Daikin Europe has acquired BKF Klima, a Danish Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) distributor that was part of Beijer REF.
At Daikin’s new offices in Brøndby, Denmark, the company will also open two new facilities, including a Daikin Training Centre for installers and Daikin Experience Centre for consumers.
This strategic acquisition will further enable Daikin to leverage its extensive R&D expertise in low carbon HVAC solutions for the region.
Daikin's acquisition of BKF Klima marks a significant step in the company's expansion strategy in Scandinavia, which began with Daikin Sweden (2008), Daikin Norway (2018), and a Daikin office in Finland (2018).
Daikin holds a leading position in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), and with the acquisition of BKF Klima, the company now strengthens its position in Denmark as well.
As a distributor of HVAC technology, BKF Klima has acted as a distributor for Daikin Europe in the Danish market since 1985. BKF Klima was previously owned by Beijer Ref, a world-leading wholesaler of cooling technology and HVAC.
Through this strategic acquisition, Daikin aims to leverage its extensive R&D expertise and establish educational opportunities for installers through localised training centres, according to Toshitaka Tsubouchi, president of Daikin Europe.
"The acquisition of BKF Klima with its outstanding reputation plays a pivotal role in strengthening our foothold in the region,” he said.
“Given Scandinavia's focus on sustainability, our investment serves a triple purpose for us: strategic growth, superior customer service and contributing to the adoption of low-carbon HVAC technologies in the Danish market.”
Simon Karlin, EVP EMEA at Beijer Ref, said BKF Klima’s organisation and its employees will continue to thrive under Daikin.
“We are pleased to have found this solution, as Beijer Ref will continue its focus on growing its presence in Denmark with strategic HVAC partners,” Karlin said.
In the coming weeks, the entire BKF team will move to Daikin’s new offices in Brøndby, Copenhagen.
Robert Kagabo, who has extensive experience at Daikin and has just been appointed as managing director of Daikin Denmark, talked about the company’s plans in the region.
“Coupled with our commitment to nurturing the personal development of our new teammates in Denmark, we are also ambitious for growth as an organization in the Danish market. Together, we aim to become the trusted partner for installers and consumer alike, solidifying Daikin's position as a leader in the industry,” Kagabo said.
At the same location as its offices, the first Denmark-based Daikin Training Centre for installers and Daikin Experience Centre for consumers will open later this year.
“These concepts are new for Daikin in Denmark, but well-established internationally,” he said.
Daikin Experience Centre will be a dedicated showroom which offers current and aspiring homeowners a chance to experience Daikin’s low-carbon solutions for heating and cooling in person. The new centre in Copenhagen will add up to a total of 12 Daikin Experience Centres in Europe.
The Daikin Training Centre will provide an exclusive hub designed to provide comprehensive training sessions for Daikin’s network of installers.
Through hands-on sessions and expert guidance, 116 Daikin Training Centres across the EMEA region ensure that installers are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in delivering top-notch services to Daikin customers.
"With our new larger organization and the two new centres, we can activate the expertise Daikin has to a greater extent and ensure even better trained installers. This benefits both installer companies and consumers," Kagabo said.
From 1976 to 2011, Denmark invested heavily in the roll-out of district heating. Fossil fuel boilers other than gas have been largely banned, and the country aims to decarbonize further through a ban on all fossils including gas boilers by 2030.
Vanessa Vega Saenz, director Invest in Denmark at the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the company's investment in Denmark:
"It is a positive development that Daikin is investing in Denmark. We need heating solutions that can contribute to making our society and individual households independent of fossil fuels and reduce CO2 emissions,” she said.
“The company's focus on training installers as well as providing inspiration targeted at consumers, can contribute to more people choosing greener energy solutions."
To date Daikin Europe has over 13,700 employees across more than 57 consolidated subsidiaries. It has 14 manufacturing facilities based in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, the United Kingdom, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The headquarters of the Daikin Europe group are in Ostend, Belgium. The company was established in 1972, production in Europe started in 1973.