Magazine for heating technology 1 | 2014

Winter Olympics

17 medals for the Viessmann team

markets in eastern eurOpe

great potential for efficient heating technology

VitOValOr 300-p

Market introduction of the fuel cell unit

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contents

32 Viessmann Service Initiative08 Markets 36 Medals for the Viessmann Team

editorial02 Successful business year 2013 –

well prepared for the future

04 guest article Georg Hackl: Reliable partners – the key to success in sports

05 news Markets08 Viessmann warms Olympia10 The Krasnodar region by the

Black Sea12 Economic region Eastern Europe

High-potential heating technology markets

20 Viessmann in Eastern Europe

Products/ coMPany22 Fuel cell unit

Vitovalor 300-P 24 Hybrid compact heat pump

Vitocaldens 222-F25 Air/water heat pump

Vitocal 300-A 26 Oil condensing boilers Vitoladens 300-W and 333-F mini CHP unit Vitobloc 20027 Viessmann and heating system

specialist firms provide joint training program

28 Viessmann at Euroshop in Düsseldorf

29 Deep freeze for food retailers Iconic Refrigeration and freezing cabinets TECTO

30 Carbon-neutral sales office opened in Dresden

31 German sustainability prize for “highest resource efficiency”

32 The Viessmann Service Initiative new Media/sector34 Viessmann on social media

platforms35 German Heat Conference 2014 in Berlin sPort36 17 medals for the Viessmann

Team in Sochi40 Olympic Welcome Party 2014

ViessMann selection44 Selection Summer Catalog 2014

imprint

46th year of publicationPublished: quarterly

PublisherProf. Dr. Martin Viessmann

editorsManfred GreisJörg SchmidtMichael WagnerDoris HofmannAlexander TinterWolfgang RogattyCarsten Lucassen

PhotosMark Adel, besser lackieren, Nr. 3/2014, Bundesindustrieverband DeutschlandHaus-, Energie- und Umwelttechnik e. V., Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena),dpa Picture-Alliance GmbH, Frank Feisel,Fotolia, Manfred Greis, Jens Kaliske, Rolf Kosecki, mauritius images GmbH, „Studio-S“ – Seekamp GmbH, Johanna Uminski

layoutGramm Werbeagentur GmbHAlexander Tinter

lithography and printingBernecker Mediagruppe

editorial addressViessmann Werke GmbH & Co. KGCorporate Communications35107 Allendorf (Eder) GermanyTel. +49 6452 / 702493Fax +49 6452 / 705493E-mail: info-pr@viessmann.de

Title: Olympic flame at the Medal Plaza in Adler

Cover page 2: Saint Basil's Cathedral at the Red Square in the Russian capital Moscow

Cover page 3: Luge Olympic champion Felix Loch

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successful business year 2013 –well prepared for the futureViessmann winter sports team successful at the Olympic Games in Sochi

Sport enthusiasts around the globe can look back on successful Olym-

pic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Sochi 2014 was a very special event for both athletes and visitors. The or-ganization and logistics went perfectly. The hosts were friendly, courteous, and helpful. The facilities were in excellent condition. The weather and atmosphere were good, the scenery magnificent.

Many great olympic momentsThe athletes performed at a high level – with many Olympic moments shaped by joy, triumph, and emotions.

Naturally, I was particularly happy with the good performance of the Viess-mann team. With eight gold, six silver, and three bronze medals, our athletes would have ranked seventh place in the medals table – outperforming traditional winter sports nations such as Switzer-land, Austria, and Sweden. Read more about their success in the article about the 2014 Olympics on pages 36 to 39.

Viessmann technology in the olympic buildingsViessmann was not only represented by Carina Vogt, Felix Loch, and their col-leagues in Sochi – the company's heat generators were installed in many of the buildings in and around the Olympic city, guaranteeing pleasant temperatures combined with a high degree of energy efficiency and low emissions at all times. For instance, Viessmann technology was implemented at the international airport, the new central station for the city of Adler, the mountain Olympic village in Krasnaja Poljana, and in the media

village. The article on pages 8 and 9 de-scribes the facilities in more detail.

a view of russia and eastern europeWhile the Olympic region now benefits from efficient heating technology, the existing building stock in Russia and Eastern Europe is in need of exten-sive modernization. It has considerable untapped potential for energy saving and CO2 reduction. Energy efficiency has never been a priority in Russia – a country with abundant natural resourc-es – and renewable energy systems still play only a very minor role. As part of our magazine series on international markets, this edition of "aktuell" is de-voted to Eastern Europe. From page 12 onwards, we have put together por-traits of selected countries with a par-ticular focus on their heating markets. We will also take a look at the worrying political conflict in Crimea. If Crimea re-mains a permanent trouble spot, it will have a negative impact on the region itself and massive implications for the entire global economy. It is therefore essential that all political powers strive to reach a peaceful solution to the con-flict and to prevent violence.

successful business year 2013Looking at the Viessmann Group’s devel-opment in 2013, we are very content. In spite of a difficult market environment, our business performed very well. The Group's turnover increased by almost 10 percent to 2.1 billion euros. The growth of markets abroad was just over 10 percent and therefore slightly higher than in Germany, where turnover rose by just under 9  percent. In 2013, 55

percent of total turnover was generated abroad. The number of company em-ployees increased by about 7  percent to 11,400 at the end of last year.

investments exceed 100 million eurosWe invested more than 100 million euros in fixed assets, including

� a production site for wall-mounted gas boilers in Manisa, Turkey,� a biogas plant at the company's

headquarters in Allendorf (Eder),� and expansion of the sales infra-

structure.

30 percent increase in turnover for combined heat and power generationSales of combined heat and power generation systems developed very positively. We offer these systems with an electrical output of between 1  kW and 530 kW. Turnover growth was up to 30 percent in 2013.

In the renewable energy domain it was not possible to reverse the negative trend from the previous year, which is caused by market conditions. This affected biogas plants and solar heat-ing systems in particular. However, we were able to increase the sales volume of photovoltaic systems in Germany by 10 percent. Renewable energy sales achieved considerable growth with biomass boilers and heat pumps, with an increase of more than 10  percent in each case. The share of renewable energy systems in the overall turnover was 25 percent.

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Markets develop unevenly: china, usa, austria and switzerland show strong growthThe markets developed unevenly worldwide. Business was especially positive in Germany as well as in China, the USA, Austria, and Switzerland. Fur-thermore, the company succeeded in increasing turnover in the high-volume markets of France – the second largest market for Viessmann after Germa-ny – and Italy. On the other hand, mar-ket development in Eastern and South-eastern Europe was not as dynamic as in the previous year.

Market volume in germany increases by 2.5 percentThe German heating market has grown by 2.5 percent to an overall volume of 13  billion euros. Growth is therefore weaker than in the previous year. How-ever, the German heating market has 20 million heat generators, of which at least 75 percent are in need of modern-

ization. This enormous potential must be exploited if the sustainable energy era desired by politicians is to succeed. This requires an appropriate political framework.

a strong market position with a comprehensive range of productsViessmann is expecting good turnover growth in 2014, in spite of the continu-ing financial crisis in the eurozone and the generally modest forecasts for the global economy. We are confident that we have a strong market position with our comprehensive range of products for all fuel sources and all application areas. The range includes a multitude of promising new products, such as our Vitovalor fuel cell unit, which was pre-sented at the industry's spring shows in Essen and Nuremberg and has been available on the market since April.

Unfortunately, the tax deduction of building refurbishment costs to im-

prove energy efficiency was deleted from the new German government's coalition agreement at the last minute. However, the Federal Ministries of the Environment and Economics are sup-porting the "Sustainable Housing Era" public campaign ("Hauswende"), which is a very positive sign. The Minister of the Environment Barbara Hendricks launched the project, which aims to motivate homeowners to invest in im-proving the energy efficiency of their property (see page 6).

Our marketing campaign entitled "Sustainable Energy Era in Your Home" also focuses on this topic, providing our trade partners with arguments and a complete package of support materials to convince homeowners to modern-ize their heating systems (see industry news item No 34). This year we there-fore have a good prospect of tackling the modernization backlog in existing buildings. Let us all fully exploit this opportunity!

Prof. Dr. Martin Viessmann

"The German heating market still holds immense potential."

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Personal details

Totaling five Olympic medals and 22 world cup medals, Georg "Schorsch" Hackl is the most successful luge racer of all times. In rec-ognition of his outstanding achievements, he was in-ducted into the Hall of Fame by the International Luge Federation in 2012.

When he retired from his active career in 2006, he joined the trainer team of the German Bob and Luge Association (BSD).

The likable Bavarian has been sponsored by Viessmann since 1993 and acts as the company's brand ambassa-dor.

reliable partners – the key to success in sportsby Georg Hackl

Germany's luge racers can look back on perfect Olympic Games.

A total of four competitions were held at the "Sanki" luge track in Krasnaja Poljana, and Germany won the gold medal in all four as well as a silver medal in the ladies race, which went to Tatjana Hüfner. The luge racers there-fore brought home half of Germany's gold medals – an outstanding perfor-mance that will go down in history.

I personally competed at six Winter Olympics and experienced the unique feeling of standing on the podium at the Olympics. That is why I was very happy for our athletes in Sochi.

Many countries are envious of Germany's dominance in luge sports. However, this success was not served up to us on a plate. Germany has four bob and luge tracks – Altenberg, Königssee, Oberhof, and Winterberg – more than any other country. And we have a very effective program for supporting up-and-coming athletes, which enables us

to identify talent early on and then in-dividually foster that talent for specific areas.

Above all, we have reliable partners who value continuity over short-lived success, just like Viessmann. The com-pany has actively sponsored sports since 1993 and has been title sponsor of the luge world cup since 1996. Last year this partnership was extended until 2018. A win-win partnership, be-cause regular audience ratings for TV broadcasts exceeding 20 percent are beneficial for both the sport and the Viessmann Group. Since Viessmann started sponsoring the sport, its brand awareness has risen considerably and its trade partners identify more strongly with the company.

The athletes, officials, and fans of Ger-man luge sport will never forget Sochi. They are all very grateful for the long-term extensive support they have re-ceived and look forward to continuing their cooperation with Viessmann.

The most successful luge racer of all times and member of the trainer team in Sochi was delight-ed that the German team won four gold medals and one silver medal.

guest article/announceMents

The Viessmann plant in Dombóvár, Hungary, and the Group company ESS Energie Systeme & Service GmbH in Landsberg am Lech have been certi-fied according to the DIN ISO 14001 environmental management stan-dard for the first time. At the member companies in Allendorf and the plants of Faulquemont, Mittenwalde, Weso, Legnica, KWT, and Köb, the annual ISO audit was repeated. Over a peri-od of several days, external inspectors verified whether the company was complying with the standard and with the European Union regulations of the Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). Like last year, a dual audit was carried out, certifying the company for both DIN ISO 14001 and the Occupa-tional Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS).

Viessmann has participated in EMAS since 1995 and was one of the first companies in Europe to subject itself to this strict examination. The auditors positively evaluated the speed with which environmental management and occupational safety measures had been implemented in the company. They were also impressed by the high standards of environmental protection and safety.

eMas and ohsas certifications

Two of Viessmann's products were honored with German Design Awards in 2014. Competing against more than 1,900 submissions, the Vitomax 300-LT industrial boiler received the gold award and the Vitosol 300-T vacuum tube collector was honored with a "special mention" by the jury.

The German Design Awards are be-stowed on products and projects that set new benchmarks in design. Their objective is to uncover, showcase, and reward trends. Viessmann also had more than one reason to celebrate at the iF product design awards in 2014: Two products – the Vitomax 300-LT and the Vitosol 300-T vacuum tube collector – also received accolades at this event. Moreover, the competition was even keener than at the German Design Awards: 4,615 submissions battled for the coveted titles.

Prestigious designawards

Environmental surveyor Frank Meckel (back row, 3rd from r.), Dr. Fritz Meckel (back row, 2nd from r.), and Christoph Marc from the German professional association for the wood and metal industries (back row, far right) gave the certificates to the representatives of the Allendorf member companies.

Accolades for their outstanding design: the Vitomax 300-LT industrial boiler (above) and the Vitosol 300-T vacuum tube collector.

Vw eco up! for "Modernizationambassador"

Holger and Andrea Fiederling picked up their VW eco up! at the Viessmann headquarters. The Man-aging Director of Viessmann Deutschland GmbH, Dr. Frank Vossloh, at the back, Dr. Christa Siefert, Head of Marketing Communication, and "Alliance for Sustainability" partner, Benedikt Horber from

"Sturm@Drang", in front.

The Laufach-based company "Wärme and Bad" is the winner of the "Modern-ization Ambassador" competition orga-nized by the Alliance for Sustainability. The company owner Holger Fiederling and his team submitted three innova-tive projects to the building moderniza-tion competition. Together with his wife Andrea, he went to pick up the first prize at the Viessmann headquarters – a natural-gas-powered VW eco up!, which is painted in the green and silver colors of the Alliance for Sustainability and features the "Wärme und Bad" logo on the vehicle's side panels.

One of the projects submitted by the winner was the complete modernization of a single-family home built in 1960, which has now been equipped with a Viessmann heat pump for heating and DHW generation. The electricity-pow-ered heat pump runs on power from an ice storage system with an environmen-tal absorber. A photovoltaic system has also been installed to generate electricity.

"Winning the competition is a great endorsement of our work," said Holger Fiederling. "And when we visit our cus-tomers, we will be able to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability with the VW."

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In Berlin, Federal Minister Barbara Hendricks launched the “Hauswende” (sustainable housing energy campaign), which aims to spread information about modernizing buildings in order to improve their energy efficiency nation-wide and across all sectors. With this initiative, a broad alliance of politicians and business representatives hope to push ahead the sustainable energy era in buildings. The campaign provides homeowners with information about energy-saving modernization and help finding qualified energy experts.

Energy-saving modernization has not yet been set in motion and the tax de-duction of energy-saving modernization measures was deleted from the new German Government's coalition agree-ment at the last minute. As a result, the main players have taken matters into their own hands with the "Sustainable Housing Era" campaign.

Viessmann Photovoltaik GmbH has come to an agreement with Schüco International KG to take over Schüco's photovoltaics business, subject to con-sent from supervisory authorities. The aim of the acquisition is to extend the product portfolio, increase the custom-er base and gain benefit from synergy effects. Viessmann Photovoltaik GmbH wishes to expand its business activi-ties, especially in core European mar-kets such as Germany, Italy, the UK, and the Benelux countries. As a com-pany with deep roots in window and fa-cade technology, Schüco International KG will now focus on its core expertise in this sector.

Viessmann Photovoltaik GmbH will continue to expand the knowledge base developed by Schüco over recent years, particularly its expertise in solar modules and supporting structures. As a subsidiary of an internationally active manufacturer – the Viessmann Group – Viessmann Photovoltaik GmbH will be able to create synergies since it can offer access to Viessmann's compre-hensive range of heating, cooling, and climate control products.

Trade professionals can thus not only acquire Viessmann heat pumps and matching storage systems, but also complete photovoltaic system tech-nology – from modules and inverters through to supporting structures. Heat pump controllers are already designed in such a way that they optimize usage of electricity generated in a PV system, thus reducing the volume of expensive electricity acquired from the public grid.

the beginning of the "hauswende"

schüco photovoltaics business transferred to Viessmann

Partners of the "Sustainable Housing Era" campaign (from l. to r.): Andreas Lücke (Managing Director of the BDH), Manfred Greis (President of the BDH), Dr. Barbara Hendricks (Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building, and Nuclear Safety), Stephan Kohler (Spokesman for the German Alliance for Energy Efficiency of Buildings [geea] and Chairman of the Management of the German Energy Agency), Marianne Tritz (Managing Director of the General Association for the Insulating Materials Industry, GDI), Ulrich Tschorn (Managing Director of the Window and Facade Association, VFF) (photo: dena/P. Becerra).

acquisition of Msr

At the turn of the year, Viessmann ac-quired a 100 percent stake in MSR Solutions, a company headquartered in Wangen, Bavaria. The company, which was founded in 2001, has a staff of ap-proximately 50 employees who work on developing and marketing electronics products for measurement and control. Among these products is a radio-based home automation system. Viessmann's investment extends the company's com-petence in the sector of home automa-

The campaign focuses on the two main areas that require modernization – the building envelope and the system tech-nology. It was initiated by the German Alliance for Energy Efficiency of Build-ings (geea) and sponsored by the Ger-man Federal Ministry of Economics (BMWi), the German Federal Ministry of Construction (BMUB), relevant in-dustry associations, and numerous companies. The German working group for environmentally friendly manage-ment (B.A.U.M.) is responsible for im-plementing the campaign for the sys-tem technology area. The Government has contributed 1.3 million euros to the project. The campaign is being man-aged by the German Energy Agency (dena).

"In Germany, almost two-thirds of the circa 15 million single- and two-fam-ily homes were built at a time when there were no requirements regarding thermal insulation. The sustainable en-ergy era will only be successful if we manage to modernize these buildings to improve their energy efficiency and meet heat requirements through re-newable energy," emphasized the Ger-man Minister for Construction Barbara Hendricks at the launch event. "Ener-gy-saving modernization is a good in-vestment in the future for everybody," added Hendricks.

tion of single- and two-family homes, large residential buildings, and commer-cial properties.

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news

A modern fully automatic powder coat-ing system has commenced operation at Viessmann Kältetechnik GmbH in Hof, Germany. Since January, the system has been powder-coating objects with up to three layers. All of the external and inter-nal cladding components and small parts for cold rooms and refrigerated display cases manufactured by the company beo by Aichinger are powder-coated here.

The new system has closed circuits, which ensure low-dust operation, as well as an automated cleaning program, and an integrated ultrasound sieving technol-ogy. This cuts the consumption of com-pressed air and powder. In addition, the automatic powder management system facilitates handling and the rapid color change functionality saves time.

The recovery system has a separation efficiency of at least 95 percent, en-abling it to also save a lot of powder and minimize powder waste. The filter sys-tems are equipped with frequency con-verters to throttle down the motor when no or only a reduced suction capacity is required. This significantly reduces ener-gy requirements.

kältetechnik gmbh: new powder- coating system

Since January, all external and internal cladding components and small parts for cold rooms and refrigerated display cases manufactured by the company beo by Aichinger have been pow-der-coated in the new booth.

Viessmann apprentices: outstanding examination results

final meeting of the "sochi 2014" working group

Millions of visitors and viewers across the world were delighted with the So-chi Olympic Winter Games. This is also thanks to German companies, which contributed their know-how and tech-nologies to help successfully imple-ment projects in and around the Olym-pic city. In order to share experiences and provide mutual support, the com-panies involved in Sochi and the Ger-man Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations (Ost-Ausschuss der Deutschen Wirtschaft) set up the "Sochi 2014" working group. This body met for the last time parallel to the Win-ter Games at the Adler Olympic park. The Managing Director of the German Committee on Eastern European Eco-nomic Relations, Prof. Dr. Rainer Lind-ner, and President of the BDH, Manfred Greis, both attended the event.

The Managing Director of the German Commit-tee on Eastern European Economic Relations (Ost-Ausschuss der Deutschen Wirtschaft), Prof. Dr. Rainer Lindner (2nd from l.), and President of the BDH, Manfred Greis (3rd from l.), attended the final meeting of the "Sochi 2014" working group. They discussed future projects with Oleg Kuzmenko (left), Head of the External Relations Department at the Krasnodar Regional Chamber of Industry of Commerce, and the Head of the Di-rectorate for External Relations Egor Robski (right).

In keeping with tradition, the Viessmann apprentices passed their final examina-tions with significantly above-average results. Indeed, on April 1st, eight ap-prentices were congratulated by the

In front of the heating plant of Wettesingen bioen-ergy village (from left): Dieter Hösl (Chairman of the Board of the Wettesingen Energy Coopera-tive), Ulrich Flörke (Member of the Board), Fritz Rappe (Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Wettesingen Energy Cooperative), and Erhard Schmale (Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Wettesingen Energy Cooperative)

wettesingen: heating plant completed

Wettesingen, a district of Breuna in the Federal State of Hesse, is in the process of becoming one of the larg-est bioenergy villages in Germany. The centerpiece of the project – its heating plant – was completed in February. Three cascaded Köb biomass boilers with outputs of 390, 530, and 720 kW have been installed here as well as a Viessmann plant control system, which regulates the entire system and gen-erates the heating cost invoices for the individual households. Before the system can start operating, which will probably be in September, the remain-ing four kilometers of the ten-kilometer heating grid and 140 more heat transfer stations have to be installed.

Kassel-Marburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry for achieving the top grade. More than 36 percent of our apprentices received the top grade, while the average for the district as a whole was six percent.

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Viessmann warms olympiaSeven major projects equipped with efficient installation engineering

The sports world is looking back on an eventful Winter Olympic Games

in Sochi, action-packed with thrilling competitions and exceptional athletic performances (also see the article on Sochi 2014 on pages 36 to 39). The fact that sports competitors were in such good form was also surely due to the welcoming atmosphere and comfort-able accommodations in the Olympic village. Thanks to Viessmann heating technology, pleasant temperatures were assured in the village at all times – 13 Vitomax industrial boilers and 300 solar collectors are used in a total of seven buildings.

sochi international airportThe first impression must always be positive. True to this maxim, arriving athletes and visitor were greeted by the sight of a substantially upgraded air-port in Adler, 30 kilometers from Sochi. 180 solar collectors provide 85 percent of the hot water supply in summer and 25 percent in winter. The new system has also managed to reduce heating costs by 30 percent per year. adler main stationBuilt as part of modification project, the airport railroad station is linked to Adler main station three kilometers

away, which has also been fully rebuilt. Viessmann solar heating also provides efficient energy utilization for the sta-tion, where 120 collectors have been installed. olympic mountain village and media villageLocated at 600 meters above sea lev-el, some 40 kilometers from Adler, the mountain village of Krasnaya Polyana served as the venue for bob sleigh, luge, and skeleton races. Three indus-trial boilers with an output of 3.5 MW each provide heat in this Olympic village in the mountains. Viessmann technology is also featured in the heat-ing center in the media village, where three Vitomax boilers with an output of 10 MW each were installed.

180 solar collectors provide hot water supply at the international airport in Sochi.

The main station in Adler features impressive architecture, where 120 solar collectors have been installed.

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Three 20 MW Vitomax industrial boilers supply heat in the Gorki-Gorod hotel and apartment complex.

With the Hyatt, the city of Sochi has acquired a new luxury hotel, where two 2.9 MW Vitomax boilers are installed.

The fact that sports competitors felt at ease in the Olympic village was also surely due to the cozy warmth provided by the three Vitomax industrial boilers with an output of 3.5 MW each.

“gorki-gorod” hotel and apartment complexThe “Gorki-Gorod” hotel and apartment complex was constructed to accommo-date Winter Olympic Games officials and visitors. The rooms and apartments offer optimum comfort and a scenic view over the mountain landscape. “Gorki-Gorod” is heated by three 20 MW Vitomax boilers. hotel “hyatt”The “Hyatt”, a luxury hotel, was con-structed in Sochi on the Black Sea

coast during the run-up to the games. The planners opted for Viessmann tech-nology to supply heat and installed two 2.9 MW Vitomax boilers. “cotton way” industrial laundryDue to the major influx of visitors for the 2014 Olympic Games, hotels had a considerable need for clean laundry, so the “Cotton Way” industrial laundry was constructed in Adler. Two Vitomax boilers ensure an output of 2.5 tonnes of steam each per hour to meet the substantial requirements.

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On their way to the Olympic mountain village: the three Vitomax industrial boilers.

10 the krasnodar region by the Black seaPalm trees, beaches, and snow-covered peaks

T he 22nd Olympic Winter Games in Sochi provided television view-

ers with first-class sporting action and breathtaking panoramas of the Cauca-sus Mountains. The Krasnodar region, also known as Krasnodar Krai or Kuban, is located on the Sea of Azov and on the Black Sea. It forms the southwestern-most tip of Russia and is famed as the Russian Riviera and as the country's granary. Palm trees grow on the coast of the Black Sea where a subtropical climate prevails. However, travel just 40 kilometers away and you will find yourself surrounded by impressive mountain scenery with countless peaks rising above three thousand meters. In addition to Sochi, there are three

other large cities in the region: the city of Krasnodar, the capital and adminis-trative center of the region (750,000 inhabitants), Novorossiysk, the most important Russian port on the Black Sea (240,000 inhabitants), and Armavir, located on the left bank of the Kuban River (190,000 inhabitants). first cities established in classical antiquityAttracted by its favorable location and climate, people had settled in Krasnodar very early on in history. Today, the ruins near Anapa still bear witness to the cit-ies and colonies that the ancient Greeks once founded there. The Huns, Khazars, Pechenegs, Cumans, and Tatars also

settled here for a while, followed later by Italian merchants and Turks. After a series of wars between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, the region came under Russian rule in the 18th century. It was the scene of many battles right through to the Russian Civil War (1917-1923). economy profits from tourism and fertile soilToday, Krasnodar is the second most densely populated region in Russia, with 5.3 million inhabitants living in an area of 75,000 square kilometers. Almost all ethnic groups, cultures, and religions of the country are represent-ed here. An ethno-cultural particularity

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also boasts many natural resources. Crude oil, natural gas, mercury ores, common salt, gypsum, and limestone are produced here. Key branches of the economy are agriculture, construction, food production, mechanical engineer-ing, metal processing and, of course, tourism, with numerous spa resorts by the Black Sea tempting those seeking

Stunning contrasts: While palm trees grow in front of the Olympic buildings in Adler, the distant view is dominated by snowy mountains.

The city of Novorossiysk boasts the biggest of eight international ports in the Krasnodar region.

of the region is the Cossack settlement area, accounting for around one fifth of the total population in the northern part of the region. After Moscow, the Krasnodar Region is considered the most attractive place to live in Rus-sia and harbors a high level of eco - nomic potential. Not only does it ben-efit from the climate and fertile soil, it

rest and relaxation. In the south of the region, the climatic conditions make it possible to grow tea, tobacco, citrus fruit, and wine. eight ports, three airportsThe Krasnodar Region has eight interna-tional ports, including Russia's largest port, which is located in Novorossiysk. Over 40 percent of all foreign trade prod-ucts are transshipped here, while the ports of Sochi, Anapa, and Gelendzhik primarily serve the purposes of passen-ger transport and tourism. The Krasno-dar Region is also the railway center for the south of Russia. Three large inter-national airports (Krasnodar City, Adler/Sochi, and Anapa) handle both domestic and international passenger transport and airfreight.

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A country on the up-and-up: The Moscow skyline that can be seen as a symbol of Russia's prospering development.

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economic region eastern europeHigh-potential heating technology markets

In February, all eyes in the world were focused on the region surrounding the Russian city of Sochi. The 22nd Olympic Winter

Games attracted many thousands of people to watch the compe-titions live on location, while billions held their breath in front of their televisions as each of the 98 decisions were made (see also the article on pages 36 to 39). For people in Western Europe, Rus-sia and Eastern Europe are less known as a paradise for sport and tourism, but rather as a rising economic region with an abundance of natural resources. At the present time, the world is following the conflict between Russia and Ukraine regarding the Crimean peninsula with great concern. The political solving of this conflict is essential for the continued positive development of the eco-nomic region. In this edition of "aktuell", we provide an overview of the most important Eastern European countries.

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The Red Square with the Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow is Russia's biggest tourist magnet and has been photographed millions of times.

largest country on the planet, low population densityRussia, the largest country on the plan-et, can lay claim to a host of superla-tives. 143 million inhabitants live here in area covering 17 million square kilo-meters, equating to a population densi-ty of eight people per square kilometer. In comparison, in Germany this figure is 226.

40 percent of the land in Russia con-sists of mountains. The biggest are the Altai, Baikal, and Caucasus mountain ranges. This is where the highest point in the country is located: the West Peak of Mount Elbrus, measuring a height of 5,642 meters. Encompassing 120,000

rivers and almost two million lakes, the country is rich in water. Lake Baikal is home to the world's largest fresh water reservoir.

In Russia, there are eleven cities with a population of more than one million inhabitants. The capital of Moscow is by far the biggest city with 10.5 million inhabitants, followed by St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk.

Biggest energy producerThe giant country is one of the biggest energy producers on the planet, holding a quarter of the world's gas reserves, over five percent of the world's oil re-serves and the world's second largest

coal reserves. Further mineral resourc-es ranging from hard coal to iron ore, gold, and diamonds are produced in the Ural region and Siberia. Russia is a developed industrial and ag-ricultural country. The leading branches of industry are mechanical engineering and ferrous and non-ferrous metal pro-cessing. The chemical and petrochemi-cal industries are also well established, as are the timber, light manufacturing, and food industries. While state com-panies continue to play a dominant role in strategic areas, the service sector is notably more geared toward a market economy.

Retail and services account for almost 60 percent of the gross domestic prod-uct, followed by the processing indus-try, mining, transport, construction, electricity, gas and water supply, agri-culture, forestry, and the fishing indus-try.

gas still advancing as an energy sourceUntil the millennium, the demand for efficient heating technology was very low in Russia. Despite the well devel-

The current heating systems in Russia are very antiquated and there is a great need for modernization – view of a satellite city on the edge of Moscow.

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Markets

oped district heating network, this has since changed significantly. The market for boilers has also continually grown, which is also a result of the expansion of the gas pipelines by the state-run Gazprom Group. Around a million heat generators are sold every year. Almost half of the heat demand is still covered by district heating, but close to 40 per-cent is already covered by gas.

The boom in new heating system in-stallations resulting from the flourishing new build business has now reached a state of market saturation. On the other hand, currently installed systems are primarily comprised of antiquated, floor-standing gas boilers, and there is a major need for modernization.

As in Western Europe, floor-standing gas boilers in Russia are often replaced by wall-mounted units.

At the present time it is mainly non- condensing boilers that are being in-stalled, although condensing technolo-gy is occasionally used.

ukraine is eastern europe's granaryWith a population of almost 46 million and covering an area of 600,000 square kilometers, Ukraine is Russia's neigh-boring country and also borders with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Belarus, the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov. Kiev, the country's capital, has close to three million inhab-itants. Ukraine's population density is 78 inhabitants per square kilometer.

The north of Ukraine is rich in marsh-land, lakes, and rivers, while the east is more industrial. Since as far back as the mid 19th century, the country has been a popular tourist destination.

Ukraine has large quantities of mineral resources and its soil is very fertile. Re-nowned as a granary, it is mainly wheat that is cultivated in Ukraine. In the southern area of the Donets Basin, the

The Port of Odessa is the largest in Ukraine. Apart from serving as a freight hub, it is also used by around four million passengers every year.

With a population of nearly three million, the Ukrainian capital Kiev is the focus of the coun-try's social and cultural life. The Kiev Pechersk Lavra (Kiev Cave Monastery) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

16

The Viessmann plant in Legnica, Poland, manufac-tures heating circuit junctions, boiler subframes, mixers, electronic components, and control components.

coal reserves form the center of a min-ing region for the iron industry. Coal, iron ore, and metallurgical products are major export commodities.

economic development uncertainAlthough the share of district heating in Ukraine is significantly lower than in its neighboring country of Russia, accounting for just under 17 percent of the Ukrainian heating market, the district heating network is very well de-veloped in the cities. Here, gas is the dominant energy source, in contrast to the situation in rural areas. In cities, systems are being increasingly sev-

ered from the district heating network. However, it is domestic manufacturers who are profiting heavily from the resulting boiler business with technical-ly simple and very low-price products.

Due to the Crimean crisis, at the pres-ent time it is entirely uncertain how the economic and political situation will de-velop in Ukraine.

solid economic growth in PolandGermany's neighboring country of Po-land can look back on a highly dynamic economic development since the fall of the Iron Curtain. Especially in the last few years, foreign trade has substan-tially increased with regard to both im-ports and exports, and the country can report solid growth.

Every year, 1.5 million tourists visit the historical Hanseatic city of Gdańsk.

17

Markets

Poland is a parliamentary republic with 38.5 million inhabitants and a popu-lation density of 123 inhabitants per square kilometer. The Carpathians, the Sudetes, and the Świętokrzyskie Mountains stretch across the country, which is the sixth largest in the Euro-pean Union with an area covering some 310,000 square kilometers. The capital and also the largest city in the country is Warsaw with approximately 1.7 mil-lion inhabitants. Lignite, hard coal, cop-per, silver, and natural gas are some of Poland's natural treasures.

Positive development of the heating marketAlthough Poland was one of the first heating technology markets to boom after the fall of the Iron Curtain, the mar-ket for heat generators is relatively small compared to the size of the country. The reasons for this lie in the well de-veloped district heating network, which accounts for almost 23 percent of the total heating market, and the continuing high share of coal at 30 percent.

Nevertheless, the demand for heat generators is developing positively, both for new builds and modernization. In the case of renewable energy sys-

tems, it is especially heat pumps that are enjoying a high level of popularity. Forecasts predict that micro CHP units will also become an established part of the market. While domestic companies are the clear market leaders for solid fu-el boilers, foreign manufacturers dom-inate the gas and oil boiler market as well as the renewable energy system segment.

two young european Member statesOn December 31, 1992 the parliament of Czechoslovakia decided to dissolve the country and separated it into two new countries: the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. The Czech Republic encompasses the three historical countries of Bohemia, Moravia, and Czech-Silesia. Its cap-ital is Prague, which has a population of approx. 1.25 million. The country covers an area of almost 80,000 square kilometers and has a population of 10.5 million, equating to a population

density of 133 inhabitants per square kilometer.

A large part of the industry in the Czech Republic is accounted for by the pro-duction of modern industrial plants, in-dustrial complexes, and the automotive industry. The Skoda factories are among the largest businesses in the country and form a major part of Czech exports. Other key areas are metallurgy and the machine, food, and timber industries. Crops cultivated by farmers include wheat, corn, and barley. The production of hops is especially important as it pro-vides the basis for the legendary Czech brewing culture. Coal, lignite, kaolin, clay, graphite, limestone, quartz sand, and uranium number among the Czech Republic's mineral resources.

Moderate economic growthin slovakiaWith 5.4 million inhabitants and an area covering almost 50,000 square kilome-ters, the Slovak Republic, or Slovakia, is significantly smaller than its neighbor, the Czech Republic. Slovakia has a pop-ulation density of 110 inhabitants per square kilometer. The capital and also

The Czech Republic – pictured here with a view of the Charles Bridge in Prague – is a modern industrial country that specializes in the production of modern industrial plants and the automotive industry.

18

Russia is one of the biggest energy producers in the world and has vast amounts of fossil resourc-es – view of an oil field in Siberia.

the country's largest city is Bratislava with 413,000 inhabitants. Around 40 percent of Slovakia is covered with for-ests and almost the entire country is part of the Danube river system.

An EU Member State since 2004, Slovakia has small quantities of ores, salt, mercury, and a few other mineral resources, enabling it to enjoy a moderate level of economic growth despite the continuing economic cri-sis. Germany, its main trade partner, plays a key role in Slovakia with around 400 large and medium-sized investors.

Modernization compensates for decline in new buildsAs a result of state subsidy programs, the gas boiler market in the Czech Republic experienced a major up-swing in the 1990s and has since sta-bilized at a very high level. Although

a decline in the new build sector can be observed, this is compensated by the growth in modernization. Gas is the dominant energy source, account-ing for 34 percent of the market. Condensing technology is currently developing as the industry standard. Non-condensing units are hardly sold at all anymore. In the Czech Republic,

too, district heating plays an important role, accounting for almost 19 percent of the market. The grid is currently undergoing modernization, but is not being expanded.

Accounting for 18 percent of the mar-ket, the share of renewable energy – biomass boilers being particularly pop-

For Slovakia (pictured here is the capital of Bratislava), Germany is its most important trade partner.

19

Markets

ular – is very high compared with other Eastern European countries. A new law on air pollution is set to further influ-ence the situation.

The market development in Slovakia is essentially comparable to that of neigh-boring Czech Republic, however, gas is far more important as an energy source and the role played by renewables is currently negligible.

agricultural land rich in mineral resourcesConsidering countries with rising econ-omies in Eastern Europe, Romania is not to be overlooked. 20 million in-habitants live in this country which covers 240,000 square kilometers. Its landscape is diverse, as Romania is lo-cated on the Black Sea and stretches to the west via the Carpathian arc to the Pannonian lowlands.

The southern Carpathians in Romania offer fantastic vistas.

The country is rich in mineral resources such as crude oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore, gold, silver, and uranium. Around a third of the national workforce is em-ployed in the agricultural sector. The main cultivated products are corn, grain, sugar beets, wine, and sunflowers. Industry is also to be found here, primarily in the areas of mechanical engineering, petro-chemicals, metallurgy, chemicals, textile manufacturing, and food processing.

high percentage of district heatingAs in all heating technology markets in the former Eastern bloc, the Romanian market has only taken shape since the early 1990s. Prior to this, large commu-nal systems existed almost exclusively and the district heating network was the method of supply. Accounting for almost 15 percent, district heating is still relatively important, while gas rep-resents almost 27 percent.

20

Viessmann in eastern europeEfficient and environmentally friendly heating technology for the former Eastern bloc countries

T he fall of the Iron Curtain almost 25 years ago changed the face of

post-war Europe more than any other development in recent history. How-ever, soon after the opening of the borders, it was clear that although the citizens of Eastern European countries were now able to enjoy their new free-dom, they faced major problems and challenges.

The huge amount of pollution was especially causing problems for the people and a framework urgently need-ed to be created in order to improve the air quality. Viessmann quickly ex-

panded its business toward the east, playing a key role in setting up the necessary structures for establishing efficient and environmentally friendly heating technology in the region.

Beginning of eastern european activities in PolandGermany's neighbor was the first coun-try in which Viessmann became active. The demand for high quality, efficient heat generators was huge at the be-ginning of the 1990s, and it soon de-veloped into a flourishing business. In 2000, Viessmann invested 50 million euros to build a 6,000 square meter

plant in Legnica for the production of heating circuit controllers, boiler sub-frames, mixers, electronic parts, and control components.

close to customers everywhereToday, the largest Viessmann sales structure is located in Russia – hardly surprising, as this giant country harbors enormous potential for efficient heating technology. The company is also repre-sented in Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Romania with national headquarters as well as warehouses and sales offices, ensuring that Viessmann is always close to the customer.

Viessmann's approach of being close to market partners is also practiced in Eastern European countries – pictured here is the sales office in Bratislava, Slovakia.

21

Markets

Locations of the headquarters of the national companies presented in this edition of "aktuell".

Population (million) 143.6 45.7 38.5 10.5 5.4 20.1

GDP per capita (USD) 12,993 3,621 13,540 20,444 17,644 8,863

Economic growth (%) 4.3 5.2 4.4 1.7 3.3 2.5

Unemployment rate (%) 6.5 8.2 9.6 6.7 13.4 7.2

Statistical data Russia Ukraine Poland Slovakia RomaniaCzechRepublic

overview of key economic data

Russia

Ukraine

Moscow

Brasov

Prague

Bratislava

Wroclaw

Romania

Poland

Czech Republic Slovakia

Kiev

Interview with Artur Ulrich, Head of Sales Region East, on the Eastern European heating technology market

Question: What is so special and fas-cinating about the Eastern European markets for you personally?

artur ulrich: The markets in Eastern Europe are very different, and that's what makes them so interesting. While in Russia, for example, issues relating to the energy supply are seen in a very relaxed way due to their huge reserves of gas and oil, in Poland as an EU coun-try the focus is increasingly shifting toward renewable energy. This is even more so the case in the Baltic states of Lithuania and Latvia.

The people are also just as different as the market, which means you have to approach each market partner in a very individual way.

Question: What are the customers like there?

artur ulrich: The customers are just as demanding as those in Western Europe. This means our customer advisors have to prove their techni-cal and sales abilities every day of the week. The emotional level is much more important than in Western Europe. Contact between people is characterized by mutual trust, and in most cases it is not only limited to the business level but extends into people's private life.

Question: What do you need to pay attention to when dealing with Eastern European customers?

artur ulrich: Great importance is at-tached to personal relationships. There-fore, inspiring a sense of affinity and gaining the customer's trust is at least as important as highlighting your prod-uct advantages. Actively communicat-ing the Viessmann brand values helps us very much with this.

Question: What will influence the future development of the markets there?

artur ulrich: Primarily rising custom-er standards – especially with regard to quality and services. Brand aware-ness will also grow in importance. In the east, strong brands are seen as a status symbol, and also as an assurance of quality. One problem will be the lack of skilled workers in the trade, just like in Germany. Good train-ing is therefore seen as very important here.

artur ulrich (53), Viessmann Head of Sales Region East, is an established expert in the re-gion's markets.

In a short "aktuell" interview, Ulrich, who is originally from Poland, talks about his ex- periences in Russia and Eastern Europe.

2

The fuel cell unit Vitovalor 300-P produces electricity and heat very efficiently. Owners benefit from savings in their energy costs.

Products

2323

innovative technology to generate heat and power: Vitovalor 300-PFuel cell unit available for delivery since April 2014

Viessmann is the first manufacturer to launch a mass- produced fuel cell unit onto the European market.

Vitovalor 300-P has provided this highly efficient technology for use in single- and two-family homes since April.

Jointly developed with the Panasonic Corporation and fired by natural gas, the fuel cell has already been installed by the joint venture partner in over 34,000 locations in Japan over the last six years, and it has proven a great success. Viessmann has integrated the fuel cell into a compact, complete system with a peak-load gas condensing boiler, buffer and DHW cylinders, and system controls in line with market requirements.

free electricityOwners of this fuel cell unit will benefit from savings in en-ergy costs, since electricity from heat generation is free of charge. Up to 15 kWh are generated during the course of a day, enough to cover most household power requirements. This reduces the need to purchase expensive power from the public grid and lessens dependence on future increases in electricity prices.

The 1.3  kWh of heat generated per 1  kWh of electricity is used for heating and DHW generation. An efficient Vitodens gas condensing boiler which switches on automatically, if necessary, is integrated for use on particularly cold days and for instant DHW generation.

installation as for compact gas condensing boilersThe new micro CHP system consists of two units – the fuel cell module and peak load module – which can be transport-ed separately and require floor space of just 0.65  m2. Like a gas-fired boiler, the whole system requires just one gas connection and one exhaust gas outlet. The fully integrated hydraulics and the integrated buffer and DHW cylinders ensures that the fuel cell unit is just as easy to install as a Viessmann compact gas condensing boiler. The fuel cell's natural gas desulfurization system is maintenance-free.

advantages for trade partners� Easy installation and fast mounting thanks to integrated

hydraulics and buffer and DHW cylinders�Only one exhaust system is required� Efficient operation at peak load thanks to integrated gas

condensing boiler� Simple to transport in two parts, footprint of just 0.65 m2 � Accessories from the wall-mounted gas boiler range can

be used for hydraulic and exhaust gas supply air

advantages for owners� High-efficiency, environmentally friendly technology and

reduced CO2 emissions� Substantial savings in annual energy costs and not subject

to increases in electricity prices� Integrated electricity, gas and heat meters (calculation of

public electricity subsidy, energy tax reimbursement)� Remote operation and access to the current power

generation data and maintenance information available on smartphone or tablet� Reliable, time-tested technology – the PEM fuel cell has

been used in Japan for six years and installed in over 34,000 locations

technical specifications�Electrical output up to 750 W �Thermal output (fuel cell module) 1 kW �Electrical efficiency 37 percent (Hi)�Overall efficiency 90 percent (Hi)�Thermal output (peak load boiler) 5.5 to 19 kW �Standard utilization rate 98 percent (Hs)

Heating with electricity and free ambient heat or with natural

gas – the compact heat pump Vito-caldens 222-F uses the most favor-able fuel source according to require-ments, thus saving on operating costs. When temperatures are low or there is demand for heat at short notice, it uses gas.

The compact heat pump comprises an air/water heat pump in a split design and a high-efficiency gas condensing boiler, which is encased in the inter-nal unit along with a 130-liter drinking water primary cylinder. With a maxi-mum output of 19 kilowatts, the unit is particularly suitable for modernization projects.

Vitocaldens 222-FCompact unit: heat pump and condensing boiler

Up to 80 percent of annual heat output from ambient heatWith flow temperatures of up to 55 °C, the heat pump module normally covers the baseload. This means that the heat pump provides up to 80 percent of the annual heat output.

The owner determines the proportion of heating which is provided through gas. As a general rule, the energy manager determines which of the two heat gen-erators takes precedence and switches them on according to need based on the “Economy, Ecology or Comfort” cri-teria and the gas and electricity prices entered. The gas condensing boiler is thus switched on directly to heat water quickly in comfort operating mode.

Use own photovoltaic powerThe compact heat pump is suitable for use of self-generated electricity from photovoltaic systems.

Advantages for trade partners� Compact, installation-friendly

internal unit with electric and hydraulic systems preinstalled� External unit connected via refriger-

ant piping. No risk of freezing. Simple, space-saving pipe installation�Renowned, time-tested technology � Existing maintenance contracts can

be continued

Advantages for owners� High level of operational reliability

thanks to two integrated heat generators� Low operating costs thanks to

optimum use of heat pump and gas condensing boiler�Outstanding DHW convenience�Compact dimensions�Flexible, future-proof solution� Suitable for use of self-generated

electricity from photovoltaics and smart grid�Integrated, high-efficiency pump� 10-year warranty against leaks due

to corrosion for the inox radial heat exchanger

Technical specifications� Heat pump module output 1.0 to

7.7 kW, gas condensing boiler 3.2 to 19 kW� COP up to 5.1 (air 7 °C/water 35 °C,

as per EN 14511)� Standard utilization rate up to 98

percent (Hs)

24

Vitocaldens 222-F uses the most favorable fuel source according to the requirements, thus saving on operating costs to provide heating from electricity and ambient heat or natural gas.

Products

Vitocal 300-aEfficient heating using heat from air

25

The new Vitocal  300-A comprises an exceptionally efficient air/water

heat pump, which impresses thanks to its modern design. With a flow tempera-ture of up to 65 °C, this unit offers the best possible hot water convenience and is suitable for modernization proj-ects. It also features reverse operation and can be used in conjunction with convectors or surface cooling systems to reduce the temperature indoors on hot summer days.

efficient during both partial and full load operationA DC fan, modulating scroll compressor with steam injection and electronic bi-flow expansion valve in the cooling cir-cuit ensure high efficiency during both partial and full load operation. The heat pump reaches COP levels of up to 5.0, thus providing optimum seasonal per-formance factors. Operating costs re-main low and heating economical even if outside air temperatures drop.

Quietest heat pump in its classDesigned for installation outdoors, this device is encased in a cylindrical hous-ing. The cylinder shape allows the unit to feature large, radial suction and ex-haust openings and an air duct around the mechanical components in the unit. Together with the centrally positioned, speed-regulated axial fan, these ensure that the unit is unrivaled when it comes to low noise emissions. With a sound power level of less than 54 dB(A), the heat pump is significantly quieter than comparable products. The fan speed can also be reduced during the night.

fast and easy to installAll key components are enclosed in the housing. Offered as accessories, the hydraulic connection sets make instal-

lation simpler, allowing the unit to be easily fitted in next to no time.

advantages for trade partners� Simple, fast installation thanks to

monoblock technology and new hydraulic connection element� No cooling technology expertise

required for installation� Extensive diagnosis options and

service support thanks to the new heat pump controller Vitotronic 200, type WO1C

advantages for owners�Low operating costs�Modern design�Low operating noise

�Outstanding DHW convenience� Suitable for use of self-generated

electricity from photovoltaic systems� Optimum user convenience thanks

to remote control or Vitotrol app (optional)

technical specifications�Rated heat output 7 to 8.5 kW�Rated cooling output up to 8.5 kW � COP as per EN 14511:

5.0 (air 7 °C/ water 35 °C) 3.9 (air 2 °C/ water 35 °C)

The air/water heat pump Vitocal 300-G impresses thanks to its high efficiency and exceptionally quiet operation.

Vitoladens 300-w and 333-fCompact oil condensing boiler

Vitobloc 200Mini CHP unit featuring 6 and 8.5 kWel

26

T he oil condensing boilers Vitoladens 300-W and 333-F are now available

with a modulating blue flame burner. This provides precise adjustment to the cur-rent heat demand, thus ensuring low CO2 emissions and economical usage of oil.

With its output-regulated oil heating, it only needs a third of the electricity used by burners with air preheating. Its robust design with few moving parts ensures a long lifespan. Users can conveniently adjust the burner setting and check on the controls.

advantages for trade partners� Burner setting and check on the

controls� Durable standard components� Robust thanks to few moving parts

and familiar standard components

Vitobloc  200  EM-6/15 and EM-9/20 are two new mini combined

heat and power generation units. Their condensing technology ensures high efficiency while smooth-running, three-cylinder motors ensure low noise emission. With maintenance intervals of 6,000 hours, these units can be operated for a whole year without any maintenance. The network operators' strict connection conditions (German technical connection conditions, TAB) can be easily met thanks to the use of a synchronous generator and a variable idle power setting on the controls.

Suitable for emergency power opera-tion, these units modulate between 50 and 100 percent output capacity and can be operated in electricity-controlled or heat-controlled mode.

� Ideal for installation in confined spaces� Easy to fit thanks to low weight� Simple automatic flow balancing with

Vitoflow

advantages for owners�Low fuel consumption� Precise adjustment to heat demand� Low noi se � 10-year warranty against leaks due

to corrosion� Optional operation with wireless

remote control or Vitotrol app

technical specifications�Output 10.3 to 23.5 kW�Modulation range 1:2.3�Standard utilization rate 98 per-cent (Hs)

advantages for trade partners�Turnkey compact module� Meets strict connection conditions

(German technical connection con-ditions) thanks to variable idle power setting� VDE-tested� Easy hydraulic integration

advantages for owners� High overall efficiency� Operated with natural or liquid gas �6,000-hour maintenance interval � Low noise emission, exhaust gas

sound absorber (optional) for noise level ≤ 39 dB(A) � Suitable for emergency power

operation

technical specifications�EM-6/15: 6.0 kWel, 15.0 kWth

�EM-9/20: 8.5 kWel, 20.0 kWth

�Overall efficiency up to 94.6 percent

The quietest, most compact oil condensing boilers on the market are now available with a modulating blue flame burner.

Mini CHP unit Vitobloc 200 for electrical output up to 8.5 kW

Products/coMPany

27

Viessmann and heating system specialist firms provide joint training programFirst sanitation, heating and air conditioning system technicians complete their exams

Trainee sanitation, heating and air-conditioning system technicians acquire their knowledge in both an industrial enterprise and a specialist fitter firm.

Sanitation, heating and air-condition-ing engineering technicians – Viess-

mann has offered this new, unique skilled profession in cooperation with trade partners since 2010. 15 young professionals are currently finishing off their training, half of which is pro-vided at Viessmann and the other half in partner firms. Apprentices thus have the chance to acquire their knowledge not only in an industrial enterprise, they also are able to gain an insight in spe-cialist fitter firms. The two first alumni successfully completed their exams back in January.

develop personal strengths and specialismsThe joint training program is aimed at preparing young professionals and optimizing synergy effects between trade and industry. The trainees gain a detailed insight into two different work environments while their trainers help them develop their personal strengths and specialisms. "This is a major im-provement on the existing training sys-tem, because apprentices are prepared for their future profession from two different perspectives," explains Georg Glade, Head of Personal Development and Training at Viessmann.

comprehensive program with 30 modulesThe general training plan consists of 30 modules overall with 16 assigned to trade and 14 to industry. Viessmann and professional trade partners entered into a close cooperative partnership to pro-vide such a comprehensive program. Joint training agreements were drawn up with six trade firms, which take re-sponsibility for those parts not covered by the industrial enterprise. These in-clude heating and plumbing system installation or maintenance, custom-er-focused order management and communication with the homeowner. The trainees also undergo vocational training sessions at the District Crafts-men's Guild Professional Training Cen-ter (Berufsbildungszentrum der Kreis-handwerkerschaft) in Korbach.

special qualification modules for each training yearThe second part of the training takes place in the Viessmann Training Cen-ter. As with other skilled professions, five qualification modules are offered to budding sanitation, heating and air-conditioning system technicians. These modules are specially tailored to the requirements of the respective trainee intake. Apprentices receive ad-ditional knowledge about the use of high-efficiency energy systems such as condensing boilers for gas and oil, com-bined heat and power generation sys-tems, heat pumps and biomass boilers during a total of 30 training days. Sys-tem components such as control en-gineering and data communication are taken into account during these training sessions.

12

one step closer to becoming a full-service provider in cooling technologyViessmann at Euroshop in Düsseldorf

T his year saw the Viessmann Group premiering a comprehensive range

of products and services at Euroshop in Düsseldorf, the world's largest invest-ment products trade fair for retailing and associated industries. After acquiring the Finnish Norpe Group, the leading manufacturer of innovative commer-cial refrigeration systems in the Nor-dic countries, Viessmann extended its product range last fall to include refrig-eration cabinets and units for the food retail industry.

customers benefit from range of expertiseEuropean market leader Viessmann Kältetechnik GmbH, a major cold room manufacturer, has been part of the group of companies since 2012. As with heating technology, Viessmann is also aiming to continually increase energy efficiency in refrigeration technology. Customers will be the first to benefit from the merging of different areas of expertise. In the future, a single provid-er will supply heating, cooling and air conditioning systems, tailor-made ener-gy management and extensive support and consulting services.

standardized Viessmann logoThe Norpe refrigeration cabinets and refrigeration units were presented un-der the vitorange logo for the first time, signaling the introduction of a standard-ized image. Cold rooms manufactured in Hof now also bear the characteristic Viessmann logo.

The Viessmann Group appeared at the world's largest investment goods trade fair for retailing and associated industries, Euroshop, in Düsseldorf with a comprehensive product and service range.

Cold rooms by the Hof-based Viessmann Kälte-technik GmbH were also showcased in addition to products from the Finnish Norpe Group.

Dr. Frank Schmidt, COO Refrigeration Technology at Viessmann, presented the company's strategy to create a full refrigeration technology range during his speech at the client evening event.

Products/coMPany

iconicNew sales generator for frozen products

tectoEnergy-efficient cooling

Iconic is a new type of semi-inclined deep freeze for food retailers. This

display unit excels due to its excellent product presentation. Large glass sur-faces at an ideal height ensure a per-fect view. An attractive, well-lit display draws customers' attention and drives impulse purchases. A sophisticated ergonomic design ensures that cus-tomers can easily reach the products that they require.

This units offers cubic capacity 50  per-cent greater than a freezer island occu-pying the same floor space. The semi- inclined freezer is versatile in its use – it can be used to sell frozen foods in both bags and boxes. The island-shaped top and bottom display shelves offer a vari-ety of options for product presentation.

TECTO chiller and freezer cold rooms are precisely matched to the

requirements of retailers, industry, and the hotel and restaurant sector. These cold rooms are available in a large va-riety of different dimensions and with numerous optional features. Supplied

advantages for operators� More frozen products with no need

for additional space�Better view of products� Enhanced ergonomic design and

more pleasant user experience�Greater sales�More market layout options

solutions can thus be customized to a great extent. Reduced power con-sumption and low operating costs are assured with tailored system technol-ogy with Viessmann refrigeration units and heat insulation up to 150 millime-ters thick.

advantages for trade partners� Tailored system tech-

nology with Viessmann refrigeration units� Fast assembly system� Easy to extend or re-as-

semble� Silicone-free joints

Iconic is a new semi-inclined deep freeze for food retailers.

TECTO chiller and freezer cold rooms offer solutions for all areas of application.

technical specifications� Length: 1,875/2,500 mm �Height: 1,550 mm �Depth: 1,050/1,920 mm

advantages for operators� Flexible solutions for all areas of

application� Low power consumption thanks to

Viessmann refrigeration units and highly effective heat insulation� Hygienic wall and floor curves

(TECTO special)� Antimicrobial powder coating�Long service life�Consistent operational reliability�5-year warranty�Comprehensive service provision

technical specifications� Temperatures between -50 and

+60 °C� Heat insulation between 80 and

150 mm thick

29

30

carbon-neutral sales office opened in dresdenHeat and electricity requirements fully met by renewable energies

A total of three million euros has been invested to set up the new

Viessmann sales office in Dresden's Airport Park. A building fully supplied with electricity and heat from renew-able energies was constructed on roughly 7,000 m2 of land in an easily accessible location at the Dresden North motorway junction.

sustainability objectives defined at planning stageAn innovative concept for energy-sav-ing, environmentally friendly heat and power supply which meets all sustain-ability requirements has been devel-

oped for all new Viessmann sales of-fices. This concept served as the basis for a future-proof building in Dresden, which already meets the requirements of the European Directive on the Ener-gy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) for 2020, using technologies available on the market.

heating and cooling systems with kwt heat pumpsThe efficient, environmentally friend-ly heating and cooling systems in the 660  m2 building are supplied with a brine/water heat pump by Viessmann group company KWT. Especially de-signed for large outputs, the pump ob-tains its energy from eight geothermal probes, each 100 meters deep.

high-efficiency industrial solution and effective insulationThis high-efficiency industrial solution is complemented by triple glazing and the particularly effective insulation in the building envelope. This means that the heat produced is used as efficiently as possible. The building's total primary energy demand is 80 percent lower than the permitted upper level of 173 kWh/m2a as per the applicable 2009

German Energy Saving Ordinance. It thus meets the standard of an energy plus building.

The use of solar energy is also part of the concept: three vacuum tube collec-tors mounted on the facade, featuring a surface of 6 m2 each, provide hot water to the building. On the roof, 256 photo-voltaic modules with a total output of 56.3 kWp generate electricity, which is fed into the network.

The remaining electrical energy require-ments are covered by the purchase of environmentally friendly electricity gen-erated using renewable energies such as biomass, water or wind. The 'green electricity' is supplied by the local utilities company DREWAG. The new building is thus supplied with heat and power from carbon-neutral sources.

Practical training19 in-house and field sales employees attend to market partners in the region at the new branch. Practical training sessions are given on the exhibited products and information events are also on offer to architects and represen-tatives from the housing sector.

The building is efficiently heated and cooled with an environmentally friendly brine/water heat pump.

coMPany

31

german sustainability prize for "highest resource efficiency"Jury recognizes commitment throughout the entire value-added chain

Viessmann has been presented with the German Sustainability Award

for the third time. After winning in the 'Most Sustainable Production' and 'Most Sustainable Brand' categories in 2009 and 2011 respectively, it has now received the 'Highest Resource Effi-ciency' award.

'Viessmann has successfully integrated measures for conserving resources and using raw materials and energy efficiently across the entire production and value-added chain. The sustain-ability project for improved efficiency implemented as part of the company's sustainability strategy is a flagship proj-ect for resource efficiency and climate protection which safeguards jobs and business,' stated the jury when giving the reasons for the award.

energy and climate policy targets for 2050 already reachedFossil fuel consumption has been re-duced by two thirds and CO2 emissions have been cut by over 80 percent at the company's headquarters in Allendorf

(Eder) in Hesse, Germany. Viessmann has demonstrated that the German energy and climate policy objectives for 2050 can already be achieved using technology available on today's market by cutting fossil fuel consumption (in-crease in efficiency) and implementing renewable energy (substitution). With the help of an energy cockpit, which indicates energy status in real time, energy controlling will ensure ongoing energy efficiency and consumption op-timization in production and administra-tion in the future.

competitive advantage gainedViessmann also develops efficient, en-ergy-saving products on an ongoing basis and systematically studies prod-uct life cycles. The company has gained a clear competitive advantage as a result of durable, resource-efficient product design, including a service life of more than 20 years thanks to opti-mum quality. The difference in product lines is based on the extent of fittings and features and not on the different degrees of energy utilization or exhaust

emissions, meaning that homeowners with limited finance also have access to efficient, low-emission heating tech-nology.

returning valuable raw materialsAll products are almost fully recyclable. The “Viessmann EGR” return system for used equipment was introduced in cooperation with service provider EGR GmbH back in 1995 to guarantee the disassembly and processing of old ap-pliances by certified waste disposal firms and the return of valuable raw materials to the production cycle. The launch of the "Alliance for Sustainabili-ty", the online platform which gathers information on sustainable building equipment and CO2-neutral building services was yet another step towards achieving Viessmann's long-term goal of embedding sustainability in everyday life.

“setting an example to the industry”“Viessmann sets an example for its sector with regard to resource efficien-cy. Viessmann impressed with the long service life of its products, guaranteed serviceability thanks to spare parts provisioning and recyclable design,” declared the jury in its verdict.

The German sustainability prize awarded in the 'Resource efficiency' category: Viessmann super-visory board member Joachim Janssen (in the middle) accepted the award on behalf of the com-pany. ebm-pabst (Rainer Hundsdörfer, Managing Director) and 3M (Silvia Havasi, General Manager Corporate Marketing) were also nominated.

Sales support

Logistics

Maintenance and Service

Software & Internet service

Seminars Marketingsupport

Consultancy

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the Viessmann service initiativeThe full service package presented clearly

T he close partnership between Viessmann and the skilled trade

is almost proverbial. Viessmann of-fers both an innovative comprehen-sive range of products and systems for heating, air conditioning, cooling, ventilation, and decentralized power generation, as well as an extensive range of attractive services. Trade part-ners awarded the company the title of "Skilled trade partner No. 1" of the industry journal "markt intern" for the twelfth time in a row in 2013.

The new Viessmann Service Initiative was started in order to make every part-ner aware of what support is available in day-to-day practice. Divided into the seven service fields�sales support,�logistics,�maintenance and service,�software and Internet service,�seminars,� marketing support and �consultancy,

all the company's services are concen-trated in one file – clear, complete, and demand-oriented.

About 300 Viessmann sales people in the field – in 33 sales offices and five regional supply centers at Viessmann Deutschland GmbH – support the trade every working day in a unique way. Spare parts delivery overnight, solu-tions to problems offered by the Tech-nical Service department, a complete training program, simple spare parts

coMPany

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ordering – even using the smartphone –, assistance in the case of tenders, attractive financing offers for home-owners, support in marketing matters such as website presence and in-house exhibitions – the list of services is long.

In order to summarize the entire range, a typical working day in a heating sys-tems company is described, demon-strating how the concrete assistance by Viessmann Services looks. A protagonist introduces the individual services here each time.

The USB stick that goes with the file contains important information in digital

With the Viessmann Night Line the spare part is delivered overnight – only one of many services of the Service Plus Team.

It is true that especially young professional trade workers know current heating systems inside out, but often they have gaps when it comes to their knowledge of older heat generator technology – deficits that are remedied by training courses on old devices at the Viessmann Academy.

Diagnosis on site – after the heating system specialist has scanned the bar code of the name plate with his smartphone, the Viessmann app supplies the correct spare parts component with its order number.

form. If an update is available, the stick can be updated via the Internet, so that all the information is always up to date. The most important and up-to-date in-formation can also always be found in the trade partner area of the Viessmann website.

Time is short and a precious commod-ity for every heating system company. Spare time and practical help in every-day work situations can be found with the help of Viessmann Services.

With the aid of the Building Energy Savings Check, the homeowners can be informed quickly and simply about the savings that they can make by modernizing their heating system.

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Viessmann on social Media PlatformsTechnology experts enagage in dialogue with users

Everyone is talking about social me-dia – that is, Facebook and co. They

are progressively changing our commu-nication behavior and rapidly gaining in importance – Facebook alone already has more than 1.2 billion members. Viessmann offers users a comprehen-sive range on all the important social media platforms.

represented on all important platformsNo matter whether we are talking about the social networks Facebook, Twitter and Google+, or the Internet video portal YouTube, the photo and vid-eo sharing app Instagram or the career platforms XING, Kununu or LinkedIn – Viessmann can be found everywhere and enters into a dialogue with users.

greetings from Viessmann fans all over the worldFor example, there are always new re-ports from the company and the sector on Facebook, as well as photo greet-ings from Viessmann fans all over the world. Among others, highlights of the past weeks were the "doodah videos“

of the Viessmann team's athletes and the news from the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.

Viessmann community – innovation blogIn addition, the company is also start-ing a social media offer of its own – the Viessmann Community, an innovation blog accessible to all. Lots of informa-tion can be found here on the various Viessmann products and on technologi-cal trends. Technology is explained here clearly and comprehensibly as well. Technology expert Carsten Kuhlmann explains the operation of condensing technology graphically and comprehen-sibly in a video. The Viessmann Com-munity is also accessible on the move, that means, it can be accessed from every tablet PC or smartphone.

closed area for trade partnersExclusively for trade partners, there is a community in the closed area especially for trade partners. Heating system specialists and architects, designers and engineers can communicate with each other here or put questions to the

social media agents – the Viessmann technology experts. All Viessmann trade partners can register for the community in the closed area with their customer number and their postal code.

real added value for usersThe agents play an important part in the Viessmann presence in the so-cial networks. As members of staff of the Technical Service department, they are experienced heating technol-ogy experts and know all about the company's products. They answer all technical questions – both from the Viessmann Community and from the freely accessible platforms. For the number of "likes“, "followers“ or "retweets" is not given top priority at Viessmann. It is more important to engage in dialog with the user and to offer him/her a real added value by using new information channels.

The Viessmann Community is also accessible by smartphone wherever you are.

new Media/sector

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german heat conference 2014 in BerlinIndustry event with more than 200 leading representatives from politics, business, science, and media

Over 200 leading representatives from politics, business, science,

and media got together in Berlin at the German Heat Conference 2014. Barbara Hendricks, the German Minister of the Environment, held the opening speech at the industry event organized by the BDH (German Industrial Association for Building Services, Energy, and En-vironmental Engineering) and the FGK (Institute of Building Air Conditioning). She emphasized the great importance of good energy consultancy: "There is no lack of willingness to invest on the part of private owners. But the over-view of the possibilities of modernizing energy systems is often missing.“ The German federal government wanted an integrated concept where trades work together. This is going to be the only way to reach the consumers, the minister explained.

creating financial incentives for modernizing energy systemsCreating financial incentives for mod-ernizing energy systems was one of the central demands of the Heat Confer-ence. All agreed that citizens, state, and trade would benefit equally from this. After all, the incentive lever of the KfW German development bank schemes is now already at one to twelve. That means that every incentive euro grant-ed triggers twelve euros in subsequent investments.

Mobilizing available private capitalManfred Greis, President of the BDH, described the KfW schemes and the market incentive program as effective instruments of incentive policy. How-ever, tax deductions were necessary in

order to get the modernization of ener-gy systems going on a large scale. "It's all about mobilizing available private capital in the direction of the socially desired objective“, said Greis.

Positive signal to politics and the general publicStephan Kohler, Chairman of the Ger-man Energy Agency (dena), spoke about a positive signal sent out by the Heat Conference to politics and to the general public: "The sector is ready to promote energy efficiency in existing buildings – that is the clear message.“

using the heating and air conditioning market's great potentialThe Heat Conference provided a forum not only for the Minister of the Environ-ment and association representatives. Representatives of the German Bund-estag parliamentary groups also used the opportunity for active discussions with the sector. For the potentials of the heating and air conditioning mar-ket are great, and it is necessary to join forces to increase them – that is the clear message sent out by the German Heat Conference 2014.

Photo session on the fringe of discussions (left to right): Andreas Lücke, CEO of the BDH, Manfred Greis, President of the BDH, Dr. Barbara Hendricks, Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Construction and Nuclear Safety, Prof. Ulrich Pfeiffenberger, 1. Chairman of the FGK, Günther Mertz, Managing Director of the FGK.

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17 medals for the Viessmannteam in sochiOlympic victories for the company-sponsored athletes

With eight gold, six silver, and five bronze medals, Germany took sixth place overall at the Olympic Winter

Games in Sochi. 75 percent of the German medal winners were athletes from the Viessmann Team. In addition, there were also medals for Viessmann-sponsored athletes from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Ukraine. If there was a country called "Viessmann", with eight gold, six silver, and three bronze medals, it would have taken seventh place just behind Germany and ahead of winter sports giants like Switzerland, Austria, and Sweden.

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Eric Frenzel cerebrates his Olympic victory in the Nordic combined individual normal hill competition.

Two greatly celebrated medals were awarded to Tatjana Hüfner for luge and for the German men's biathlon relay.

Carina Vogt provided a big surprise with her ski jumping victory. Although expected, the gold medal victory in the luge relay was extensively celebrated. Luge legend Georg Hackl was there to join in with the cheering.

gold after some "tense moments" for carina VogtCarina Vogt was one of the big surprises at Sochi. After she won the gold medal for the women's ski jump, she fell into the snow overwhelmed with emotion. "The moments before that were really tense", said the 22-year-old who was in the lead after the first round. "I was just hoping that it would be enough for a medal. When the number one lit up, I just couldn't believe it." Apart from win-ning gold, Carina Vogt will also have the honor of being entered into the history books as the winner of the first ever women's ski jumping competition in the Olympics.

historical triumph in lugeThe luge athletes Felix Loch and Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt from the Viessmann Team also delivered a historical victory. Together with Natalie Geisenberger, the two childhood friends entered the record books as the first relay team winners in Olympic history. "It is an amazing feeling. We've trained togeth-er since we were 13 years old", sum-marizes Felix Loch, who now has his third Olympic victory under his belt. The 24-year-old also succeeded in his bid to repeat his Vancouver 2010 victo-ry in the single seat luge. Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt also won gold in their double-seater premiere. Finally, Tatjana Hüfner rounded off her Olympic medal

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A dream come true for all German ski jumping fans: With Viessmann athletes Andreas Wank (left) and Andreas Wellinger (2nd from right), the team took gold ahead of Austria and Japan.

Success for the Viessmann-sponsored internation-al biathlon teams: In the mixed competition silver went to the Czech Republic (left). The Ukrainian women's team stood top of the podium after their victory in the relay race.

After Eric Frenzel's victory in Nordic combined, the German team picked up silver in the team competition (left). Slovakian Anastasiya Kuzmina left her competitors with no chances in the biath-lon sprint race.

collection with silver after having won gold in 2010 and bronze in 2006.

eric frenzel won in clear-cut victoriesWith a gold and silver medal in tow, Nordic combined athlete Eric Frenzel re-turned from his second winter games. Starting out as a favorite for the gold medal, the 25-year-old proved himself as the clear-cut winner in the individual competition. "There's nothing greater, it doesn't get any better. You're an Olym-pic winner forever", sums up Frenzel. In the team competition, he took silver along with his Viessmann teammates Björn Kircheisen and Johannes Rydzek. Four years earlier in Vancouver, Frenzel and Rydzek picked up a bronze in the relay event.

german ski jumpers celebrate togetherHe who laughs last, laughs longest: Af-ter a spell of bad luck with the German ski jumpers just missing a medal in the individual competitions, the rejoic-ing was all the greater after the team competition. In the end, the number one lit up for the four-man Viessmann Team, which included Andreas Wank and Andreas Wellinger – the first team to take gold in ski jumping since the era of Hannawald and Schmidt. "I'm proud

of the whole team. We've had to mas-ter some difficult times, but today it has all paid off ", said the German national coach Werner Schuster.

Victories for Viessmann's czech, slovakian, and ukrainian athletesThe foreign athletes on the Viessmann team were also highly successful in Sochi. Gold in the 7.5  km sprint was won by Anastasiya Kuzmina from Slo-vakia, who is now the first biathlon athlete to repeat an Olympic victory in this discipline. The women's biathlon team from the Ukraine took gold in a surprising relay victory. Wita Semeren-ko also won bronze in the sprint. The

Viessmann-sponsored biathletes on the Czech team chalked up almost two thirds of all medals. Silver went to Ga-briela Soukalova (mass start) and On-drej Moravec (pursuit) and the mixed relay team. Bronze medals were award-ed to Jaroslav Soukup in the sprint and again by Ondrej Moravec in the mass start race.

40 olympic welcome Party 2014The athletes from the Viessmann Team invited as guests to the company's headquarters

World-class athletes and trainers from the Viessmann Team were

invited as guests to the Viessmann headquarters in Allendorf (Eder). The company invited them to the Olympic Welcome Party to thank them for their excellent performances during this last season and for the many medals won at the Olympic Games (see the article on pages 36 to 39).

the who's who of winter sportFrom the successful German luge ath-letes Felix Loch, Tatjana Hüfner and the two-seater team of Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt to the ski jumpers Carina Vogt, Andreas Wank, and Andreas Wellinger through to Eric Frenzel, the outstanding Nordic com-

bined athlete – the who‘s who of winter sports gladly accepted Prof. Dr. Martin Viessmann's invitation to Allendorf.

thanks for the unforgettable moments at the olympics"We wish to thank you for your great dedication as representatives of the Viessmann brand. With your athletic successes and your positive attitude, all of you contribute greatly to the brand's popularity", stated the head of the com-pany in his welcoming speech. "All of you – and I'm talking just as much about the young athletes as the already successful athletes and trainer – have given us many unforgettable moments at the Olympic Games in Sochi with your performances and successes."

interview session with the officialsIn an interview session with the pres-idents of the German Olympic Sports Confederation, Alfons Hörmann, the International Luge Federation, Josef Fendt, and the International Bobsleigh Federation, Ivo Ferriani, the officials reviewed the games in Sochi and looked ahead to the 2018 games in Pyeongchang. The Hessian Minister of the Interior and Sport, Peter Beuth, also joined in with the session.

Alfons Hörmann indicated how import-ant it is for athletes and organizations to have dependable partners like Viess-mann. "Throughout these many years, the company was and still is very, very valuable for maintaining an intact struc-

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41ture. This means we not only have a partner during victory with all shine and celebration, we also have a partner when things don't go so smoothly, and that is far more than a matter of course."

the games from the athletes' point of viewAfter the interview with the officials, it was the athletes' turn to speak. In a sub-sequent group interview, they told the guests about their personal highlights

at the Olympics. The Head of Sport at the Hessian Broadcasting Corporation (Hessischer Rundfunk), Ralf Scholt, who was the host throughout the pro-ceedings, encouraged the athletes to talk about their personal feelings before and during the competitions, providing some exciting insights.

a personal gift from the athletesA special honor was bestowed on Prof.  Dr.  Viessmann by the Interna-

tional Luge Confederation (FIL). In rec-ognition of 20 years of uninterrupted sponsorship and partnership, President Josef Fendt presented him with a cus-tom-made glass trophy identical to the those given to the World Cup winners. A very personal gift was given to Prof. Dr.  Viessmann and his wife Annette from the invited athletes. "Without you, winter sport would not be as important as it is today in Germany or internation-ally," said cross-country skier Tobias An-gerer, as he gave them an album of se-lected personal photographs from the athletes. "You feel as if you're in a large family, and we are very proud to be part of this family. We feel at home."

sports experience for guestsEven before the official evening pro-gram, the 500 guests from 21 coun-tries, including high ranking represen-tatives from business and politics, and Viessmann trade partners in particu-lar, all had the opportunity to try out a spot of sport themselves. They had the chance to test their aim with the biath-lon rifle or experience the racing speed of a bobsleigh in the virtual bobsleigh simulator. Far from just standing on the sidelines giving advice, the athletes were also on hand to sign autographs and pose for group photos. In fact, they were also busy doing this hours before-hand at a public event in Frankenberg. Approximately 400 winter sport fans had the opportunity to get their person-al autographs and stand beside their favorite athletes for a picture.

Prof. Dr. Martin Viessmann and his wife Annette invited the Olympic athletes of the Viessmann Team to the company's headquarters in Allendorf (Eder).

FIL President Josef Fendt gives Prof. Viessmann his own custom-made trophy, identical to those of the World Cup winners.

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500 guests from 21 countries accepted the invitation to Allendorf (Eder).

The line-ups for the autograph signing were long, and the athletes really enjoyed being close to their fans.

Group photos with the athletes (pictured here Georg Hackl, r., and Tobias Wendl) were highly sought after.

The Hessian Minister of the Interior and Sport, Peter Beuth, traveled from Wiesbaden to the Olympic Welcome Party in Allendorf (Eder).

Andrea Henkel (m.) ended her successful biathlon career after this season. Petra Behle (l.) and Martina Beck have not been actively competing for several years.

Biathlon legend Uschi Disl and gold medal winner Tobias Arlt (luge two-seater)

Luge gold medal winner Felix Loch during an inter-view with HR's Head of Sport, Ralf Scholt.

Gold medal winner Carina Vogt was one of the most requested interview partners of the evening.

During the afternoon before the Olympic Welcome Party, the athletes signed autographs for their fans at a public event in Frankenberg.

"We feel at home". With these words, the cross-country skier Tobias Angerer expressed the athletes' gratitude to the Viessmanns.

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Marksmanship was called for at the biathlon shooting booth.

Werner Schuster speaking with Maximilian Viessmann.

Annette and Katharina Viessmann

Interview session (from left): Ivo Ferriani (President of the International Bobsleigh Federation), Peter Beuth (Hessian Minister of the Interior and Sport), Alfons Hörmann (President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation), and Josef Fendt (President of the International Luge Federation FIL)

Biathlon German national coach Uwe Müßiggang (l.) and cross-country German national coach Frank Ullrich

Before the official event, guests were able to have a go at some sport themselves like here in the bobsleigh simulator.

Among the younger guests, the ski jumping on the mini jump platform in the activity area was a real highlight.

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ViessMann selection

selection summer catalog 2014New product highlights for active leisure time

If you like to spend your leisure time enjoying active pursuits, you'll know

that you need high quality, functional products. The new Viessmann Selec-tion catalog presents a complete range of attractive new products for the cat-egories Sport, Activity, Exclusive, and Classics. Whether you're on a weekend outing, training at the gym or out hiking, you'll be perfectly prepared with the right equipment.

Baseball cap from adidasThe original Adidas cap is part of the of-ficial gear for the athletes, coaches, and supervisors of the Viessmann team. The embroidered Viessmann logo, the Adidas logo and, of course, the legend-ary three stripes on the visor make this cap so utterly unique.

Backpack from deuterFutura  28 is the new model from the backpack experts at Deuter, and it re-ally is an innovative product with many benefits for the user. The Futura is per-fect for a day's hiking as well as for the daily trip to work or shopping in the city. Hip pads and shoulder straps come with a comfortable soft cover-ing and the Deuter ventilation system for the back is already legendary with its clever mesh design. In addition to the spacious main compartment, you'll also find a handy front pocket, elastic side pockets, an air-tight pocket for wet clothing, and a separate bottom com-partment. A clear indication that Deu-ter knows exactly what's important to hikers is the clever little extras such as the loops for hiking poles, safety light, and drinking tube. A removable rain cover is also included.

Visit our online shop at www.viessmann-selection.de or request the current catalog:

WKM Creative Werbemittel GmbHAuf dem Kreuz 135114 Haina-Löhlbach, GermanyTel: +49 6455 7557-0Fax: +49 6455 7557-28E-mail: info@wkmnet.de

hand-held gPs from garminGeocaching, a kind of digital treasure hunt, is gaining in popularity. But even on a "normal" excursion in the great out-doors, the hand-held eTrex30 GPS from Garmin will serve you well. Despite the inexpensive price, it has all of the clas-sic navigation functions. The unit is one of the most robust and compact hand-held GPS devices available and can also be used for navigating on a bicycle.

supernova gore jacket from adidasThat typically unpredictable April weather is no longer a reason to stay at home. With the Supernova Windstop-per jacket from Adidas you'll be reliably protected from the rain and the wind. The Climacool material provides ideal warmth and moisture management. Smaller items can be safely stored in the practical zip-up pocket and with their minimal design these fashionable jackets will have you looking your best even at the end of the day.

selection