The origins of the company stretch back to 1905 with the production of cast-iron radiators from a factory in Hull. It was in the 1920s that the company started producing commercial boilers.
One of the key market drivers for 2005 will be the transition to high-efficiency boilers, as required by new Building Regulations.
John Colling tells us that high-efficiency boilers accounted for over 20% of sales at the end of last year and expects the proportion to increase to 65% by the end of the year.
‘The transition to high-efficiency boilers will have a favourable impact on Ideal,’ he says, stressing that the company will not get caught short by this transition.
As part of this trend, the company will be launching a high-efficiency cast-iron boiler for houses. John Colling explains that of 18 million gas-fired boilers installed in houses in the UK, about 10.5 million are cast iron and that 26% of wall-hung cast-iron boilers are replaced with the same — as the householder’s choice.
As part of a plan to introduce new products in every segment of the industry, there will be significant and substantial additions to the decorative-radiator offering.
Commemorating the centenary itself will be a far-reaching programme of communicating with customers and, in particular, the Connect installer relationship programme, including centenary dinners throughout the UK.
John Colling concludes, ‘In 30 years I have never known the UK heating market to be in such good shape, and it has all the ingredients for a really good market going forward.’
