Johnson Controls has announced the expansion of its Holme, Denmark heat pump and chiller facility, doubling production capacity and adding a state-of-the-art customer experience and test center to meet growing demand for high-capacity heat pumps across Europe. The expansion, which operates on 100% green energy, includes 2,300 additional square meters of new production space and a 1,800 square meter test center compliant with the latest European Heat Pump Association testing standard. The project is expected to create more than 100 new local jobs.
The Holme facility manufactures customized Sabroe-branded heat pumps and chillers, along with remanufactured, aftermarket, and marine spare parts, using zero and low-global-warming-potential refrigerants designed to align with upcoming EU regulations taking effect in 2027 and 2030. The expanded facility strengthens Johnson Controls’ ability to design, build, and validate high-capacity heat pumps for district heating, public infrastructure, and industrial applications ranging from research campuses and life science labs to universities and food and beverage operations. In 2025, the company’s heat pump solutions helped customers reduce heating energy costs by up to 32% and cut emissions by up to 55%.
The opening was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by EU Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen and Aarhus Mayor Anders Winnerskjold, underscoring the strategic importance of the investment to both European energy policy and regional economic development. The Holme site has operated as a center of heating and cooling innovation since Thomas Sabroe founded the business there in 1897. Johnson Controls has a broader European manufacturing footprint with additional sites in Nantes, Milan, Cork, and Budapest.
KEY QUOTES:
“With generations of manufacturing expertise in Europe and a market-leading position in commercial and large-scale heat pumps, this expansion in Holme reinforces our long-term commitment to building critical technologies here, for Europe. By scaling production and real-world testing of large heat pumps, we are enabling municipalities and energy-intensive industries to electrify heat, lower costs and reduce emissions — with solutions designed, engineered, built and tested close to where they are deployed.”
Richard Lek, President EMEA, Johnson Controls
“This site has served as a foundation for heating and cooling innovation since Thomas Sabroe founded the business here in 1897. With this expansion, Aarhus further cements its role as a centre of excellence for district heating technology delivering value to customers across Europe and the wider region.”
Benthe Klokkerholm, Vice President, Manufacturing Operations HVAC/R, EMEA, Johnson Controls
