With 118 member companies manufacturing heating systems and components, the Federation of German Heating Industry represents almost 90 % of sales from the heating industries in Germany. This corresponds to about 60 % of the sales generated by the heating industries in Europe. This means that the German heating industry has a technological and commercial leadership position worldwide. The technologies manufactured by the BDH members provide high efficiency when utilised for the different energy sources used in the heating industry including coupling of renewable energies.
In 2024, 118 companies and 2 associated organisations are part of the BDH. Just like the German machinery and plant engineering industry, the German heating industry is medium-sized in structure. However, some of the BDH members are also global market leaders with sales between 2 and 3 billion Euros. In 2024, the BDH member companies employed 90,000 people. The high R&D expenditure demonstrates the innovative capacity of this industry.
The companies organized in the BDH produce heating technology systems and components. The product range includes heating systems with outputs from 4 kW to 36 MW, burners, combustion technology components, radiators, underfloor heating systems, surface cooling systems, systems for the use of renewable energies, ventilation systems, controls and flue gas systems. The BDH member companies offer complete system solutions for the building sector with a focus on heat generation, heat distribution and heat transfer as well as hot water preparation based on gas, oil, electricity and renewable energies.
The BDH member companies are increasingly involved in the networking of all energy-related products in the building. Compared to the classic smart home approaches, the largest energy consumption sector in the building, heating, forms the center of such networks. In contrast to HEMS, Home Energy Management Systems, the energy flows in the building are controlled and optimized. This allows high efficiency advantages to be achieved. Buildings produce part of their final energy needs themselves, with thermal and electrical storage options on top. With the expected increase in e-mobility, the importance of HEMS is increasing. By supplying electric vehicles to a considerable extent with the home's own electricity production, distribution networks can be relieved.