Corporate_news_Daikin_Europe_factory_in_Ostend_wins_Factory_of_the_Future_award_2026
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Corporate news / Brussels, Ostend, 24 February 2026 – Daikin Ostend received the “Factory of the Future Award” for the fourth consecutive time, marking 12 years in a row of meeting all award criteria.
The jury specially acknowledged that Daikin Ostend, since its previous award in 2023, has continued their path of implementing high end digital solutions and innovative forward-looking technology in their production processes. Daikin’s production site combines this with an unparalleled continuous improvement spirit at the factory floor.
“Factory of the Future” stands for sustainable and innovative world-class production
The most advanced and future-oriented manufacturing sites in Belgium are honoured with this title by technology federation Agoria, technological knowledge centre Sirris and various sector federations. Factories of the Future are fully committed to digitalisation, talent development, smart processes, sustainable products and world-class production. These companies and factories think carefully about how they use energy and materials, and encourage their staff to be involved, creative and autonomous. Winners need to receive a score of at least 8 out of 10 from the competition expert jury in each of these areas.
Winners are allowed to officially call themselves a “Factory of the Future” for three years. After this three-year period, they have to prove themselves again: a new audit and jury assessment determine whether their title will be renewed. After Daikin Ostend’s first Factory of the Future award in 2017 and subsequent three-year renewals in 2020 and 2023, Daikin receives this prestigious title in 2026 for the fourth time in a row, meaning that over the course of 12 consecutive years since 2017, Daikin Ostend remains a “Factory of the Future”.
Sustainable products and solutions made in Europe
The portfolio manufactured at Daikin Ostend comprises
- Daikin direct expansion commercial heat pumps (Sky air and VRV),
- Air-to-water heat pumps (Daikin Altherma 3, ground- and water sourced heat pumps), mini chillers,
- Refrigeration (Conveni-pack, ZEAS) brought to markets across Europe including the Central European territory.
Continuous improvement actions
In the previous three years, Daikin has been investing and implementing further digitalisation, automation and new continuous improvement actions at the Ostend factory. The newest heat pump production lines, at Daikin’s manufacturing site in Ostend are equipped with advanced camera and running test systems to perform rigorous quality checks, while the parts supply at these lines is performed by AMR’s (Autonomous Mobile Robots).
Another highlight is the new hybrid painting line since 2023, which has a furnace that can switch from 100% gas to 100% electricity. In Daikin Ostend’s ongoing transition to become a net-zero factory in the future, it provides great flexibility and makes the line future-proof. In Belgium, electricity is generally more expensive than gas, so the factory needs to balance energy sources it uses. Yet, already today, on certain windy or sunny days, electricity is cheaper than gas, enabling the factory to operate its painting line for free, while importantly, remaining CO2 neutral. Yet on days when electricity is expensive, it is able to fall back on the use of gas. In the future, if electricity prices were to drop considerably, Daikin Ostend has the ambition to switch to 100% electricity use.
“The Factory of the Future award recognises that we’re continuously improving our factory operations in a sustainable and future-oriented way. We are exploring and introducing unique, flexible and forward-looking concepts, supporting Daikin’s ambition to achieve net-zero factories.” Andy De Wilde, Department Manager Production Ostend at Daikin Europe
Recognition for all employees
For over 50 years, Daikin has been developing and producing a wide range of climate systems at its Ostend factory for the residential, commercial and industrial markets in Europe.
“This award is a well-deserved recognition for all our employees at our Ostend site. Making future-proof decisions is a key element of being a Factory of the Future. With our continuous improvement processes, we are able to respond flexibly to change and remain at the top in an international competitive production landscape.” Stefaan Simpelaere, General Manager Manufacturing Ostend at Daikin Europe
Reference:
More information: Factsheet Daikin Europe Ostend factory, February 2026
Copyrights pictures: Daikin
About
100+ years Daikin
The story of Daikin has always been shaped by groundbreaking ideas, technological innovations, and dedicated people. It began in 1924 when the young Japanese engineer Akira Yamada founded an enterprise in Osaka to manufacture aircraft radiators with a 15-member team. More than 100 years later, the Daikin Industries group brings future-proof solutions for heating, cooling, ventilation, air purification, and refrigeration (HVAC-R) to global markets. 103,500 employees in 173 countries continue the company's legacy of leading technologies to advance low carbon heating and cooling, while ensuring the highest level of comfort.
Read more on 100 Years Daikin
Daikin Industries Ltd.
Daikin Industries is a global leader in heat pump, air conditioning and air filtration technology, employing more than 103,500 people. Founded in Osaka in 1924, it is the only manufacturer in the world that develops and manufactures HVAC-R equipment, compressors and refrigerants in-house. Daikin has been recognized as one of the world’s top 100 most innovative companies by Clarivate (UK) and LexisNexis (USA) for its leadership in technology research and intellectual property patents. For its fiscal year 2024 (1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025) Daikin reported a record sales result of 28,98 billion euro sales.
Read more on www.daikin.com
Daikin Europe N.V.
The Daikin Europe group is a leading provider of heating, cooling, ventilation, air purification and refrigeration technology across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Daikin Europe caters to a diverse customer base within the region by designing, manufacturing, and marketing an extensive range of products, maintenance services, and turnkey solutions tailored for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. The group employs over 13,800 people across more than 56 subsidiaries and operates 15 manufacturing sites in Europe (12), Turkey (1) and the Middle East (2). Refrigeration products from Daikin include the brands Daikin, Tewis, Zanotti, Hubbard, and AHT. Headquartered in Ostend, Belgium, for over 50 years, the Daikin Europe group is a subsidiary of Daikin Industries Ltd.
Read more on www.daikin.eu
Daikin Airconditioning Central Europe
Daikin Airconditioning Central Europe, founded in 1999 with its headquarters in Vienna, Austria, operates as a subsidiary of Daikin Europe. Its portfolio includes products and total solutions for heating, cooling, ventilation, air purification, and refrigeration in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. With over 700 employees and 3,400 partners, the company manages sales and service activities across 16 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, including Austria, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, Moldova, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
With 'Your Daikin World' at the Vienna headquarters and the 'Daikin Inspiration Park' in Warsaw, the HVAC-R industry and the construction sector have access to two state-of-the-art B2B-experience centers for co-creating customized solutions for hotels, retail, offices, and large commercial applications. Daikin runs ten out of 141 B2B-training centers across the EMEA region in the CE-region. Consumers and homeowners receive consultations at four B2C-Experience centers in Vienna, Belgrade, Bratislava and Budapest.
Read more on www.daikin-ce.com
Media contact
Doris Passler
Manager Corporate Communications Central Europe
Daikin Airconditioning Central Europe HandelsgmbH
Lemböckgasse 59/1/1, 1230 Vienna, Austria
T: +43 (0) 664 24 56 444
M: passler.d@daikin.at
