Groupe Atlantic UK & ROI is strategically investing to deliver its ambitious plans
A leading manufacturer of heating and hot water solutions, and part of the multi-billion-euro Groupe Atlantic organization, Groupe Atlantic UK & ROI stands at an exciting point in its history. Boldly investing in the future of low-carbon heating, it has committed £60 million to the transformation of its Hull headquarters site and developed a cutting-edge research and development (R&D) facility, the UK Technology Centre (UKTC). With the UKTC’s doors set to open soon, the business is forging ahead with confidence.
A landmark investment by Groupe Atlantic, the new facility represents a milestone moment for the company’s leading UK brand, Ideal Heating. This is just one reason why 2026 is a significant year for the company, with Ideal Heating also celebrating its 120th anniversary this year. Building on decades of experience and achievement, the business is at the forefront of innovation and change as the UK heating industry adopts low-carbon solutions.
“We’re serious about leading the UK heating industry transition. In the new UK Technology Centre (UKTC), we have a world-class R&D facility that matches our ambition in scope and scale,” says Chief Operations Officer Jason Speedy.
“For many years, our R&D teams have been doing exceptional work from facilities spread across our headquarters site in Hull. The UKTC brings all these specialists together under one roof – engineers, R&D professionals, product managers, and software developers creating better collaboration and generating faster innovations than ever before.”
Equipped with the latest product-testing technology, the UKTC spans 38,000 square feet. The facilities include six climatic chambers, used to test products across a range of temperatures from -20°C to 50°C. This means the R&D team can stress-test its heat pumps and boilers in even the most extreme conditions.
Additional testing
Alongside these are hemi-anechoic chambers for acoustic testing and EMC chambers for electromagnetic interference assessments. These combined capabilities give Groupe Atlantic a competitive edge, with in-house facilities and expertise unmatched by any other UK heating solutions manufacturer.
Fully-integrated testing operations bring numerous benefits to the business. As Jason says: “It reduces our reliance on third-party testing, meaning shorter lead times on new developments, and faster delivery to the marketplace. The UKTC also gives our teams direct, daily access to state-of-the-art facilities, meaning they can work to their full potential. There’s no compromise between quality and efficiency – with the UKTC, we enjoy the best of both.”
In addition to its testing facilities, the UKTC boasts an advanced 3D printing facility. “Our 3D printing capabilities enable rapid prototyping of components, dramatically shortening the cycle from concept to testable product,” Jason explains.
“Ultimately, the UKTC accelerates the development of the technologies that will decarbonize UK homes and business premises. For more than a century, the name Ideal has been synonymous with quality and innovation. This facility is key to ensuring that remains true for decades to come.”
The company’s investment strategy extends far beyond the new UKTC. As part of a £60 million transformation program, the company’s headquarters site in Hull is being equipped with new manufacturing, distribution and engineering facilities, in addition to the UKTC, which is now nearing completion.
“The UKTC, at £19.2 million, is the most visible element, but the broader investment reflects our long-term commitment to Hull as a center of excellence in manufacturing, logistics and R&D,” Jason adds.
“The scale of investment is substantial for the local and national economy. We employ around 1500 people in the UK and Ireland, with around 800 based in Hull. Our investment at the Hull site is creating new, highly skilled roles that will anchor well-paid employment in the city and wider region for decades.”
For Groupe Atlantic, investment in technology and facilities is also an investment in its people. These new facilities will support employees across the business, as well as local suppliers and contractors. The UKTC, delivered by principal contractor Henry Boot Construction, also secured over £2 million in seed funding from Humber Freeport, which recognized it as a strategically significant development for the region.
Alongside its mission to drive growth across the business and support local and regional economies, Groupe Atlantic’s strategy is also underpinned by its market-defining sustainability mission. In 2023, the business announced its investment in Clade Engineering Systems, extending its commercial heat pump capabilities and positioning the business as a leader in low-carbon commercial heating.
“Bringing Clade within the Groupe Atlantic family substantially enhances our ability to serve customers transitioning away from fossil fuels in commercial and public buildings,” Jason asserts.
“On the domestic side, we’re investing £6.8 million into heat pump production, supported by £5.2 million of UK Government funding. The target is to create the capacity to produce 115,000 heat pumps and indoor controls at the Hull site annually by 2030.
“We will be manufacturing the first heat pump outdoor units at the Hull site from April 2027 and we’re in-creasing capacity for cylinder production at our Gledhill business in Blackpool,” he continues.
Government backing has strengthened Groupe Atlantic’s sustainability mission. The £5.2 million in funding was awarded through the Heat Pump Investment Accelerator Competition, established to support UK heat pump production.
As Jason explains, this backing has reinforced Groupe Atlantic’s leading role in the heating transition: “That kind of direct investment in manufacturing infrastructure sends a clear signal to industry that the transition is real and supported.”
Guided by the vision of a low-carbon future, Groupe Atlantic looks forward to its next chapter. Over the next 12 months, the UKTC will become fully operational, ushering in a period of accelerated technological advancement.
The company’s training infrastructure is expanding, and its product portfolio across Ideal Heating, Gledhill, Hamworthy and Clade brands is stronger than it’s ever been. And all of this is while the business retains its position as the UK’s domestic and commercial boiler market leader.
Looking further ahead, Jason considers what’s next for the business: “We’re building on the same foundations that made us industry leaders in boiler systems – product quality, customer and installer support, training, and second-to-none service.
“Our UKTC supports the development of innovative, high-performing products that will help deliver a bet-ter future for everyone. The UK heating market will look fundamentally different in five years, and we intend to be at the forefront of it – just as we have been for the past 120 years,” he concludes.
www.groupe-atlantic.fr/en www.idealheating.com
