Berlin is forging ahead, with industry experts expecting rapid expansion in the German capital. This brings with it the mammoth task of making the city’s district heating sector climate-neutral: Golden but also challenging times are dawning for suppliers.
Contacts mentioned in the article:
Sven Baumgartner, Head of Sales and Marketing at KLINGER Fluid Control
“We expect a noticeable growth in the district heating market. This means an enormous sales potential for the next ten years, provided we can supply the required volumes quickly enough.”
Sven Baumgartner has been Head of Sales and Marketing at KLINGER Fluid Control since the beginning of 2024.
The company has long been preparing for the run on the various valves needed to expand and maintain district heating networks in German-speaking countries and beyond. “Our current production plan envisages the manufacturing of around 3500 units of the Monoball KHO.”
A new product portfolio
The company can draw on many years of experience in serving the needs of district heating suppliers. For decades now, it has supplied ball valves to heating system operators who provide the energy for district heating networks. Now, KLINGER Fluid Control also wants to make inroads on the “underground sector,” i.e. the distribution network that channels the heat energy from producer to consumer in mostly underground pipework. “We’ve not been active in this market yet, but we have developed a new product portfolio around the Monoball KHO that is tailored precisely to the needs of district heating networks,” says Sven. One of these developments is an underground version of the Monoball KHO with an extended stem and extended horizontal pipework. This version also holds benefits for companies specialized in the thermal insulation of district heating valves to minimize heat loss at these critical intersections in the distribution network.
The Robust Valve Solution Driving District Heating Reliability
The Monoball KHO is available in all required sizes, with nominal diameters from 15 to 250 covering the needs of both infrastructure providers and end users. KLINGER Fluid Control has been preparing for growth in the district heating market for some time now. “We are currently building up our stock until March and will then be ready to go when the projects kick off at scale. Our focus here is on cooperating with the insulation companies,” says Sven. This requires products to stand out from the competition. The Monoball KHO achieves this by being made from a casting whose body has been U-groove welded for extra strength. “Valves of this type are mainly used at critical points in the district heating network, for example under busy main roads. This is where the Monoball KHO shines, as its design is much more robust than that of comparable valves,” says Sven. The Ballostar KHI, by contrast, is a “high-runner”, he adds. This valve’s outstanding product features have helped KLINGER Fluid Control win numerous tenders in Germany and France.
Strong customer connections
But valve quality is not all that matters, as Sven points out: “Availability is everything in district heating.” That’s why KLINGER Fluid Control plans ahead, designing its production processes with future market developments in mind. The valves will be distributed mainly within the German-speaking countries and regions, where KLINGER Fluid Control has always maintained good customer relations. But the company also wants to enter the French market, which holds major growth potential. “Plus we have identified opportunities in some eastern European markets, such as Poland and Hungary,” says Sven. He is confident that the next few years will see the district heating market expanding rapidly – and that KLINGER Fluid Control will play a major part in this growth.
Fact box
Gearing up for growth in district heating
The annual growth rate in the European district heating sector is forecast at around 2.5 percent for the period from 2024 to 2032. That would mean a market volume increase from 134 to 163 billion US dollars within this eight-year period. District heating is also experiencing rapid growth globally: from an estimated 52.62 billion US dollars in 2024, the market is expected to grow to 56.94 billion US dollars in 2029.
Fact box
Did you know…
… that KLINGER Fluid Control can produce ball valves independently of price fluctuations because raw materials are sourced from different geographic regions to minimize dependence on specific suppliers?
… that district heating accounts for around 25 percent of KLINGER Fluid Control’s business? Other important business areas are the steel industry, and pulp and paper production.
… that a new stainless steel version of the Ballostar KHI has been developed? The new Ballostar KHI-F is ideally suited for use in the paper industry and can also be used for oxygen applications in steelworks.
