Overview of the corporate history

From pioneer and lone fighter to
WATERKOTTE GmbH today
Continuous technological development
WATERKOTTE heat pumps for more
than 40 years

Advancing rapidly to success: In 1972 the Engineer Klemens Oskar Waterkotte started to work, on a self-employed basis, on his idea for a heat-pump heating. Nowadays, the company is the only renowned company which exclusively concentrates on heat-pump heatings.

The manufacturing capabilities had to be expanded again and again and new employees were hired. In 2006, more than 5000 heat-pump compact devices were delivered to customers in most of the European countries.

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1970		Klemens Oskar Waterkotte constructs the first heat-pump heating for a one-family house after he had risen himself to the challenge of inventing a heating system which operates environmentally friendly, and economically at the same time. He implements the first functioning heat-pump heating and the company WATERKOTTE comes into being.

1972		1972 WATERKOTTE (Engineering Office) becomes a specialist in compact heat pumps as well as devices and system solutions for the conditioning of private and public indoor swimming pools. A production contract is awarded.

1976		The company WATERKOTTE GmbH, the production plant for compact heat pumps is established. Technology: The electronic heat-pump regulator was developed.

1980		WATERKOTTE relocates to a newly built factory building (Gewerkenstraße 15 in Herne-Sodingen) with ca. 3000 m² utilizable space of land effective area and introduces micro-computer regulation for all heat pumps.

1981		Consistent expansion of the two-tier sales systems by means of operating as plant manufacturer as well as seller in Switzerland. After an oil glut the market for heat pumps collapses. Klemens Oskar Waterkotte, however, still has faith in his innovation and struggles through a period of hard years.

1986		The crisis has been overcome. The sales activities are expanded to Austria and Alsace. In the technical field, the absorber of geothermal energy with a direct evaporation system for refrigerants is introduced.

1996		The first bus-compatible regulator with self-diagnosis and for remote monitoring capacity via modem is being developed. A heat-pump compact model series in modular design comes into existence.

1997		For the first time, the annual quantity of 1000 heat-pump compact heatings is exceeded.

2000		The sales activities are exanded the Benelux countries.

2001		Development of the heat-pump concept Ai 1(ALL IN ONE), which has the capability of heating, cooling and domestic water heating in the smallest space. The sales activities in France are intensified. The subsidiary TERAMEX GmbH is founded. It is specialised in the production of geothermal sensors.

2004		WATERKOTTE is expanding, growing, and developing technical innovations. New sales partners are found in England and Northern-Ireland. A licensed production at the WATERKOTTE EuroTherm AG in Switzerland is established.

2006		The annual production quantity of heat pumps is increased to 5000.

2007		Building and putting into operation of a new warehouse: Effective area ca. 1,100 m², storage capacity ca. 8.800 m³ 3 loading gates and one access for lift trucks Operation by means of 2 narrow aisles Use of an electronic material-identification system

2009		At the beginning of 2009 the decision was made to take up air-water heat pumps in the delivery program. The first customer shipment took place in June 2009. By the end of 2009, 100 heating systems had already been delivered.

2010		The WATERKOTTE GmbH at present The WATERKOTTE GmbH at present Klemens and Marnya Waterkotte 7 heat-pump series with 110 types of devices Customers in 20 countries 14 sales representatives