Vaillant is a major manufacturer of heating systems and components based in Germany. The company has a long history dating back to 1874 when Johann Vaillant established a factory to produce gas-fired heaters and stoves. Since then, Vaillant has grown into one of the world’s leading producers of heating technology and now operates on an international scale. But who actually owns and controls the Vaillant Group today?
Early History of Vaillant
Johann Vaillant founded the company that bears his name in Remscheid, Germany in 1874. Vaillant was an entrepreneur who saw the growing market potential for gas heating products as piped gas became available in more cities in the late 19th century.
The Vaillant factory focused on manufacturing gas-fired wall mounted heaters, gas stoves, and water heaters. Even in these early years, Vaillant emphasized quality, safety, and continuous innovation in its heating devices.
In the period from 1874 to 1918, Vaillant grew to become one of the largest heating manufacturers in the German Empire. Johann Vaillant led the company until his death in 1891, when his sons Johann Heinrich and Fritz took over management of the firm.
The Interwar Period
Vaillant continued to expand after World War I, despite the economic troubles of Germany during the interwar period.
Management of the company passed to Oscar and Theo Vaillant, the sons of Johann Heinrich Vaillant. They introduced new product designs and manufacturing methods that increased efficiency and lowered costs.
During the worldwide Great Depression of the 1930s, Vaillant was affected but remained in operation through adjusting its production and implementing internal reforms. The company emerged from the Depression positioned to meet rising demand as the German economy recovered in the late 1930s.
Vaillant after World War II
The Vaillant facilities in Remscheid were heavily damaged by Allied bombing during World War II, but the company again rebuilt and got production running quickly after the war ended.
Leadership of Vaillant transitioned to the next generation of the Vaillant family, with Rudolf Vaillant taking over as general manager in 1948.
In the postwar era, Vaillant expanded beyond heating to also become a major producer of bathroom fixtures and residential ventilation systems. The product line diversified and the company grew to have factories not just in Germany but in several other European countries.
Vaillant Group Established
A significant change came in 1974 when the separate Vaillant companies were reorganized under the umbrella of the newly created Vaillant Group.
The Group was established as a family-owned limited liability company. This status safeguarded continued family control of the firm.
Vaillant Begins International Expansion
In the 1970s Vaillant began increasingly expanding outside of Germany and Central Europe. New production plants and sales centers were established in France, Italy, the Netherlands, and several other countries. Exports to overseas markets also rose substantially during the decade.
Vaillant made its first entry into the important American heating market in 1979 through acquisition of a major U.S. boiler manufacturer. Further acquisitions in the 1990s and 2000s extended Vaillant’s international reach, especially in Europe but also in fast-growing China.
Recent Leadership of Vaillant Group
As of the 2010s and continuing today, Dr. Jens Wichtermann has been CEO of the Vaillant Group. The Vaillant and Remscheid families continue to be majority shareholders of the Group’s stock while also occupying positions on its supervisory board.
So while no longer under direct family management, Vaillant remains controlled by and primarily owned by the descendants of founder Johann Vaillant almost 150 years later. This maintains its status as a privately held, family-owned firm.
Vaillant Group Divisions
Today the Vaillant Group is a large corporate entity that oversees a number of major business divisions and subsidiary firms.
Vaillant
The Vaillant name remains on the company’s core manufacturing of heating systems and components, including:
– Gas-fired boilers (for residential and commercial use)
– Oil and gas burning furnaces
– District heating substations
– Heat pumps
– Solar thermal collectors
– Radiators and other delivery systems
– Smart thermostats and heating controls
saunier duval
This firm produces:
– Gas water heaters
– Water boilers and storage tanks
– Domestic hot water systems
awb
Focused on manufacturing gas-fired heating equipment including:
– Wall-hung boilers for residential heating and hot water
– Gas condensing boilers
– Gas absorbers
Glow-worm
UK brand producing gas central heating boilers including:
– Combi boilers
– System boilers
– Open vent boilers
Vaillant Operations Worldwide
The Vaillant Group has a global footprint, with major subsidiaries and facilities in:
– Germany
– France
– Italy
– United Kingdom
– Spain
– Netherlands
– Poland
– Slovakia
– Russia
– Turkey
– China
– India
– United States
This extensive international presence allows Vaillant to develop products tailored to local markets while still benefiting from central coordination in areas such as R&D and large-scale manufacturing.
Financial Position of Vaillant Group
As a privately held company, the Vaillant Group does not release full details of its finances and ownership structure. However, some key facts are known:
Annual Revenue
According to company reports, the Vaillant Group’s annual revenue exceeds €2.5 billion euros. This makes it one of the largest heating equipment producers in the world.
Ownership Structure
Vaillant Group remains majority owned by the Vaillant and Remscheid families through the Vaillant Beteiligungsgesellschaft holding company. Employees and outside investors hold minority stakes.
Employees
The company has approximately 14,000 employees worldwide across its various divisions and local operating units.
Company Valuation
While not publicly disclosed, estimates suggest the Vaillant Group may have a market valuation in the range of €3 to €5 billion euros. This would rank it among the more valuable German manufacturing firms.
| Year | Revenue | Employees | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1874 | N/A | 20 | 1 factory in Remscheid, Germany |
| 1900 | N/A | 300 | 4 factories in Germany |
| 1925 | 9.5 million Reichsmarks | 1,100 | 6 factories in Germany |
| 1950 | N/A | 1,550 | Reconstructed facilities in Remscheid, Germany |
| 1975 | DM 560 million | 5,000 | 13 factories in 5 European countries |
| 2000 | €1.25 billion | 9,000 | Facilities in over 10 countries on 3 continents |
| 2022 | Over €2.5 billion | Approx. 14,000 | Operations in over 30 countries worldwide |
Acquisitions and Expansion
A series of strategic acquisitions and new facilities have contributed to Vaillant’s growth from a local German manufacturer to a global industry leader.
Major Vaillant Group Acquisitions
- 1979 – Acquired Temco heating company in the United States
- 1994 – Acquired Turkish heating company DemirDokum
- 2006 – Acquired French Saunier Duval hot water heaters
- 2008 – Acquired UK boiler maker Glow-Worm
- 2010 – Acquired Bulex heating systems in Belgium
- 2012 – Acquired AWB engineering in Germany
These purchases brought new technologies, products, distribution networks and manufacturing facilities under Vaillant’s umbrella.
New Factories and Offices
Along with acquisitions, Vaillant has grown internationally by building new production plants and sales offices including in:
- 1970s – France, Italy, Netherlands
- 1980s – Spain, United Kingdom, Turkey
- 1990s – Poland, Russia, Slovakia, China
- 2000s – India, United States
This geographic diversification brought Vaillant closer to major heating markets around the world.
Vaillant Sustainability and Innovation
Two factors that underpin Vaillant’s continued success since 1874 are its commitment to environmental sustainability and investments in new technology.
Sustainability Efforts
Vaillant has implemented various initiatives to reduce its environmental footprint including:
– Operating an in-house renewable energy plant fueled by biogas
– Phasing out of all fluorinated greenhouse gases from production
– Achieving over 50% reduction in CO2 emissions from operations since 2007
– Having multiple manufacturing facilities certified carbon-neutral
– Offering high-efficiency products that lower building emissions
– Prioritizing renewable energy in heating systems
Research and Development
Vaillant maintains an extensive R&D division based at its German headquarters. Areas of focus include:
– Improving efficiency and performance of products
– Advancing renewable heating technology such as heat pumps, solar integration, fuel cells
– Developing “smart” controls and data analysis for optimizing heating systems
– Integrating heating and cooling systems with other building functions
– Incorporating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, IoT connectivity
Annual investment in R&D exceeds €50 million euros, furthering Vaillant’s industry leadership.
Conclusion
The Vaillant Group has grown over 148 years from its origins as a small German factory into a multi-national heating systems leader. Control of the company remains with the Vaillant family, even as its business expands worldwide. Vaillant’s focus on innovation and environmentally sound technology position it well to continue adapting to meet the heating challenges of the 21st century. From its headquarters in Remscheid, Germany, Vaillant stands today as one of the most influential firms in global heating, hot water, and ventilation markets.
