NORTHERN IRELAND: In a major strategic investment, Dimplex is underlining its commitment to its presence in the UK renewables sector by expanding its UK sales and marketing team, as well as announcing a multi-million pound investment in new research and development and manufacturing facilities for renewables in the province.

The 16-strong team is headed by Chris Davis, business development director for renewables, and consists of dedicated sales managers, a renewables product management team and a team of technical sales support engineers to offer wide-ranging support to developers, architects, installers, social housing providers, M&E consultants, local authority specifiers, and building services engineers across the UK.

Allen Griffiths takes responsibility nationally for commercial project sales, while domestic sales are split between Laurence Allison (North) and Tim Parker (South), each with a team of business development managers.

To support the significant growth Dimplex expects from the UK market over the next five years, the new manufacturing and R&D facilities will focus on heat pumps and solar thermal water heating, as well as new technology areas such as solar PV.

Another R&D focus is the integration of renewable technologies for complete low carbon building solutions, allowing specifiers and building services engineers to benefit from improved efficiency through seamlessly combining multiple technologies within a single building to meet current and future building energy standards.

Mr Davis said: "This is a hugely exciting time for Dimplex. We recognise the need to develop not only new products, but also truly integrated solutions that are capable of really delivering the low and zero carbon buildings that will be demanded in the UK over the next 10 years. To do this requires UK-based facilities and dedicated, expert resources and this new infrastructure will put Dimplex in the strongest possible position to lead the market."