Korean boiler manufacturer lands in Yorkshire

Korean boiler manufacturer KD Navien has chosen Rotherham as their UK HQ and also has plans to open training centres and a R&D facility in the Sheffield City Region.

The company is part of the KD group which has a turnover in excess of £4.6 billion. KD Navien, the heating technology arm of the company, made £206 million turnover in 2013 and is on target for £264 million in 2014.

Five employees are already in post and five more currently advertised.

James Newman, chairman of Sheffield City Region LEP said: “I am delighted to welcome an international company of the calibre of KD Navien to our City Region.

“I am confident the company will continue to grow their business in the UK and use it as a springboard for European markets.

“The ambitious plans for a heating technology R&D facility in the City Region complement our strengths in innovating new advanced manufacturing techniques.”

Matthew Choi, European MD for KD Navien, said: “This is our first step into launching throughout Europe and I am very excited about progressing our strategy in this market.”

KD Navien’s UK representative, Graham Parkes, said: “There is an ambitious plan for growth with the goal to recruit up to 100 employees and open training centres by 2017.

“In the UK we have 2 bases, the European HQ in London and the UK HQ in Sheffield City Region.

“The opportunity for growth is significant and we are confident we have the right products and support to take the UK by storm.”