Leveraging group collaboration with innovative products and safety culture, Regency Fireplace Products continues to evolve globally
As a leading designer and manufacturer of premium gas, wood and electric hearth products, Regency Fireplace Products (Regency) offers more than 45 years of experience in the industry. Based on the outskirts of Vancouver, Canada, the company was founded in 1979 and has built a strong reputation for quality, innovation and craftsmanship.
Although Regency successfully delivers the agility and customer focus of a local manufacturer, being incorporated in the NIBE Group means it also has the strength of a global organization, supplying products to residential and commercial markets across North America and internationally. These products include a full range of fireplaces, stoves, inserts and outdoor heating products, with an impressive portfolio comprising of gas, wood, pellet, and electric solutions, offering both traditional and contemporary designs. With strong customer-centric values, Regency also provides engineering support, product customization and ongoing after-sales support to its dealer and distribution partners.
Manufacturing Today took the opportunity to talk to Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer, Kristen Stinson, who reveals more about Regency’s products, processes and partnerships: “Recently, we have launched our new and updated stove models, alongside ongoing facility upgrades, investments in automation and advanced manufacturing technologies,” she begins. “We continue to invest heavily in both product development and manufacturing capability initiatives, which firmly support our focus on quality, consistency, and scalability while positioning us for long-term growth.”
One of Regency’s new and particularly innovative products is its GS33 gas stove, developed to deliver exceptional flame visuals, strong heating performance, contemporary styling and ease of installation, while meeting evolving efficiency and emissions standards. “Our R&D approach is customer-driven and highly collaborative,” continues Kristen. “Our RAPID program combines market feedback, dealer input, regulatory requirements and engineering expertise to develop products that balance performance, efficiency, and design. The GS33 gas stove is a great example of that.”
In addition to intensive R&D methods, Regency is implementing more automation into its manufacturing processes, which Kristen explains plays an increasingly important role in the company’s production strategy. “Investments such as robotic welding systems help improve repeatability, precision and throughput while enhancing worker safety,” she highlights. “These technologies allow our skilled employees to focus on higher-value tasks such as quality control, programming and continuous improvement.”
Safety, People, and Future Growth
Safety is a crucial aspect within the business and is one of the main elements of its EXCITE program, which is designed to help streamline processes. “The EXCITE program is our internal continuous improvement framework, founded in the principals of lean manufacturing, focused on employee engagement, efficiency, and operational excellence,” elaborates Kristen. “It encourages team members at all levels to identify improvement opportunities, reduce waste, and enhance safety and quality. By empowering employees to contribute ideas and participate in problem-solving, EXCITE helps drive measurable improvements across the organization.”
As the winner of both the Topaz and Sapphire Safety Pinnacle Awards, Regency has been recognized for its outstanding safety culture – an achievement Kristen describes as a ‘significant source of pride’ for the team. “They showcase the collective effort of employees and leadership in maintaining high safety standards,” she reflects. “We sustain this performance through proactive hazard identification, regular training, employee engagement, and continuous improvement initiatives that prioritize safety in everything we do. Regency is built around trust, respect, accountability, and continuous improvement. We are committed to developing our people through training, cross-functional learning, and career progression opportunities. Our Employee Value Proposition focuses on meaningful work, a safe and inclusive environment, competitive compensation, and the opportunity to contribute to products that make a real difference in people’s homes.”
Listing its primary customers as dealers, distributors and builders, Regency serves residential and light commercial markets, placing a strong emphasis on creating mutually beneficial long-term partnerships, supported by responsive customer service, technical training, product education and consistent communication. Maintaining relationships with trust, reliability and shared success, it is also a key part of the NIBE Group – a collection of companies that combine to form the world’s second largest producer of hearth products and provides access to a global network of expertise in heating technology, sustainability and manufacturing best practices. Aligning with NIBE’s code of conduct, Regency proudly upholds the group’s values which are based on eight guiding principles: a respect for human rights, good working conditions, reduced environmental impact, good business ethics, responsible purchasing, product liability, social commitment and transparency. Being included in NIBE has been pivotal to Regency’s growth, Kristen reveals: “Collaboration within the group supports shared innovation, technology transfer, and long-term strategic alignment, while still allowing Regency to maintain its brand identity and customer focus. An example of this collaboration is the co-designed RC500 with our sister company Contura, modifying an existing European wood design to a North American Gas model.”
As we head further into 2026, Regency has plans to prioritize continued investment in automation and operational efficiency. “We are also concentrating on new product development, strengthening our safety culture and supporting sustainable growth,” concludes Kristen. “We are focused intently on enhancing customer experience while building even more agility into our supply chain to allow for future demand growth and complexity. In the next three to five years, we aim to see continued expansion across our product lines, further advances in manufacturing technology, and a strong, engaged workforce that supports long-term success. At Regency, our success is driven by our people, our partners, and our commitment to continuous improvement. We’re proud of our heritage and excited about the future as we continue to evolve, innovate and deliver high-quality heating solutions to our customers.”
