Saunier Duval takes advantage of European rules to sell its boilers and heat pumps
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©Saunier Duval - Nantes SDECC Industry site
Saunier Duval experienced growth of around 6% in 2015 and will reach a historic production volume with more than 300,000 devices produced. The SDECC Industrie plant in Nantes (Loire-Atlantique), the Vaillant group's only industrial site in France, fully benefits from the new European ERP (Energy Related Products) regulations, which have applied since September 26, 2015, prohibiting the manufacture of less efficient products, including low-temperature flue gas boilers, which are now giving way to condensing boilers, a technology that the plant has mastered since 2002.
Pivotal year
On July 31, 2015, Saunier Duval therefore permanently stopped production of these conventional boilers (which still sold well in the first half) to switch to condensing products only. It was therefore a pivotal period, involving a total overhaul of the site: "We modified 76% of our lines in seven months, mentions Eric Yvain, the plant manager. 95% of product references have changed over the year. This involved a very extensive training program." On the investment side, 3.3 million euros were committed to industrial tools and product innovation (tools, components, etc.). However, the workforce remains stable at 520 employees, productivity efforts having been made.
export
The Nantes plant, which exports half of its volumes, is also benefiting from the revival of the Spanish and Italian markets, after six years of crisis, but also from strong demand from Eastern Europe, the ERP directive applying to the 28 countries of the European Union. The production of aerothermal heat pumps is also doing very well, with growth of 30% in 2015. The site's third activity, thermal solar panels (15 to 20,000 panels), is declining slightly, but Eric Yvain believes in the potential for this long-term activity. The site now exceeds 8% of its production in renewable energy.
Emmanuel Guimard