Representing an investment of €14 million, the new facilities include an R&D innovation centre, a customer services centre, a dedicated training academy featuring an auditorium and training suite, and an extension to the existing manufacturing facilities which has also seen further investment in robotics and automation.
The official opening was performed by An Taoiseach, Mr Leo Varadkar, TD, who said: “My vision for the future of the Midlands begins with companies like Grant Engineering. They have developed a state-of-the-art facility to develop and manufacture environmentally-efficient heating products for the 21st century. With this type of vision and investment, the future for the Midlands is bright.”
Grant Engineering’s expansion plans were first announced in 2016 in response to increased demand for the company’s heating products on a local and international level. In recent years Grant has enjoyed considerable success in Ireland, the UK and further afield including France, Greece and New Zealand. It has
also diversified its product portfolio to meet the changing needs of its customers around the globe.
Grant Engineering founder Stephen Grant told Building Services News: “This investment demonstrates our commitment to innovation, growth and to the local economy. In recent years we have expanded into new markets and developed new products to meet the needs of our customer base. Our focus on sustainability continues to grow and to help achieve decarbonisation. Home heating fuel needs to follow in the footsteps of transport and transition to electric or 100% biofuel heating.
“This is impossible to do in the short to medium term in an affordable way. However, the introduction of a ‘Biofuel Obligation’ for home heating could enable homes to become sustainable. We have future-proofed our products over the last five years so that they can operate using biofuel but, to aid transition and further reduce emissions, we need the support of fuel suppliers and government.
“Accelerating the electrification of heat is another way to aid transition and this is helped by current building regulations with new houses being predominately fitted with a heat pump. We have been supplying air to water heat pumps for nearly 10 years and these appliances are ideal for new-build homes where the house design is specifically matched to the heat pump.
“However, there is a huge issue for deployment of heat pumps to the retrofit market which is based on the affordability of deep retrofitting which can cost up to €70k. Together with my R&D team, I am excited to announce that we have developed new hybrid technology called EVOLINK which will be available later this year”.