The UK’s transition towards lower-carbon home heating continues to gather pace, with government funding now supporting a growing number of heat pump and energy-efficiency installations across the country.

The Warm Homes Plan, published in January 2026, sets out the government’s wider strategy for improving the energy performance of UK homes and accelerating the adoption of low-carbon technologies. Alongside existing support such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, this represents a significant opportunity for installers, contractors and housing providers delivering heat pump retrofit projects.

While much of the attention naturally falls on the heat pump itself, successful installations also depend on the wider system around it. For many properties, that includes an appropriately specified hot water cylinder.

Heat Pumps at the Centre of Home Heating Investment

Government support for heat pumps is now available through several routes.

The Warm Homes: Local Grant is being delivered through local authorities in England and can support energy-efficiency measures and low-carbon heating in eligible homes. This includes measures such as insulation, solar PV and air source heat pumps where suitable.

Separate funding is available through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in England and Wales. Eligible property owners can currently receive £7,500 towards the installation of an air-to-water or ground source heat pump, while qualifying off-gas-grid properties replacing oil or LPG heating can receive £9,000 until 31 March 2027.

With increasing numbers of households expected to move away from traditional fossil-fuel heating systems, attention must also be given to how domestic hot water will be generated and stored.

Why Hot Water Storage Matters in a Heat Pump System

A heat pump operates differently from a conventional gas or oil boiler.

Rather than producing very high water temperatures over a short period, heat pumps generally operate most efficiently at lower flow temperatures. As a result, the design of the hot water system becomes particularly important.

In properties moving from a combi boiler, installing a heat pump can also mean introducing stored hot water where previously there may not have been a cylinder at all.

The cylinder therefore needs to be considered as part of the complete system rather than as a secondary component.

Factors such as cylinder capacity, heat exchanger performance, recovery requirements and available installation space all need to be considered when specifying a system.

Choosing a Hot Water Cylinder for a Heat Pump

Heat pump cylinders are designed to maximise heat transfer from lower-temperature primary water.

Compared with many conventional indirect cylinders, heat pump-compatible models typically require a greater heat-transfer area to efficiently transfer energy into the stored domestic hot water.

Correct specification can therefore have a significant influence on system performance.

Installers and contractors should consider:

• The required hot water storage capacity.
• Available heat exchanger surface area.
• Heat pump output and operating temperatures.
• Expected hot water demand.
• Cylinder recovery performance.
• Available installation space.
• Pipework and connection requirements.
• Whether single or twin-coil configurations are required.

Considering these factors at the design stage helps ensure the heat pump and hot water system operate together effectively.

Supporting Heat Pump Installations with EXCELSIOR WHP

The EXCELSIOR WHP range has been developed specifically for heat pump applications, providing dedicated hot water storage for systems operating with lower primary temperatures.

Manufactured by Fabdec in the UK, the range is available in a selection of capacities and configurations to support different residential and project requirements.

The WHP range incorporates heat exchangers designed for heat pump applications, with single and twin-coil options available across selected models. Larger models are also available with 28 mm connections where increased flow rates are required.

For installers, contractors and specifiers, this provides a purpose-designed alternative to attempting to adapt a conventional cylinder to a low-temperature heating system.

A Growing Opportunity for Installers and Retrofit Contractors

Warm Homes funding is already moving into delivery through local authorities across England.

Funding allocations extend across the country, including significant programmes in areas close to Fabdec’s manufacturing base. Cheshire East, for example, has received more than £8 million through the Warm Homes: Local Grant programme alongside Cheshire West and Chester and Warrington.

This funding, combined with continued support through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and wider investment in residential decarbonisation, is expected to create continued demand throughout the heating and retrofit supply chain.

For contractors delivering these projects, reliable access to compatible heating equipment will be increasingly important.

This includes not only the heat pump, but the hot water storage, controls and associated equipment required to create a complete system.

UK-Manufactured Hot Water Storage for Retrofit Projects

As the UK increases investment in heat pump installations, manufacturers have an important role to play in ensuring installers and contractors have access to appropriately specified equipment.

EXCELSIOR manufactures stainless steel hot water cylinders at Fabdec Group’s UK manufacturing facility in Ellesmere, Shropshire, supplying installers, merchants and heating professionals across the UK and internationally.

The EXCELSIOR WHP range provides a dedicated solution for heat pump installations, from individual residential projects through to larger retrofit requirements.

For installers, contractors, housing providers or project teams planning heat pump installations, the Fabdec team can provide support with hot water cylinder selection and specification.

Planning a heat pump installation or retrofit programme?

Explore the EXCELSIOR WHP heat pump cylinder range or contact Fabdec to discuss your hot water storage requirements.

Hot water demand in industrial and commercial environments can be very different from that of a typical domestic property. Larger volumes, longer operating hours and periods of intense peak demand can quickly push conventional hot water systems beyond what they were designed to provide.

For facilities that require a dependable supply of stored hot water, an industrial hot water cylinder can offer the capacity, recovery performance and durability needed to support everyday operations.

But when does an application actually require an industrial system?

When Hot Water Demand Becomes Too High for a Domestic System

One of the clearest indicators is simply the volume of hot water being used.

Domestic cylinders are designed around the requirements of homes, where demand is relatively predictable and spread across a limited number of outlets. Commercial and industrial premises may need to supply multiple showers, wash stations, kitchens or pieces of equipment simultaneously.

At this point, both storage capacity and the ability to recover hot water quickly become increasingly important.

Industrial hot water cylinders are designed for these higher-demand applications, providing significantly greater stored volumes while allowing the system to be specified around the requirements of the site.

When Your Site Experiences Large Peaks in Demand

Average daily consumption does not always tell the full story.

A facility might use a manageable amount of hot water across an entire day but require a substantial proportion of it within a short period. Examples could include:

• Changing rooms where multiple showers are used at the end of a shift
• Hotels experiencing concentrated morning demand
• Commercial kitchens during busy service periods
• Manufacturing facilities carrying out scheduled cleaning or washdown
• Leisure centres with showers and changing facilities in continuous use

In these situations, sufficient stored hot water can help the system respond to sudden increases in demand without a noticeable reduction in availability.

When Hot Water Is Critical to Your Operation

In some environments, running out of hot water is more than an inconvenience.

Food production, manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality and other commercial facilities can depend on reliable hot water for cleaning, hygiene and everyday operation.

Where hot water forms part of a critical process, the system needs to be designed around both expected consumption and periods of maximum demand.

An appropriately sized industrial hot water cylinder provides a reserve of heated water that can be drawn from when required while the system continues to recover.

When You Need Faster Hot Water Recovery

Storage volume is only one part of specifying a commercial or industrial hot water system.

Recovery rate determines how quickly the water within the cylinder can be reheated after use. A large cylinder with insufficient heat input may still struggle to meet demand if significant quantities of hot water are repeatedly drawn from it.

When specifying a system, consideration should therefore be given to the heat source, heat exchanger performance, incoming water temperature and expected usage profile alongside the cylinder’s overall capacity.

Getting this balance right can be particularly important in facilities operating for long periods or experiencing repeated demand peaks throughout the day.

When Your Existing Hot Water System Is Regularly Struggling

Recurring hot water shortages can be an indication that the existing system is no longer suited to the application.

This can happen when a business expands, additional equipment is installed or more people begin using the facility.

Typical warning signs can include hot water running out during busy periods, long recovery times or operational schedules having to be planned around the availability of hot water.

Rather than simply increasing the cylinder size, the complete hot water requirement should be assessed. Capacity, recovery performance, heat source and distribution all contribute to the performance of the overall system.

Where Are Industrial Hot Water Cylinders Used?

Industrial and commercial hot water cylinders can be found across a broad range of applications, including:

• Manufacturing facilities
• Food and beverage production
• Hotels and hospitality
• Leisure centres and gyms
• Schools and universities
• Healthcare environments
• Commercial kitchens
• Agricultural facilities
• Marine and offshore applications
• Large commercial buildings

The exact specification will depend heavily on how, when and why hot water is required.

Choosing the Right Industrial Hot Water Cylinder

There is no single cylinder size that is suitable for every industrial application.

The correct system depends on factors including the required storage volume, peak demand, available heat source, required recovery time, operating pressure and available installation space.

EXCELSIOR industrial and commercial hot water cylinders are manufactured by Fabdec in stainless steel and are available in capacities from 500 to 3,400 litres, allowing systems to be specified for a wide range of high-demand applications.

Because Fabdec manufactures its vessels in-house, cylinders can also be configured around the requirements of individual projects where a standard specification is not suitable.

Need Help Specifying an Industrial Hot Water Cylinder?

If your existing hot water system is struggling to meet demand, or you are designing a new commercial or industrial installation, understanding the site’s actual usage requirements is an important first step.

The Fabdec team can help assess your application and identify an appropriate EXCELSIOR hot water solution based on required capacity, heat source and expected demand.

Contact Fabdec to discuss your industrial or commercial hot water requirements.

A pair of Fabdec Dairy Systems DX-CO milk cooling tanks have successfully arrived in Canada, completing their journey from our manufacturing factory in Ellesmere, Shropshire, to their destination in North America.

The newly received photographs show the tanks safely unloaded and awaiting the next stage of their installation, a welcome sight following the careful preparation, packing and international transport required for equipment of this scale.

Designed with International Transport in Mind

The DX-CO has been developed specifically to provide a practical solution where large-capacity milk cooling equipment needs to be transported efficiently.

Its configuration allows the tank to fit within a shipping container, helping simplify the logistics involved in supplying large milk cooling systems to customers around the world.

For these particular tanks, the pipework is positioned towards the rear of the vessel, helping make effective use of the available container space while retaining the functionality required once the system reaches site.

Before leaving Fabdec, each tank was inspected, protected and carefully secured ready for its transatlantic journey.

From Ellesmere to Canada

The arrival marks the latest stage in a journey that began on the Fabdec factory floor in Shropshire.

Once manufactured and prepared for export, the tanks were loaded into shipping containers alongside associated dairy equipment before beginning their journey across the Atlantic.

The latest images from Canada show the vessels still protected in their transport wrapping after being unloaded, demonstrating the level of protection required to move equipment of this size over such a considerable distance.

Their successful arrival is another example of the coordination that takes place between manufacturing, engineering, logistics and our international partners when supplying Fabdec equipment overseas.

Supporting Dairy Operations Across North America

North America continues to be an important market for Fabdec Dairy Systems, with equipment manufactured in the UK being supplied to dairy operations throughout the region.

The DX-CO forms part of Fabdec’s wider milk cooling and storage range and provides another option for farms and dairy projects requiring significant cooling capacity.

By designing equipment with both on-farm performance and international transportation in mind, we can provide systems suited not only to the customer’s cooling requirements but also to the practical challenges involved in getting large equipment to site.

Built in Shropshire. Delivered Worldwide.

From initial fabrication and testing through to packing and international shipment, these DX-CO tanks demonstrate the complete journey behind a Fabdec Dairy Systems project.

With the tanks now safely in Canada, they can move on to the next stage of their journey and ultimately into service.

Fabdec Dairy Systems manufactures milk cooling, storage and pre-cooling equipment in Ellesmere, Shropshire, supplying dairy customers and partners across the UK and international markets.

Looking for a milk cooling solution for your dairy operation?

[Explore the DX-CO range] or contact Fabdec Dairy Systems to discuss your requirements.

Fabdec Dairy Systems is heading to France this September, with our German team exhibiting throughout SPACE 2026 in Rennes, France from 15–17 September.

The three-day event brings together livestock and agricultural professionals from across Europe and further afield. Now celebrating its 40th edition, SPACE has developed into one of the major international meeting points for the livestock sector, attracting exhibitors and visitors from more than 120 countries.

Meet the Fabdec Team in Rennes

Our German Dairy Systems team will be on the Fabdec stand throughout the full show, giving visitors the opportunity to discuss their milk cooling and dairy equipment requirements directly with the team.

SPACE is particularly relevant to Fabdec because of its strong focus on dairy and livestock farming. Located in Brittany, at the heart of one of Europe’s leading livestock-producing regions, the exhibition provides an important opportunity to meet dairy farmers, dealers, installers and other industry professionals from across the international market.

For Fabdec, the show is another opportunity to strengthen relationships across continental Europe while introducing more dairy businesses to our stainless steel milk cooling and farm equipment.

Dairy Cooling Solutions from Fabdec

Fabdec Dairy Systems manufactures a wide range of equipment for dairy farms, covering milk cooling, storage, pre-cooling and parlour applications.

Visitors to our stand can speak to the team about solutions including:

• Milk cooling and storage tanks, including indoor tanks, outdoor tanks and high-capacity dairy silos
• Milk pre-cooling equipment, including plate coolers, falling film chillers and ice builders
• Heat recovery and farm water heating
• Parlour and farm equipment, including the FOOT-WASH Pro
• Solutions for larger and bespoke dairy installations

With equipment supplied to dairy installations around the world, SPACE provides an ideal setting to discuss how Fabdec systems can be configured around different farm sizes, cooling demands and installation requirements.

An International Meeting Point for Dairy

The international side of SPACE is a significant part of the event. For 2026, the organisers expect approximately 14,000 international visitors from 125 countries, alongside hundreds of international exhibitors.

That makes the exhibition particularly valuable for Fabdec as we continue to develop our presence across Germany, France and the wider European dairy market.

It also gives our team the chance to meet existing contacts face-to-face while creating new relationships with farmers, distributors and dairy industry professionals.

Visit Fabdec at SPACE 2026

SPACE 2026 takes place from Tuesday 15 September to Thursday 17 September 2026 at the Rennes Parc-Expo, France. The exhibition is open from 9:00am until 7:00pm on all three days.

Our German team will be there for the full exhibition and looks forward to welcoming visitors to the Fabdec stand.

Whether you are planning a new milk cooling installation, looking to improve pre-cooling efficiency or simply want to learn more about the Fabdec Dairy Systems range, come and speak to the team in Rennes.

We look forward to seeing you at SPACE 2026.

Fabdec Group recently welcomed representatives from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service to our Ellesmere site, recognising a partnership between the two organisations that has now spanned an impressive 41 years.

The visit also provided an opportunity to recognise two members of the Fabdec engineering team who serve as firefighters alongside their roles within the business.

Between them, the two Fabdec employees have accumulated an impressive 33 years of service with Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Their contribution has become particularly significant during an exceptionally busy summer for firefighters across Shropshire.

An Exceptionally Demanding Summer

The visit comes following a period of exceptionally hot and dry weather across the UK, with successive heatwaves contributing to challenging conditions for fire and rescue services.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service reported more than 130 fires in the open during July alone, alongside a number of large-scale wildfires and other significant incidents during periods of extreme heat.

The Service has also provided support beyond the county, deploying crews and fire engines to assist neighbouring fire and rescue services during major incidents.

The scale of the recent activity has placed increased demands on both full-time and on-call firefighters.

Against this backdrop, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service wanted to recognise those who have helped them continue responding when needed. This includes the two Fabdec engineers pictured, as well as the support provided by Fabdec as their employer.

33 Years of Combined Fire Service Experience

Alongside their day-to-day engineering roles at Fabdec, our two colleagues make themselves available to respond to incidents and help protect their local community.

Together, they have contributed 33 years of service to Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Balancing an engineering career with the responsibilities of an on-call firefighter requires considerable commitment. During periods of increased callouts, that commitment becomes even more apparent.

It also depends upon the support of employers who allow on-call firefighters to respond when their communities need them.

For Fabdec, providing that support is nothing new.

A Partnership Spanning 41 Years

Fabdec Group’s relationship with Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service stretches back 41 years.

Over more than four decades, Fabdec has continued to support employees serving with the Fire and Rescue Service alongside their roles within the business.

The relationship reflects Fabdec’s longstanding connection with Ellesmere and the wider Shropshire community, where the company has been based for more than six decades.

Fabdec’s Managing Director and General Manager joined our two engineers and three representatives from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service for the commemorative photograph.

The occasion brought together both organisations to recognise not only the longevity of the partnership, but also the people who continue to make it possible.

Supporting Those Who Support Our Community

This summer has demonstrated just how important on-call firefighters remain to communities across Shropshire.

The UK has experienced an extraordinary period of hot weather, with several heatwaves throughout the summer. During the most recent major spell, temperatures reached 38.1°C in the UK, while Pershore in neighbouring Worcestershire recorded 38°C.

Hot and exceptionally dry conditions have created particularly challenging circumstances for fire crews and contributed to the significant number of outdoor fires experienced across the region.

For an on-call fire service to operate effectively, however, the dedication of firefighters themselves is only part of the picture. Support from families, colleagues and employers also helps make it possible for them to respond at short notice.

We are therefore particularly proud to recognise the dedication of our two colleagues and the contribution they continue to make outside their roles at Fabdec.

We would also like to thank Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service for visiting our Ellesmere site and recognising the support provided by the wider Fabdec team.

After 41 years of partnership and 33 years of combined service from our two engineers, it is a relationship that continues to make a genuine contribution to our local community.

Pictured alongside the first of Fabdec’s newly updated INSTA-KOOL Falling Film Chiller are members of the company’s engineering, design and senior management teams, ahead of the unit’s journey to World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin at the end of September.

The team includes four Fabdec engineers, a design engineer, the General Manager and the Managing Director, representing the different areas of the business involved in developing and manufacturing the latest version of the INSTA-KOOL.

The completed unit is an 800-litre, 12-plate INSTA-KOOL and is the first to feature a new design that will now be introduced across the range.

Introducing the New INSTA-KOOL Design

The key update is the addition of a top access drawer, designed to make cleaning and routine maintenance easier.

The drawer provides direct access to the reservoir and distribution area above the plates. Over time, dirt or debris can build up within this section of the chiller. The new design allows the area to be accessed more easily, making it simpler to remove any accumulation during cleaning.

This helps support improved hygiene, easier servicing and more straightforward long-term maintenance.

To accommodate the new access system, the outer shape of the INSTA-KOOL has also been updated, giving the latest model its revised appearance.

The top drawer will now become a standard feature across the INSTA-KOOL range moving forward.

Proven Falling Film Cooling Technology

While the external design has changed, the cooling principle behind the INSTA-KOOL remains the same.

Water is distributed across the stainless steel cooling plates inside the unit, where it flows over their surface as a thin film. As the water passes across the chilled plates, its temperature is reduced before it is circulated onwards to a plate cooler.

Within the plate cooler, the chilled water and warm milk flow through separate channels alongside one another. This allows heat to transfer from the milk into the colder water without the two liquids coming into contact.

The cooled water can then continue through the system as part of the pre-cooling circuit, helping reduce the milk temperature before it reaches the bulk milk tank.

By removing heat from the milk before storage, the system can reduce the refrigeration demand placed on the bulk tank and support more efficient milk cooling.

Heading to World Dairy Expo

Following completion at Fabdec’s Ellesmere manufacturing facility, the first updated INSTA-KOOL is now preparing to travel to Madison, Wisconsin, for World Dairy Expo at the end of September.

The event provides an opportunity to showcase Fabdec dairy cooling technology to the North American market, while this particular unit also marks the introduction of the latest development in the INSTA-KOOL range.

With its new top access drawer now becoming standard across future models, the 800-litre, 12-plate chiller represents the first of Fabdec’s updated generation of INSTA-KOOL Falling Film Chillers.

To learn more about the INSTA-KOOL Falling Film Chiller and Fabdec’s wider range of dairy cooling equipment, contact the Fabdec Dairy Systems team.

Fabdec has expanded its in-house manufacturing capabilities with the addition of a new laser engraving system at our Ellesmere factory.

The new equipment allows us to produce detailed identification plates for our process vessels directly on site. These plates can include essential vessel information such as serial numbers, design temperatures, pressure data, material specifications, manufacturing dates and certification details.

Importantly, the system is also capable of producing colour laser markings, giving Fabdec greater flexibility over both the technical information and presentation of each finished vessel.

Greater Control Over the Finished Product

Every process vessel manufactured by Fabdec is built around the requirements of the individual application. That means identification plates can vary significantly depending on the vessel specification, operating conditions and applicable standards.

Bringing laser engraving in-house gives our manufacturing team greater control over this final stage of production.

Rather than relying on externally produced plates, vessel information can now be engraved as part of the manufacturing process. This helps improve consistency, flexibility and turnaround times, particularly on bespoke projects.

Clear and Permanent Vessel Identification

Identification plates provide operators, engineers and maintenance teams with important information throughout the working life of a vessel.

Laser engraving creates a permanent, precise marking directly onto the plate surface. This makes it well suited to industrial environments where durability and long-term legibility are important.

The system can reproduce detailed technical data alongside company branding, certification information and colour elements, allowing the plate to become a more integrated part of the finished vessel rather than simply an attached label.

Supporting Vessel Traceability

Traceability remains an important part of process vessel manufacture.

Individual serial numbers, material information and manufacturing data help connect the physical vessel with its associated documentation and production records.

Producing these plates internally gives Fabdec another level of control over how this information is applied to each completed vessel.

For customers, it provides clear identification of the equipment from the point of manufacture and throughout its service life.

Continued Investment at Fabdec

The new laser engraving system is another example of Fabdec investing in modern manufacturing technology at our UK facility.

While engraving represents only one part of the overall production process, bringing more capabilities in-house helps us maintain control over quality from initial fabrication through to the final details of the finished product.

Fabdec continues to invest in equipment, technology and manufacturing processes that support the production of bespoke stainless steel vessels for customers across a wide range of industries.

From fabrication and heat transfer technology through to testing, identification and final preparation, our aim is to maintain as much control over the finished product as possible.

Shipping a 16,000-litre stainless steel dairy tank across the Atlantic requires more than simply finding a large enough container.

For a recent North American order, Fabdec prepared and shipped two DX-CO container dairy tanks with capacities of 12,000 and 16,000 litres. Alongside the tanks, the shipment also included QUANTUS plate coolers and FOOT-WASH Pro cow footbath systems, creating a comprehensive package of Fabdec dairy equipment ready for installation on arrival.

The shipment provides a good example of why the DX-CO was developed specifically with international transport in mind.

Designed Around Containerised Export

Large dairy tanks can present significant logistical challenges when they need to travel internationally.

The shape and configuration of the DX-CO help overcome these challenges. Each vessel can be positioned on its side within the container, while the pipework is located at the rear of the tank to help maximise the available space.

For this North American shipment, both the 12,000 and 16,000-litre vessels were a snug fit in terms of their width and height. However, careful use of the remaining container space meant there was still room to ship additional Fabdec equipment alongside them.

This included plate coolers and FOOT-WASH Pro systems supplied as part of the same customer order.

Preparing the Tanks for Their Journey

Before leaving Fabdec, each DX-CO undergoes a final inspection.

Once the inspection is complete, our team professionally wraps and protects the vessel. This preparation helps protect the stainless steel surfaces throughout handling and transportation, ensuring the equipment arrives in excellent condition.

For this shipment, external lifting specialists then assisted with loading the tanks.

The wrapped vessels were carefully craned from above and lowered into open-top shipping containers. With only limited clearance around the vessels, accurate positioning was essential.

Secured for International Transport

Once positioned inside the container, the equipment must remain secure throughout its journey.

The tanks were stabilised using protective air bags and ratchet straps. These help prevent unwanted movement while also protecting the vessel and surrounding equipment during transport.

The result is a tightly packed container containing not only a substantial milk cooling tank, but also additional equipment required for the customer’s dairy installation.

Ready for Installation on Arrival

Container-friendly design also helps simplify what happens at the other end of the journey.

Once the equipment reaches its destination in North America and is unloaded, the DX-CO is ready to move into the installation stage. This helps customers source major pieces of their dairy cooling and farm equipment from one manufacturer and have them transported together.

As Fabdec’s international dairy business continues to grow, shipments of this type are becoming increasingly common.

Designing equipment with transportation in mind allows us to supply large-capacity dairy systems to customers much further afield without compromising the quality or functionality of the finished product.

Dairy Equipment Built for International Projects

Fabdec manufactures dairy cooling, storage, pre-cooling and farm equipment from our UK manufacturing facility, supplying customers across international markets.

The DX-CO container tank is one example of how product design can help make large-scale dairy equipment more practical to transport internationally.

Available in a range of capacities, DX-CO tanks combine stainless steel construction, milk cooling capability and a container-conscious configuration for dairy projects where export logistics matter.

Planning an international dairy project?

Speak to Fabdec about milk cooling tanks, pre-cooling equipment and dairy farm systems for projects in the UK and overseas.

Fabdec has renewed its ISO 9001 certification, effective from 29 July 2026.

The renewal reflects our continued commitment to controlled processes, consistent manufacturing standards and ongoing improvement across the business.

For customers, ISO 9001 certification provides independent assurance that quality is managed through a structured and regularly reviewed system.

What ISO 9001 Means for Customers

ISO 9001 is an internationally recognised quality management standard. It focuses on how an organisation controls its processes, responds to issues and maintains consistent standards.

For customers purchasing stainless steel equipment, quality assurance applies throughout the project lifecycle. It begins with the initial enquiry and continues through design, material control, manufacture, inspection and delivery.

This helps ensure that customer requirements are clearly understood, documented and followed throughout production.

Quality Across the Manufacturing Process

Many Fabdec products are designed around specific customer requirements. Bespoke manufacturing therefore depends on accurate communication, controlled documentation and consistent production methods.

Our quality management system supports the control of drawings, materials, production records and inspection procedures.

Depending on the project, completed equipment may be checked for dimensional accuracy, surface finish, pressure integrity, connection positions and compliance with the agreed design.

These processes help reduce the risk of errors and provide customers with greater confidence in the finished product.

Supporting Continuous Improvement

ISO 9001 also requires organisations to identify problems, investigate their causes and take corrective action.

Customer feedback, internal reviews and production findings can all contribute to improvements in the way products are designed, manufactured and delivered.

This supports greater consistency across Fabdec’s stainless steel process vessels, dairy equipment and water heating solutions.

Continued Commitment to Quality

Renewing our ISO 9001 certification confirms that Fabdec’s quality management system continues to meet the requirements of the standard.

More importantly, it reinforces our ongoing commitment to reliable processes, consistent workmanship and customer satisfaction.

Whether you require a standard product or a fully bespoke stainless steel solution, our team can support your project from initial specification through to manufacture and delivery.

Contact Fabdec to discuss your requirements.

Marine calorifiers and industrial water heaters perform the same basic function. Both store and heat water for use across a building, facility or vessel.

However, a marine installation introduces a different set of engineering constraints.

Space is often limited. Access routes can be restrictive. Equipment must remain secure while the vessel moves. Connections may also need to suit an established onboard services layout.

As a result, a standard industrial water heater cannot always be transferred directly into a marine application.

Restricted space and installation access

Capacity is only one part of marine water heater specification.

Two cylinders can hold the same volume while having very different proportions. One may be tall and narrow, while another may be shorter with a larger diameter.

This matters because a marine calorifier may need to pass through:

• Restricted access hatches
• Narrow corridors
• Machinery-space doorways
• Existing pipework
• Areas with limited headroom
• Compartments containing fixed equipment

The route into the vessel can therefore be just as important as the final installation space.

Specifiers should confirm hatch sizes, doorway widths, turning space and lifting restrictions before approving the cylinder dimensions.

Where standard proportions will not work, a bespoke marine calorifier can provide the required capacity within a more suitable height and diameter.

Mounting and vessel movement

An industrial water heater normally stands vertically on a stable plant-room floor.

A marine calorifier operates in a moving environment. Its mounting arrangement must account for vibration, vessel movement and the available fixing points.

Depending on the application, this may require:

• A welded base plate
• Purpose-designed mounting brackets
• Additional fixing points
• Reinforced supports
• Horizontal installation
• A non-standard support arrangement

The intended orientation must be established before manufacture.

Immersion heaters, internal coils and connections must all be positioned to suit the final installation. A cylinder designed for vertical use should not simply be installed horizontally without confirming that its internal arrangement is suitable.

Custom connections and service access

Industrial water heaters often use established connection positions because the surrounding pipework can be routed to suit the cylinder.

Marine projects frequently work the other way around.

The calorifier may need to fit around:

• Existing pipe routes
• Bulkheads
• Machinery
• Electrical equipment
• Maintenance zones
• Restricted side access

Custom connection positions can reduce pipework changes and simplify installation.

These may include non-standard positions for:

• Cold-water inlets
• Hot-water outlets
• Primary coil connections
• Secondary returns
• Immersion heaters
• Temperature sensors
• Drain points
• Safety equipment

Top-mounted fittings may also be useful where access around the sides of the cylinder is limited.

Maintenance clearance should be considered at the same stage. It is not enough for the calorifier to fit into the space. Engineers must also be able to remove immersion heaters, inspect controls and access valves throughout the vessel’s service life.

What should marine specifiers provide?

The initial specification should include:

• Required capacity
• Maximum working pressure
• Design temperature
• Intended orientation
• Maximum height and diameter
• Installation access dimensions
• Mounting requirements
• Heat-source temperature and flow
• Recovery requirements
• Immersion heater requirements
• Connection sizes and positions
• Relevant project requirements

For replacement projects, drawings and photographs of the existing unit and surrounding space can also help identify potential constraints.

Bespoke marine water heating from EXCELSIOR

EXCELSIOR manufactures stainless steel marine water heaters for commercial and specialist applications.

Marine units can be designed around restricted installation spaces, onboard heat sources and project-specific connection requirements.

Available options include:

• Capacities from 50 to 3,000 litres
• Bespoke height and diameter combinations
• Custom connection positions
• Direct and indirect heating
• Application-specific internal coils
• Base plates for secure installation
• Optional top-mounted fittings
• Horizontal and vertical configurations
• Stainless steel construction

A marine calorifier should not be selected by capacity alone.

The correct unit must fit into the vessel, connect to the available services and deliver the required hot water performance. It must also remain secure and accessible throughout its working life.

Contact the EXCELSIOR team to discuss a new marine water heating project or the replacement of an existing marine calorifier.