Copeland Expands Industrial Heat Pump Portfolio

Copeland, a global leader in sustainable climate solutions, today announced its agreement to acquire Sustainable Process Heat (SPH), a Germany-based industrial heat pump technology company. This acquisition is expected to expand Copeland’s industrial heating portfolio, allowing the company to deliver a broader range of key heat pump technologies and solutions to new and existing customers. Copeland’s industrial business operates under the brand name Vilter. SPH will continue to operate independently until closing.

This acquisition reinforces Copeland’s commitment to enabling the energy transition, in this case, through innovative technologies that enable industrial customers to replace fossil-fuel systems with more energy-efficient heating alternatives. SPH brings a strong technology portfolio, including its innovative ThermBooster™ technology, and demonstrated capability in delivering solutions to a broad range of industrial end-markets.

Headquartered in Overath, Germany, SPH helps customers with sustainable, heat-pump-based steam solutions that meet a wide range of temperature, capacity and refrigerant needs. SPH specializes in designing, manufacturing and servicing heat pumps for industrial steam applications for temperatures up to 180 degrees Celsius, with solutions that can utilize a wide range of natural and low global warming potential refrigerants.

This transaction is expected to expand Copeland’s Vilter industrial heating portfolio by serving process segments that demand higher-temperature steam. It will also expand the range of supported refrigerants, enabling optimized performance and efficiency, as well as cost-effective ownership and the potential to reduce emissions for industrial customers, depending on system growth design and operating conditions. Driven by strong end-market growth and technological leadership, forecasts have estimated that the European steam heat pump segment is poised for as much as double-digit growth over the coming years.

“The addition of SPH’s team and its differentiated technologies will enable us to serve a broader range of customers and applications,” says Ross B. Shuster, Copeland’s chief executive officer. “This broader portfolio positions Copeland well to expand our rapidly growing industrial business by helping address the world’s increasing demand for sustainable heating solutions.”

The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. Spirax Group, a leader in steam solutions, currently holds and will continue to maintain a minority share in SPH under Copeland ownership. Through its Steam Thermal Solutions Business, Spirax Group intends to broaden SPH’s existing sales channels by marketing SPH’s heat pump solutions through its direct sales channel.

www.copeland.com