WAAK assembles cables and wire harnesses for Thermia's heat pumps

Since 2018, WAAK works together with Thermia AB, a Swedish company that produces heat pumps for the Scandinavian and European market. Being a part of the Stiebel Eltron Group, the company offers an extensive range of heat pumps. As such, Thermia specialises in manufacturing geothermal or ground-source heat pumps. Thanks to the year-long collaboration, Thermia knows that WAAK is capable of delivering large volumes of high-quality cables. The expanded collaboration marks a promising new chapter in the growth stories of both companies.

What is a heat pump and how does it work?

Heat pumps allow you to heat or cool down your home by extracting warmth or coolness from the air, ground, or water. In the case of a ground source or geothermal heat pump, energy is extracted from the ground, i.e.: during summer, the ground is cooler than the outside air, while in winter, it is warmer. Energy is drawn from the ground via pipes filled with a special, thermal conductive liquid (mixture of water and glycol). In winter, warmth is transferred from the ground to the home, while in summer, heat is removed from the home and discharged into the ground to cool down. In turn, the coolness is brought back into the home.

(Geothermal) heat pumps, a Scandinavian success story

In terms of sustainable living, Scandinavia is a pioneer and leader in Europe. More than 40% of the Scandinavian homes are equipped with a heat pump. Scandinavia’s climate and geography explain this. Sweden, Finland and Norway are characterised by a strong presence of natural and renewable energy sources. Additionally, they have harsh and very long winters. Homes therefore require efficient and reliable heating systems. In this regard, geothermal heat pumps are particularly interesting because they are highly stable systems. This is because ground temperatures are minimally affected by fluctuations in weather. Even when it becomes colder or warmer, ground temperatures remain the same. 

WAAK: high-quality cable assembly for the HVAC industry

WAAK specialises in assembling cables. WAAK’s cable assembly department employs 900 employees who produce high-quality cables and complex cable harnesses. The focus is primarily on the energy, automotive and HVAC-industries. Regarding the latter, WAAK supplies cables and wire harnesses to the largest players. The company excels in producing large volumes without compromising on quality. Strict on-time delivery and meeting the customer’s high quality demands is what WAAK stands for.

Thermia: high-performance and sustainable ground source heat pumps

One of WAAK’s valued customers, for whom the company manufactures cables, is Thermia AB, a part of the well-known Stiebel Eltron Group. In 1973, Thermia launched the world’s first heat pump with its own integrated hot water tank. With a turnover of €117 million and more than 300 employees, the company is among the leaders of Scandinavia’s heat pump industry. Ever since its inception, it has focused on developing sustainable heating and cooling systems and still strives to meet its vision to manufacture products that are ahead of their time. Thermia specialises in ground source or geothermal heat pumps for residential and industrial markets. These heat pumps are considered to be the most efficient and high-quality systems on the market.

Thermia includes WAAK in its growth story

WAAK has been assembling cables and cable harnesses for Thermia since 2018. Initially, the collaboration was more limited, in terms of volume and project scope. However, recently, Thermia has grown significantly in its segment. To sustain its growth, Thermia investigated which partner could scale with them in terms of volume without compromising on quality. Thanks to their yearlong cooperation, Thermia knew that WAAK was the partner they needed.

WAAK cable assembly: meeting Thermia's quality requirements

Ground source heat pumps are particularly popular within the high-end market segment. As such, the quality of the product is extremely important. Thermia expects its suppliers to align with them in terms of quality. Björn Ostijn, Head of Product Development at WAAK, explains: “All cables and cable harnesses have to fully meet Thermia’s requirements. For instance: the company applies very strict tolerances and adopts a zero-defect approach. Traceability is also crucial for them. Each cable is marked with an article number, which makes each one of them identifiable and traceable". 

Thermia appreciates WAAK’s ability and efforts to meet these quality requirements. Henrik Mossberg, Thermia’s Quality Manager, states: “Before we decided to give WAAK this new assignment, we subjected them to a thorough company audit. We were very pleased with the results. The quality of the cables and cable harnesses is excellent, and the defect rate is extremely low. The employees are dedicated and have an extensive expertise when it comes to assembling cables. Finally, their delivery reliability is also on a good level. These factors make WAAK the right partner to sustain our growth.”

Industrialisation partners

Another aspect where WAAK and Thermia find common ground is their transparent approach. Björn Ostijn explains: “Our method in terms of Product Lifecycle Management is similar. We always start by creating a prototype. If the client agrees with that, we then produce some samples, i.e., we assemble a small batch of cables, using exactly the same components and tools as we would in reality. Only after the customer’s final approval do we start production. With this approach, the customer is informed every step of the way and knows exactly what to expect". Thermia approaches its processes in a very similar way. Björn Ostijn: "They are very clear and know exactly what they want. An industrialisation flow like this is a very reliable and professional way of working for all parties involved. Thermia is also always open to alternative ideas. They listen and take our advice to heart.”

Assembling cables and cable harnesses for Thermia: a perfect fit

WAAK is committed to supporting Thermia in its ambitious growth plans. The goal is to double the number of cables produced by 2027. WAAK will need to scale up its production and is eager to do so. According to Filip Aesaert, Key Account Manager at WAAK, Thermia is “not only a wonderful company with a brilliant vision, the kind of work that we have to do for them is also a perfect fit for us. The project is right up our alley in terms of expertise and know-how. It requires large volumes of challenging precision work and many manual techniques that cannot be realised by machines. Exactly that is our great strength! This is where we differentiate ourselves from other cable assembly companies."