brixen im Thale, Tyrol; specializes in the manufacture of air heat pumps.
• staffs: Employ around 50 people in all departments.
• Product diversity: Only offers air-water heat pumps.
• multifunctionality: High energy efficiency and the ability to prepare drinking water.
• areas of application: Ideal for new buildings, modernizations and single-family and two-family houses.
• specificity: Use of an environmentally friendly and natural refrigerant. Offers high energy efficiency beyond the A+++ standard. Can be combined with PV systems and eye-catching in appearance, but limited installation options in Germany.

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In conclusion, it can be said that the variety of heating systems and the range of manufacturers that heating engineers work with on a daily basis are enormous. It is precisely for this reason that we offer access to an extensive selection of over 8,000 to 9,000 heat pump models on the AUTARC software. This enables specialist partners who work with AUTARC software to react flexibly and effectively to the diverse requirements of their customers and to find the optimal solution for every situation. With the models in the AUTARC software, users can create offers, apply for funding for their customers, size the system, carry out a WP check, use AR simulations and check technical feasibility.

New now! AR simulation for outdoor units

Our AR simulation in AUTARC software is now ready for use. You can now virtually place heat pump models in the real environment of your customers. This simple and interactive method makes it possible to present various models and plan the optimal system. The simulation not only provides a visual presentation, but also supports the selection process by proposing suitable models after calculating the heat load. This makes the offer more tangible for your customers and your planning more efficient. AR simulation helps to specify your customers' ideas and makes it easier to decide on the right heat pump model.

Book a demo and experience autarc live

Fill out our contact form and choose an appointment. A product specialist will present our solution to you via video conference, after which you can decide whether you want to test autarc free of charge for 14 days. We will prepare an individual needs analysis for you, offer you a non-binding product tour and answer your questions directly in an individual conversation.

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