Firms join forces to heat up China market

HEATING and renewable energy group Glen Dimplex and its US partner General Electric (GE) are working on a strategy to increase their joint presence in China, Glen Dimplex managing director, Sean O’Driscoll has revealed.

The partners have also unveiled plans to integrate Brillion – GE’s home energy management “smart grid” technology – into the Irish firm’s home heating, renewable and energy storage products. The addition of this utility meter could give Glen Dimplex’s products a timely edge for its Asia Pacific market strategy.

“We are talking with GE about how to open up new business in China,” Mr O’Driscoll told attendees at Cork Chamber’s Annual Conference in the Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork. “We are already in China. All of the heating and water devices in the five-star Xijiao State Guest House in Shanghai were supplied by Glen Dimplex.

“The idea to collaborate on a home efficiency management system came about when myself and Jim Campbell (GE global president) were talking aboard a flight a few months ago. Now we’ve announced a joint venture.”

The Brillion technology will enable the Glen Dimplex products to receive and respond to utility price signals, sent through the home’s smart meter. The heating products will only turn on when it’s most cost-effective to do so.

GE’s nucleus home energy manager will serve as the communications gateway between the utility meter and the appliances.

The theme of the conference was how Irish companies can gain access to the growing markets in India and China.