Blog

As we close out 2025 and look ahead to an exciting new year, it is impossible not to reflect on what has been one of the most transformative periods in the history of the company. Following the company acquisition by NIBE, we now have a new management structure in place and have embarked on a program of continuous product and process reviews, to ensure that Ceramicx is well positioned for the future.

Leadership Transitions: Honouring the Past and Embracing the Future

February 2025 marked the end of an era as the company founder, Frank Wilson, retired after over 30 years of hard work and dedication in establishing Ceramicx into the global infrared heating specialist it is today, and his contribution will remain woven into the company’s DNA.

In March, we announced the appointment of Paddy Martin as Managing Director. Already serving as our CFO, Paddy brings a strong accounting background and considerable manufacturing experience at both operational and strategic levels. His passion for progress and strategic development positions Ceramicx strongly for the years ahead.

We also said farewell to Marketing Manager David Hayward, who retired after years of championing the Ceramicx brand and helping share our story with the world.

Operational Improvements: Better Packaging

2025 was also the year we completed a significant upgrade to our product packaging. These improvements were designed to enhance product protection, reduce environmental impact, and streamline the customer experience.

Our new packaging helps us:

• Reduce product damage during transportation
• Use reusable and recyclable materials
• Improve durability during storage and handling
• Cut down on void fill and unnecessary packaging waste

Our Inaugural NIBE Intergroup Open Day

A standout highlight of the year was hosting our first-ever NIBE Intergroup Open Day. This event brought together colleagues from across the NIBE Element family for a day of knowledge-sharing, demonstrations, factory tours, and open discussions about our strategic direction.

The event strengthened intergroup relationships, showcased our specialist capabilities within the NIBE organisation, and opened new avenues for collaboration in 2026 and beyond.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As Ceramicx moves forward with new owners, refreshed leadership and a strengthened infrastructure, we embrace the challenges ahead. During 2025, we have laid the foundation for future long-term innovation, deeper collaboration across the NIBE group, and a desire for continued growth in our global markets.

From all of us at Ceramicx—thank you for being part of our journey this year. Whether you are a customer, partner, supplier, or team member, your support is what makes our continued success possible.

Here’s to a bright, innovative, and ambitious 2026.

Warmest Christmas wishes and every happiness in the coming year from Ceramicx.

To our valued customers, suppliers, employees, and friends — we wish you a joyful and peaceful Christmas season.

Please note that we will close for our Christmas holidays on Friday, 19th December, and will reopen on Monday, 5th January 2025.

Unlike other manufacturers who rely on batch testing—checking only a sample from a production run—we verify the quality of each infrared heating element. This gives our customers complete confidence in the reliability and accuracy of their industrial heating systems.

Why Individual Testing of Infrared Heating Elements Matters

Achieving the correct material temperature is essential for consistent infrared heating performance. For any industrial infrared heating system, consistent and high-quality output is critical. Even small variations in heating element performance can lead to uneven heating, reduced product quality, production inefficiencies, and costly downtime. This in turn can cause scorch marks on the material or surface damage if hot spots develop. When the temperature is uneven, you may also end up with incomplete or inconsistent designs.

By individually testing each ceramic infrared heater, we ensure:

• Consistent output across every element and batch
• Reliable long-term performance
• Reduced maintenance, failures, and downtime
• Full manufacturing traceability and product confidence

Inside Our Infrared Heater Testing Process

Every ceramic element undergoes a controlled testing procedure to verify safety, electrical performance, and radiant output:

1. Electrical resistance – to ensure it falls within the specified tolerance.
2. Surface temperature verification – Ensures uniform radiant heat distribution and stable operating temperatures.
3. Laser marking – Each element is permanently marked with electrical rating, safety certification, manufacturing date, and a unique serial number for complete traceability.

Data-Driven Quality

Our rigorous testing approach guarantees:

• Consistent power density and radiant performance
• Accurate and repeatable control of infrared output
• Verified alignment between specifications and real-world performance

We offer a standard range of sizes and wattages, allowing our elements to be easily swapped out for quick, hassle-free replacement within heating panels. Our commitment to precision ensures that your infrared heating systems will operate efficiently and reliably, and exactly as engineered.

If you would like more information, please email [email protected]

These upgrades offer stronger protection against potential damage caused during transportation and reduces our environmental impact.

Our goals for this development were to provide the following:

• Reduce product damage during transportation
• Use reusable and recyclable packaging materials
• Improve durability during storage and handling
• Cut down on void fill and unnecessary packaging waste

Here’s what’s new:

Improved External Shipper Box

We’ve transitioned to thicker, unbranded external shipper boxes moving from 4mm  to 6mm thickness. This provides greater external protection against potential damage caused during transportation and greater durability in storage and handling. By using plain boxes, we make it easier for customers to repurpose our packaging and help cut down on waste.

Inner Card Sleeve Protection

Each shipper box now has a 5mm thick internal card sleeve providing additional protection to all sides of the shipper box. The addition of this sleeve reduces internal movement during transit and significantly cuts down the need for void fill. It helps keep all elements securely in place during shipping and handling.

Dual Honeycomb Pads

We’ve added two cardboard honeycomb pads to each box each measuring 20mm in thickness — one on the top and one on the bottom of every box. These pads absorb shock and stabilize contents. Using them in conjunction with the other upgrades means we now provide 360-degree protection to our elements during shipping.  These pads are made of plain unbranded cardboard and can be cut to size easily and re-used by our customers in their own shipping packaging.

Why This Matters:

These updates were developed with input from internal teams, logistics partners, packaging suppliers and customers. During our packaging drop tests at a height of one metre we saw a reduction of 31% in the damage rate bringing our product damage rate below 5% — a major step toward safer, greener deliveries.

 

Received a shipment from us recently with our new packaging? We’d love to hear what you think — your feedback helps us improve and shape future designs!

A Day of Learning, Sharing & Future Planning

The visiting teams spent a full day at our factory, where they were given a comprehensive overview of Ceramicx’s operations, infrared heating capabilities, and bespoke solutions.

The agenda included a hands-on look at our infrared heating elements, a guided tour of our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, and multiple opportunities for in-depth discussion on future collaboration.

Key Presentations & Guest Speakers

Mattias Örtenblad and Ton Ippel attended the day on behalf of NIBE, and shared background on Ceramicx’s acquisition by the NIBE Group and discussed how the company fits into NIBE’s broader strategy of innovation, sustainability, and synergy across sectors.

Managing Director Paddy Martin offered a warm welcome and delivered an introductory presentation outlining Ceramicx’s history, product offering, and future outlook.

Our Production, Design, and Engineering Managers led guests through a detailed factory tour—covering ceramic production, quartz and engineering, tooling, testing, and packing. The complete manufacturing process was on full display, allowing our visitors to observe, ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding of both our standard products and capabilities for non-standard or custom-built solutions.

In the afternoon, Technical Sales Manager Tadhg Whooley presented a wide range of infrared heating applications that have been successfully delivered by Ceramicx across multiple industries. He also highlighted how we address custom heating requirements, supporting our clients with solutions tailored to unique and often complex project needs.

A Step Forward Together

The event was more than just a company visit—it was a significant step toward building stronger ties and driving mutual success across the NIBE ecosystem. As a trusted partner to many of the companies present, Ceramicx looks forward to continued collaboration and shared growth in the months and years ahead.

“It was very important for us to have our colleagues from NIBE Element finally visit the Ceramicx factory. Whilst the weather was unfortunately very wet and we were unable to showcase our fabulous location in beautiful West Cork, we were able to present our purpose-built factory to our colleagues and demonstrate the products and services that we can provide. 

Working and developing relationships with all our intergroup partners is of vital importance if we are to extend our reach for both the supply of products and infrared heating solutions throughout the group and beyond.”— Paddy Martin, Managing Director, Ceramicx

We are pleased to share some exciting news from the Ceramicx team: our Quality Manager, Stanislav Piscako, has recently achieved ISO 14001 Lead Auditor certification. This is a significant professional milestone for Stanislav and a strategic development for Ceramicx as we continue aligning with the environmental and sustainability goals of the NIBE Group.

Following our acquisition by NIBE in 2022, Ceramicx became part of a global organization known for its strong commitment to sustainable energy solutions and environmental responsibility. NIBE Group operates in over 30 countries and is a leading player in the fields of energy-efficient heating technology and green building solutions. Their vision—“world-class solutions in sustainable energy”—is built on environmental stewardship, long-term thinking, and continuous improvement.

To comply with NIBE Group’s environmental requirements and support their long-term sustainability goals, we have now formally begun the process of working toward ISO 14001 accreditation. ISO 14001 is the internationally recognized standard for environmental management systems (EMS), offering organizations a robust framework to reduce environmental impact, ensure regulatory compliance, and continually improve environmental performance.

By pursuing this certification, Ceramicx is laying the foundation to achieve ‘approved status’ within the NIBE Group. It also reflects our broader commitment to managing our operations in a way that minimizes environmental risk and supports a greener future for manufacturing.

We are proud to take this next step in our journey as part of the NIBE family and look forward to keeping you updated as we progress toward full ISO 14001 accreditation.

David has played a pivotal role in shaping Ceramicx brand over the years – spearheading the launch of the company magazine, guiding the evolution of our logo and branding and supporting virtually every department in a meaningful way. His creativity, eye for detail and understanding of the company has left an undeniable mark.

While we’re sad to see David go, we’re deeply grateful for the impact he’s had – not just professionally but personally. He’ll be missed by the entire team.

We’re happy to announce that Rachel Harrington, who previously worked alongside David as his Marketing Assistant, is returning to Ceramicx to take up the position of Digital Marketing and Content Coordinator.

Since her time with us, Rachel has gained a wealth of experience, and we’re delighted to welcome her back. Her familiarity with our brand, combined with her fresh perspective, make her the perfect fit to carry David’s legacy forward.

Joining us for the next chapter is Carina Hourihan, our new Business Relationship Manager. With a strong background in customer relations, data gathering and building connections, Carina brings a client-first approach that aligns with who we are at Ceramicx.

We’re excited to see her strengthen relationships with customers and drive new opportunities and conversations.

Thank you, David

To David- thank you for your years of dedication and creativity. Your presence will be missed, and your contributions will continue to shape our future. Wishing you all the best in your well-earned retirement.

Here’s to new beginnings and continued success – for all of us.

Chinaplas is an annual exhibition for the plastics and rubber industries which rotates location annually, between Shanghai in East China and Shenzhen in the South. This year 37th Chinaplas was hosted on 15th – 18th April in Shenzhen at the World Exhibition & Convention Center. 4,500 exhibitors covered 380,000 square meters of floor space, and over the 4 days hosted 281,206 visitors 68,542 (24%) from overseas.

Mr Li Ping Qiang and his team from our Chinese distributor Guangzhou Salaimi Automation Equipment Co Ltd (GSAE) and Mr Xu Shan from the HENN Group represented Ceramicx on our stand, working with our partners at the British Plastics Federation.

Mr Xu Shan, General Manger, HENN GROUP China, who has cooperated with Ceramicx for over 20 years said:,

“I consider this is a successful exhibition. We know many of the potential customers in the industrial sector and many of these customers also attend Chinaplas as exhibitors. Chinaplas provides a platform to promote the CERAMICX brand and communicate on a face to face basis, with existing customers, in addition to potential new customers and partners.”

CHINAPLAS 2026 will be held in Shanghai from 21- 24 April 2026 at the Shanghai – National Exhibition and Convention Center, Shanghai, China – We look forward to seeing you there.

Please get in contact if you would like to find out more about Ceramicx, our product range and application engineering services and support.

Email: [email protected]

Ceramicx, a member of the NIBE Group, is pleased to announce the appointment of Paddy Martin as Managing Director, effective February 26, 2025. This follows the retirement of long-serving Managing Director Frank Wilson.

Paddy has been working at Ceramicx for the last 2 years as Chief Financial Officer and has accepted the position of Managing Director as of 26^th February 2025.

Senior Management Team Update

In addition to Paddy’s appointment, Tadhg Whooley (Technical Sales Manager) and Samantha Davies (HR Manager) have officially joined the Senior Management Team, working alongside the Operational Management Team.

All previous contacts within the Ceramicx team remain the same. We continue to prioritise strong partnerships with both new and existing customers, and we’re excited to explore new opportunities in infrared heating technology and thermal engineering solutions.

Please visit our team page for all up to date contact names.