Glen Dimplex

What makes the Glen Dimplex Story unique is the sheer scale of the Group's growth, over a relatively short time frame, to take its place as the world leader in the manufacture and distribution of electric heating appliances.

The time line links (to the left) charts the growth of the Group from small beginnings in 1973, to the 21st Century where it continues to grow and expand its operations throughout the world.

View the Glen Dimplex Group video.

1970s

Turnover : €30m

Employees : 900

November 1973, Glen Electric commences business in Newry, Co. Down, employing ten people.

1977, Dimplex, the leading brand in the UK electrical heating market is acquired and Glen Dimplex is formed.

1979, Bitech Engineering commences business in Dunleer, Co. Louth.

1980s

Turnover : €300m

Employees : 4000

In the 1980s the Dimplex business grew very rapidly in the UK and Glen Dimplex became market leaders in all electrical heating product categories.

In 1985, Glen Dimplex acquired three UK businesses, Morphy Richards, the market leader in small domestic appliances. Blanella, a manufacturer of electric blankets and Burco Dean Appliances, a manufacturer of products for the catering industry.

1990-1995

Turnover : €600m

Employees : 5000

The 1990s was the decade when Glen Dimplex expanded outside of its Irish and UK base.

1990, we acquired KKW in Germany, the main European electrical heating business of Siemens AG.

1991, we acquired two electrical heating businesses in Canada - Chromalox, the market leader and Westcan which was a subsidiary of Siemens AG.

1992, we acquired Belling, a leading brand in the UK cooker market.

1994, we acquired Roberts Radio, the prestige name in the UK radio market.

1995, we acquired two businesses, EIO, a German manufacturer of floor care products and Seagoe Technologies, a UK manufacturer of electrical heating appliances.

1996-1999

Turnover : €1.1bn

Employees : 6500

1996, we acquired a significant shareholding in Muller, the leading manufacturer of electrical heating appliances in France.

1997, we acquired Goblin AquaVac, a leading manufacturer of floor care products and significantly strengthened our position in this product category in Europe.

In 1998 and 1999, we acquired AKO and EWT, the leading brands in the German portable electrical heating market. We also opened sourcing offices in Hong Kong and two in Mainland China to develop a high quality and cost effective Asian supplier base for the Group's worldwide operations.

2000-2003

Turnover : €1.3bn

Employees : 7500

2000, we acquired Faber, the leading Dutch manufacturer of gas and log burning decorative fires. New sales subsidiaries were set up in Italy, Spain and Poland.

2001, we acquired Stoves and New World, two leading brands in the UK cooker market.

2002, we set up a Joint Venture in China, Shenyang Dimplex Electronics, to manufacturer storage heaters for the rapidly growing Chinese market. We acquired Nobo, the market leader in installed electrical heating products in the Nordic countries, together with Dimpco and Brownbrook, the Group's distributors in Southern and Northern Ireland.

2003, we acquired Galaxy Showers, a manufacturer of electric showers for the UK market and Siemens Electrical Heating, the Norwegian and last remaining electrical heating business of Siemens AG.

2004-2007

Turnover : €1.6bn

Employees : 8500

November 2004, we acquire Halstead Boilers Limited, a UK based manufacturer of Gas Domestic Central Heating Boilers, and set up a Joint Venture Company in Japan - Glen Dimplex Japan - with Globally Incorporated, a subsidiary of one of Japan's largest House Building Groups, Matsumoto Kenko.

February 2005, we acquire LEC Refrigeration PLC, a UK based manufacturer and distributor of domestic and technical refrigeration.

In January 2006 we acquired two US Industrial Cooling businesses - Koolant Koolers and Schreiber Engineering, followed in October 2006 with the acquisition of New Zealand / Australian Heating Manufacturer MetalFab Industries - now renamed Glen Dimplex Australia Pty (in Australia) and Glen Dimplex Australasia Limited (in New Zealand).

In October 2007, we acquire Applied Energy, a UK based manufacturer and distributor of solutions for heating, air, and water management to new build, social housing, leisure, care, commercial and industrial markets.