idM invests 35 million euros at the location in East Tyrol
Matrei OK (A) The demand for heat pumps made in East Tyrol is unbroken. In 2021, sales increased again by 45 percent. Also for the continuously calculated Austrian heat pump manufacturer with a strong plus. The new logistics center was recently completed and put into operation. With the construction of a multi-storey car park for the employees, further investments are being made in the expansion of the site. The ground-breaking ceremony for the new multi-storey car park with 530 parking spaces took place on Tuesday.
New multi-storey car park and production hall
“Our plans envisage doubling the production area and a further increase in the number at the Matrei site. Whenever we adapt the infrastructure,” explains iDM Managing Director Hans-Jörg Hoheisel. Completion of the car park is planned for September 2022. “As with our high-bay warehouse and in terms of the ecological footprint, it is important to us to use as little floor space as possible. In this way, the parked area is reduced by 18,800 m², which corresponds to 4 football pitches. This will enable us to grow sustainably,” stresses Hoheisel.
At the same time, preparations are being made for another production line. The new Hall 8 is to be built directly next to the new high-bay warehouse on a recently acquired plot of land. “The project has been fully developed and submitted to the building authorities,” explains technical director Christoph Bacher: “With the additional hall, we can probably produce more than 32,000 heat pumps per year in Matrei for the European market.” Construction will start today and the project will be completed planned by mid-2023.
Incidentally, the roofs of the new buildings will also be equipped with modern photovoltaic modules – a matter of course for a heat pump manufacturer. In the final stage, more than 1 megawatt peak of green electricity will be generated and the site will be supplied with 100 percent renewable energy.
Economic Provincial Councilor Anton Mattle was very pleased during a visit to the company: “The European energy transition is being written with the heat pumps from East Tyrol. We in Tyrol also want to permanently say goodbye to oil and gas. The current situation shows that clearly. The heat pump is a climate-friendly alternative here, and 100 percent of the added value remains in the country.” Owner Manfred Pletzer is certain: “We expect continued strong demand and investments totaling 35 million euros in the coming years never in the site expansion.”
More than 250 new employees by the end of 2023
This will create around 250 additional jobs. In 2021, 160 new employees were hired. With currently 610 employees, iDM is one of the largest employers in East Tyrol. “By the end of 2023, the iDM energy family should grow to 850 employees,” Pletzer is confident.