Vitalis, a Canadian manufacturer of CO2 (R744)-based HVAC&R systems, has announced the opening of a new manufacturing facility in British Columbia that will double its production capacity.
The 25,000ft2 (2,323m2) site in Kelowna, British Columbia, will enable Vitalis to meet North America’s growing demand for its R744 heat pumps, chillers and refrigeration systems, reducing lead times for its customers, the company said.
“We build a variety of different products in many industries,” said James Seabrook, President of Vitalis, in an interview with the Boundary Creek Times. “We’re very excited about [helping] communities or facilities adopt technology that is better for the environment.”
Beyond supporting local and international decarbonization efforts, the new site is also helping to enhance the local economy by bringing more than 50 skilled jobs to Kelowna, Vitalis noted.
The facility was officially opened at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 1, which was attended by several local government, industry and community stakeholders.
“We’re very excited about [helping] communities or facilities adopt technology that is better for the environment.”
James Seabrook, President of Vitalis
Large-scale installations
Historically, Vitalis’s CO2 products have been for industrial applications, like district heating. It recently introduced a packaged megawatt CO2 heat pump to the North American market.
A notable example of its experience in the industrial heating sector is its district energy project at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus in Kelowna. The installation consists of a 1.5MW (426.5TR)-capacity Coolshift R744 heat pump, which Vitalis says is currently the largest of its kind in North America.
To better serve lower-capacity CO2 projects in the region, Vitalis has partnered with German manufacturer TEKO, a company that has been developing R744 technologies for the European market since 2004. Both companies are part of the German-based KKVB Group, which acquired Vitalis in May 2024.
Vitalis will soon begin manufacturing TEKO CO2 systems in Canada, producing condensing units that serve capacities up to 17kW (4.8TR) to heavy industrial racks that go up to 1MW (284.3TR).
