The Technology Centre

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Vivian Randall
5 years ago
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1 The Technology Centre

2 THE VIESSMANN TECHNOLOGY CENTRE

3 Foreword Heating, cooling, ventilating and generating electricity: the future is renewable, efficient and decentralised. And it is digital too. The heating system has become a component in the internet of things. In tomorrow's world, it can be controlled or operated by end users from almost everywhere via smartphone or tablet. The amalgamation of control and communication technologies means that appliances can self-diagnose faults, detect wear and notify industry and trade partners. Heating technology is currently undergoing profound change, partly directed and driven by Viessmann with its usual flair and inventiveness. After all, our enthusiasm for new experiences is written into our DNA. In order to secure and extend our market position, we established the Viessmann Technology Centre in A place where we intend to pool all of our development activities from the initial idea to series production. And a place where we clearly show that Viessmann is at the beginning of a new era and is taking advantage of current challenges to introduce change, while assuming the role of an environmental pioneer of the future. Innovation will always be a major currency especially in a market that no longer solely consists of established players, but where energy suppliers and telecommunication providers are offering energy solutions and setting up global technology group platforms for the smart home concept. At the Viessmann Technology Centre, we ensure that our customers can continue to rely on proven top quality and energy efficient products well into the future. Our hardware, developed with the help of years of expertise, has now been augmented with intelligent functions and sustainable services. The thirst for new experiences has been part of our corporate culture for many decades. I am proud that with the Viessmann Technology Centre, we are able to drive digitalisation forward and lead the way towards a successful energy transition. Martin Viessmann 2 3

4 THE VIESSMANN TECHNOLOGY CENTRE Symbiosis of brand and innovation We are technological trailblazers and a pacesetter in our sector. Viessmann has developed numerous exceptional products and solutions which have gone on to become milestones of technology. More than 1500 patents and property rights highlight the company's extraordinary power of innovation. We set benchmarks in the field of heating, industrial and refrigeration systems, yet never lose sight of customer requirements. We will continue to exert a decisive influence over the future of our industry, too. The Viessmann Technology Centre will become a base from which Viessmann's innovative concepts and ideas are launched into the next century. TECHNOLOGICAL MILESTONES IN THE HEATING SECTOR Heating with natural heat Air source heat pump Microprocessor-based control unit 1980 Clean combustion 180 MatriX radiant burner Tetramatik

5 DEVELOPING FUTURE MARKETS The energy transition represents one of the largest technical challenges of the coming years. With its comprehensive range of products and services, Viessmann provides everything necessary for the successful completion of energy efficient modernisation projects. The company intends to invest more heavily in this sector in the future, too. As it accounts for approximately one third of overall energy consumption, the heating market offers enormous potential to cut back on the use of fossil fuels. Condensing technology Self-calibrating combustion controller Ice store Fuel cell heating appliance Lambda Pro control Vitovalor 300-P Inox-Radial heat exchanger Vitofriocal

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THE VIESSMANN TECHNOLOGY CENTRE Think tank and high tech laboratory This research and development centre opened in 2017, and is the new seedbed for innovation at the company's head office in

8 THE VIESSMANN TECHNOLOGY CENTRE Think tank and high tech laboratory This research and development centre opened in 2017, and is the new seedbed for innovation at the company's head office in Allendorf (Eder). It represents the single largest investment the company has ever made, costing 50 million. The purpose of the centre is to develop highly efficient heat generators that reduce carbon dioxide emissions and save energy. Whether oil or gas condensing boilers, micro CHP units, fuel cells, heat pumps, control units, system technology or battery storage systems: at the Viessmann Technology Centre, prototypes are developed until they are suitable for series production. In addition, staff conduct reliability and endurance tests to optimise interaction between individual components, ready for the markets of tomorrow.

BIG DATA AS A DRIVER OF INNOVATION In the new R&D centre, Viessmann experts are developing heat generators that link proven technologies with new functions.

9 BIG DATA AS A DRIVER OF INNOVATION In the new R&D centre, Viessmann experts are developing heat generators that link proven technologies with new functions. Connectivity is the buzzword: networked appliances can assist contractors with installation, generate automatic notifications about their service needs or report faults. In a smart home, the intelligent heating system communicates with room thermostats and regulates the output down if the occupant is not at home. And intelligent Viessmann hybrid appliances ensure increased energy efficiency. These appliances decide whether to heat using renewable energy from the environment or gas, depending on energy price fluctuations. Last but not least, big data is a topic of huge interest to developers at the Viessmann Technology Centre: the analysis of user and building data is certain to have a positive effect on energy efficiency in the future. High speed development: prototypes are created more quickly thanks to 3D printing. 8 9

THE VIESSMANN TECHNOLOGY CENTRE Quality on the test rig "Nothing is so good that it cannot be improved" a motto that Viessmann truly puts into practice.

10 THE VIESSMANN TECHNOLOGY CENTRE Quality on the test rig "Nothing is so good that it cannot be improved" a motto that Viessmann truly puts into practice. The company can rightfully claim that it creates products that are long lasting and easy to operate. In order to ensure the high quality, reliability and efficiency of our products, the Viessmann Technology Centre is equipped with 110 system test rigs. Each is configured so that all necessary development tests can be conducted as required. ENDURANCE TEST FOR HEAT GENERATORS Engineers measure and analyse output, flue gas values, flow rates and sound emissions. In the house simulator, they particularly test sustainable technologies from compact hybrid appliances to fuel cells. The aim is to strike a balance between levels of comfort and energy efficiency. In fast cycles on 250 test rigs in the Technology Centre, products are subjected to endurance and long term testing to prove their durability. In the chemical, electrotechnical and metallurgical laboratories, staff assess the quality of the components used or subject them to stress tests. Using variable flue systems, engineers are able to perform tests under a range of different operating conditions.

11 Simulating real conditions: engineers test the prototypes through computer simulation. "Nothing is so good that it cannot be improved." 10 11

THE VIESSMANN TECHNOLOGY CENTRE Overview of the Viessmann Technology Centre Project room Interdisciplinary teams

Test rig The Viessmann Technology Centre is equipped with 110 test rigs for testing heat generators under a whole

To ensure that appliances can operate under a variety of working conditions, parameters such as temperature, air

12 THE VIESSMANN TECHNOLOGY CENTRE Overview of the Viessmann Technology Centre Project room Interdisciplinary teams pool their expertise at the Viessmann Technology Centre. Test rig The Viessmann Technology Centre is equipped with 110 test rigs for testing heat generators under a whole range of different circumstances. Gas-operated appliances must satisfy particularly stringent safety requirements. To ensure that appliances can operate under a variety of working conditions, parameters such as temperature, air humidity, gas type and flue pipe lengths are tested. Prototype construction Development in the fast lane: 3D printers are used to produce prototypes within a short space of time.

Chemical laboratory Are the materials used suitably corrosion-resistant?

Checking components and process water just two examples of tests carried out by

Electrotechnical laboratory Endurance tests: ageing and environmental simulation tests

13 Chemical laboratory Are the materials used suitably corrosion-resistant? Is the coolant free from harmful organic substances? Checking components and process water just two examples of tests carried out by chemists in the laboratory. Electrotechnical laboratory Endurance tests: ageing and environmental simulation tests are conducted in the electrotechnical laboratory. Metallurgical laboratory Quality begins with the material: staff test the materials fitted in heat generators from metals and plastics to elastomers

THE VIESSMANN TECHNOLOGY CENTRE How innovations are born at Viessmann Accelerated innovation cycles and changing customer requirements pose challenges for the heating industry.

14 THE VIESSMANN TECHNOLOGY CENTRE How innovations are born at Viessmann Accelerated innovation cycles and changing customer requirements pose challenges for the heating industry. Trends such as Industrie 4.0 go together with increasing customisation of products and manufacturing processes. A good idea can only be developed into the perfect solution if practical aspects are addressed: the wishes of our market partners provide the inspiration for our innovations. Speed is also of the essence. If the first specimen of a product is available, rapid prototyping is used to create a 3D model that is tested on the test rig. If the prototype does not satisfy stringent quality criteria, then a new direction is taken. Trial and error are part of the solution at Viessmann.

Pooling expertise: all disciplines work together for the best results. GOOD IDEAS FROM THE PRODUCTION LINE Innovations arise through the exchange of knowledge.

15 Pooling expertise: all disciplines work together for the best results. GOOD IDEAS FROM THE PRODUCTION LINE Innovations arise through the exchange of knowledge. At the Viessmann Technology Centre, interdisciplinary teams, made up of engineers, technicians, mechatronic technicians, designers, software developers, laboratory staff, skilled workers and product managers, for example, work together to create new solutions. The processes are uncomplicated in the R&D centre: together, new ideas are found, honed and optimised. The experts in the team are aided by creative thinkers from the Viessmann Group as a whole, which employs 12,000 staff: the "wisdom of crowds" provides support to the team at the Viessmann Technology Centre via a digital platform be it in the form of new ideas or solutions to problems. The international transfer of knowledge is supported by a research network comprising Viessmann experts from China, the USA and Turkey. In addition, the company also collaborates with specialists from colleges and universities

THE VIESSMANN TECHNOLOGY CENTRE Making room for the new With its clear, minimalist and function-oriented design signature, Viessmann highlights not only the leading position of its products, but also

16 THE VIESSMANN TECHNOLOGY CENTRE Making room for the new With its clear, minimalist and function-oriented design signature, Viessmann highlights not only the leading position of its products, but also the company's capabilities as a whole. This style of design also characterises the Viessmann Technology Centre building. Openness and transparency define the architecture's character. All components and materials serve their users. In place of a former production hall, a glass atrium now stands where employees can relax and catch up during breaks. Rooms are grouped around the central area and provide space for individual teams to conduct research into the products of tomorrow: the company has been reborn on historical ground, right at the heart of the Allendorf site.

Form and function go hand in hand in the new building. T H E I D E A L ACOUSTIC BACKDROP At the heart of the Viessmann Technology Centre is a ten-metre high hall.

17 Form and function go hand in hand in the new building. T H E I D E A L ACOUSTIC BACKDROP At the heart of the Viessmann Technology Centre is a ten-metre high hall. This offers the optimum technical requirements for development support tests and product improvements. 19 white towers extend the usable space in the interior. Acoustic insulation below their surface provides an exceptional level of quiet the ideal backdrop to test flow and combustion noise as early as the development phase. These are optimum conditions for developers to design products that will cause the least amount of noise disturbance in everyday use

THE VIESSMANN TECHNOLOGY CENTRE 250 test rigs provide connections where heating appliances can prove their durability. 110 heating systems can be tested simultaneously.

18 THE VIESSMANN TECHNOLOGY CENTRE 250 test rigs provide connections where heating appliances can prove their durability. 110 heating systems can be tested simultaneously. 12 climate chambers are available to test heating appliances at different air humidity levels and temperatures. 11,000 square metres is the size of the Viessmann Technology Centre with its R&D centre at Viessmann's main site in Allendorf (Eder). 20 different gas types are used for tests with gasoperated heat generators.

6MW cooling capacity is achieved in the building; this is the equivalent of approx. 50,000 conventional household refrigerators. 50 million euros were invested by Viessmann in the R&D centre.

19 6MW cooling capacity is achieved in the building; this is the equivalent of approx. 50,000 conventional household refrigerators. 50 million euros were invested by Viessmann in the R&D centre. 48 decibels reverberate in the main hall quieter than a normal conversation. 100 staff members work in the Viessmann Technology Centre. 40 kilometres of gas lines are installed in the Viessmann Technology Centre

Viessmann Werke 35107 Allendorf (Eder) Tel. +49 6452 70-0 Fax +49 6452 70-2780 www.viessmann.

20 Viessmann Werke Allendorf (Eder) Tel Fax GB 04/2017 Copyright Viessmann. Duplication and alternative use only with prior written consent. Subject to modifications.

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