ONE of the New Forest’s leading manufacturers has opened a new £6.5m headquarters.

Eberspächer (UK) Ltd is a leading manufacturer of heating and air conditioning systems for the vehicle, construction and marine sectors.

It is part of the global Eberspächer Group, which is family-owned and is celebrating its 150th year.

The official opening of Climate House in Yeoman Road, Ringwood, was carried out by Eberspächer Group COO and managing partner Heinrich Baumann and UK managing director Vince Lee, with the mayor of Ringwood, Cllr Barbara Woodifield, in attendance.

The company’s New Forest presence was established at Brockenhurst in 1977 and it moved to larger premises in Ringwood in 1989.

The third move consolidates three sites onto one, two-storey, 5,726 square metre premises, and supports around 85 jobs.

Heinrich Baumann said: “The UK is the second largest subsidiary of the climate control systems division and most important, as they have been active in successfully adapting their business model to the ever changing environment.”

Vince Lee said: “We needed to retain the particularly unique skills of the current workforce so waited patiently for this site to be developed in Ringwood.

“We have a proud history of designing and manufacturing air conditioning and climate control products. Now, with our new facility, we have an unprecedented opportunity to increase production, create new jobs in the area and bring the latest technologies and innovations to life and become an even bigger part of the Eberspächer Group’s worldwide operations.

“This £6.5m investment reflects our commitment to raising the profile of Eberspächer within the UK.”

Climate House is three times the size of Eberspächer’s previous facilities. It houses a state-of-the-art climatic chamber, with a temperature range of -30C to +60C. The chamber facilitates the development of new evaporators and condensers that will enter the company’s product portfolio from April onwards, with new product launches at the Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC, Birmingham.

The building is also one of the most energy efficient in the region, thanks to features such as eco-friendly lighting and enhanced insulation materials.