Compagnie d'Entreprises CFE : VMA contributes to DAIKIN's new innovation center in Ghent

Press release

VMA contributes to DAIKIN's new innovation center in Ghent

Sint-Martens-Latem, 13 December 2023 - VMA, a reference in industrial automation and part of the CFE Group, announces a collaboration with the Japanese multinational DAIKIN. VMA will equip the new DAIKIN innovation center in Ghent, valued at 140 million euros, with 22 test chambers for the development of heat pumps and cooling systems.

VMA will provide the test chambers with technology that exposes heat pumps and cooling systems to extreme weather conditions. The tests will be automatically controlled using VMA's VMANAGER software, typically used for intelligently managing large buildings but finding its first industrial application here.

Press release

The software will then capture and process the extensive data from the tests to optimize the performance of the heat pumps and cooling systems.

A particular strength of this project is the collaboration of Daikin with Ghent University (UGent), which provides expertise and also provides a space in the center where students can contribute to the development of energy-efficient technology.

Guy Wynendaele, CEO of VMA:"VMA is fully committed to energy and climate transition.We make buildings intelligent and sustainable, automate production lines for batteries, electric vehicles, and the process industry. This project combines several of our expertise in a market that will grow significantly in the coming years."

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About VMA

VMA, a division of the multidisciplinary industrial group CFE (www.cfe.be), has a workforce of 1,050 enthusiastic employees who together realise more than 250 million euros revenue. The Industrial Automation activity is flanked by the Building Technologies segment. It designs, installs and maintains all technologies in buildings and implements building management software to improve user convenience. This segment also monitors and analyses all data such as energy consumption through its VMANAGER business unit (www.vmanager.be) in order to facilitate the necessary energy transition.

About CFE

CFE is a Belgian listed group active in Belgium, Luxembourg and Poland in four core activities with a significant growth potential: real estate development, multitechnics (techniques and rail infrastructure), construction & renovation and sustainable investments such as wind and battery parks. With a turnover of 1,200 million euros, more than 3,100 employees and long experience and expertise gathered since its foundation in 1880, the CFE group has the ambition to challenge the status quo and create positive change by providing a successful answer to environmental and societal challenges to ensure the well-being of future generations. The group realises this ambition by putting sustainability, innovation and respect for its employees at the heart of its strategy.

Press contact

Ann Vansumere, Communication Manager Group CFE +32 2 661 13 97 || ann_vansumere@cfe.be

About Daikin's innovation center: link