Heat technology producer Stiebel Eltron has reported the highest turnover in the company’s 93-year history. The German group of companies, headquartered in Holzminden, has broken through the 500-million-euro mark for the first time.

“This is a fantastic success of which we are proud of ,” said managing director Dr Nicholas Matten. “Half a billion had become almost a magical threshold, which we have finally exceeded as we near the end of last year. I want to thank all our employees, who made it possible,” added Dr Kai Schiefelbein.

The company’s former record turnover was 483 million euros in 2012, its second highest turnover was 478 million euros in 2016. The increase last year was based on growth in all relevant business units: the renewable energy division with heat-pump heating systems and air-conditioning systems, and the water-heating division with instantaneous water heaters, small and floor-standing storage heaters. “What’s more, we experienced growth in both our home market in Germany and internationally,” said Dr Matten. The final balance of accounts for 2017 will be confirmed at the end of the first quarter of 2018.

Stiebel Eltron Asia closed 2017 with a 8-per cent sales growth and a 11 per cent increase in the amounts of units sold. The continuous growth is in line with the company’s target to double their turnover in the next five years. In 2018, Stiebel Eltron will continue to strengthen brand recognition amongst consumers and expanding their sales channels nationwide.

40 DOT volunteers to serve foreign visitors

The Department of Tourism will provide 40 volunteers with foreign language skills to assist visitors at the popular Un Ai Rak Khlai Khwam Nao winter festival at the Royal Plaza.

Anan Wongbenjarat, Director General of the Department of Tourism (DOT), Ministry of Tourism and Sports, noted that the spectacular festival at the Royal Plaza and Sanam Sua Pa has been attracting not only Thais but also a large number of foreign tourists through the years. .

In collaboration with the Public Relations Department, DOT is providing 40 volunteers to assist all visitors.

Equipped with foreign language skills, they will able to assist international visitors in fully enjoying various activities at the festival, said Anan. The volunteers wil be stationed at the information counter on February 9, 15, 21 , 27, and March 5 11.

To provide all-day assistance, the first group of 20 volunteers will be on duty between 9 am and 4 pm. The second group will be at work from 4 pm to 9 pm. On Fridays and Saturdays, service hours are extended to 10 pm.

The “Un Ai Rak Khlai Khwam Nao” is a new royal festival to showcase Thai identity through the beauty and charms of traditional Thai way of life and traditions. The festival runs until March 11, 2018. It features spectacular flower and fountain gardens, exhibitions on the royal works of King Chulalongkorn and the late HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej, as well as various activities to showcase traditional Thai way of life in the past.

Push for tourism with ‘Hula Hula with Coca-Cola’

Coca-Cola is putting a new face on its products sold in Thailand in time for the summer season.

The soft-drink giant’s new campaign, “Hula Hula with Coca-Cola this summer”, will feature 24 new package designs, TV commercials, out-of-home media advertising, a “very uplifting summer anthem” videos and other content.

“Our starting point for this ‘Coke for Summer ‘idea came from the realisation that so many of the world’s best summer destinations are in Thailand, and that we often forget just how special they are,” said Claudia Navarro, Marketing Director of Coca-Cola (Thailand) Ltd.

“We therefore chose 24 of the most popular spots and developed designs that relate to iconic symbols from each of these places. We are hoping Thais will have fun collecting them, or finding the one that means the most to them and sharing it with someone special back home.”

Thai power industry invited to India

An Indian electrical exhibition has reached out to particularly invite the Thai power industry to this year’s annual exhibition in Delhi, highlighting the trade opportunities in electricity-associated industries for both countries.

“Thailand will need to invest significantly in its energy system over the coming two decades as it has set a new renewable energy target of 30 per cent of total final energy consumption by 2036,” said Harish Agarwal, vice president of the Indian Electrical & Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (IEEMA), which organises Elecrama 2018, one of the world’s largest electrical exhibitions.

“The Thai government has long recognised the importance of alternative, especially renewable, energy sources and the need to introduce programmes in support of renewable energy development and deployment,” he said on a recent trip to Bangkok sponsored by the Indian government.

“Additional efforts are being made for strengthening and expanding transmission infrastructure.”

Elecrama 2018 will cover the entire spectrum of electricity including generation, transmission, distribution, power electronics, renewables, electric transportation, power storage and automation.

It will be held in India March 10-14 20 at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, Delhi.