• Second own-production of solar collectors by Vaillant Group
• Products based on renewable energies on course to growth

Nantes/Remscheid, 30 September 2009 – Vaillant Group today began production of solar collectors for using the heat of the sun at its Nantes site in France. The company is thus reinforcing its position in the renewable energies business field, which is growing at an above-average rate. It was only in June 2008 that the company started its first own production of solar collectors in Gelsenkirchen. "With the new production line in Nantes we are further expanding our strong market position in the renewable energies sector," said Vaillant Group Managing Director Dr Carsten Voigtländer at the opening of manufacture there. "Also in the first half of 2009 we posted a two-digit growth in sales of solar thermal systems and heat pumps – despite difficult general conditions of the economy as a whole."

Out of Nantes for Europe: 300,000 sq. metres of collector surface per year
About 125,000 collectors a year with a total surface area of some 300,000 sq. metres will be produced in Nantes. The investment volume for the manufacturing plant is €3.5 million. The solar collectors produced in Nantes will initially be sold mainly in France and Southern Europe.

Heat cleanly and cheaply with solar energy
The new solar collectors stand out for their high energy yield. This means that home builders and owners can with a solar thermal system cover an annual average of 20 per cent of their heating energy and about 70 per cent of the energy needed for hot water with the sun's heat free of charge. The heating costs and carbon dioxide emissions drop to the same extent. "With our products for the use of renewable energies we already have today the technologies with which CO2 emissions can be reduced significantly and sustainably. Vaillant Group is thereby making a substantial contribution to solving the climate problem," said Ralf-Otto Limbach, Managing Director of Vaillant Group. With the solar collectors produced in Nantes in one year alone, CO2 emissions can be reduced by more than 40 million kilograms.



Vaillant Group is an internationally operating heating, ventilation and air-conditioning technology concern based in Remscheid, Germany. As one of the world's market and technology leaders, Vaillant Group develops and produces tailor-made products, systems and services for domestic comfort. The product portfolio ranges from efficient heating appliances based on customary fuels to system solutions for using regenerative energy sources. In financial year 2008 the company, which has been family-owned since its founding in 1874, achieved with almost 13,000 employees sales totalling €2.4 billion.

Contact
Dr Jens Wichtermann
Head of Corporate Communications
Vaillant Group
D-42850 Remscheid
Phone: +49 2191 18-2754
Fax: +49 2191 18-2895
Mobile: +49 175 2951810
jens.wichtermann@vaillant.de
www.vaillant-group.com

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Caption: Vaillant Group today began production of solar collectors for using the heat of the sun at its Nantes site in France.