A significant milestone of innovation and development
From VPL to VPM: Growing demand expands the technology to commercial buildings
Already in the 1970s and 1980s, Nilan made its mark with the iconic VPL15 and VPL25 ventilation systems, which quickly became standard in Danish single-family houses. It did not take long before the success spread abroad. Beyond Europe, markets such as Canada and the USA embraced Nilan’s technological edge, and following a major exhibition at Brookhaven National Laboratories, this resulted in the sale of around 5,000 VPL15 heat pumps. Containers were filled floor to ceiling with VPL15s and shipped across the Atlantic.
Expansion into commercial buildings
When rising interest rates in the 1980s slowed private housebuilding, Nilan saw an opportunity to adapt the VPL series for commercial use. This led to the launch of the VPL35 and VPL45, capable of handling air volumes of 3,500–4,500 m³/h – ideal for shops and offices. With increasing demand, the VPL series was further refined and expanded to handle air volumes up to 12,500 m³/h, making them suitable for even larger buildings and complexes. The series used parallel-flow heat recovery, a technology that proved particularly effective in existing buildings where exhaust and supply air had to be routed through concrete ducts.
As demand for commercial systems in new builds grew, it became clear that counterflow technology – with supply and exhaust air placed on the same side – was ideal. This paved the way for the VPM series. Featuring a reversible heat pump capable of both cooling and heating the supply air, as well as an integrated heat pipe to boost heating performance, the VPM technology quickly gained popularity.
Danish property tycoon as “launch customer” for Nilan’s new commercial units
One of the first to adopt the newly developed commercial units was the charismatic property developer Asger Mortensen, who was behind several major building projects, including a number of Park Hotels in Denmark – among them the impressive Tårnborg Parkhotel in Korsør. Nilan’s owner and innovator, Torben Andersen, personally took part in the installations and followed the projects closely.
In 1986, Torben Andersen obtained his pilot’s licence, which gave him new flexibility. He could quickly fly across the country to attend building meetings, deliver products, and inspect production at Elektro Standard in Sweden. When construction projects needed inspection, he often landed in farmers’ fields near the sites – always with the permission of the local landowners.
An international venture: Café Klostergarten in Rostock
Nilan also supplied units to Café Klostergarten, which opened in 1990 by two Danish entrepreneurs who saw great opportunities in Rostock after German reunification. The café soon became a popular meeting place, especially for Danes and other Scandinavians staying in Germany.
During the project, Torben faced a different challenge – there were no local fields available for landing, so he had to use a military airfield. He naturally flew himself to Rostock to inspect the project, but when he arrived on a Sunday, the runway was closed. Fortunately, the airport director kindly opened it for him, allowing him to land safely.
A wide range of commercial solutions for Denmark and international markets
Today, Nilan continues to produce both the VPL and VPM series, and over time several versions have been developed to meet different needs and applications. The VPM series now also includes a Cleanroom version, used in laboratories and hospitals. The latest addition to Nilan’s portfolio is the VPR, a ventilation unit with heat recovery via a rotary heat exchanger combined with a heat pump. Its reversible cooling circuit can adapt to the demand for either heating or cooling the supply air.
In addition, Nilan produces large Comfort units with counterflow heat exchangers, ensuring efficient ventilation and passive heat recovery.
