KBB Kollektorbau GmbH

Ever since 1993, KBB Kollektorbau GmbH has been developing and delivering the most important components used in thermal solar systems: collectors, full-surface absorbers and installation accessories 

Our company is well known in the heating market as a reliable, independent original equipment manufacturer. We deliver exclusively to OEM partners, i.e. industrial clients and retail houses that sell thermal solar technology under their own name. As a consequence, KBB is not represented with its own brand on the market.

industrial manufactured solar collectors at affordable prices for everyone, helping solar energy to achieve the international breakthrough. As an innovation and quality-oriented company, KBB is continually developing production technology. The machinery is regularly modernised. In this way, we are well-equipped to meet the challenges of a dynamically growing solar market – and our OEM partners are equally well-equipped along with us.

On this Website we are offering information on our products and production processes. You’ll learn which employees you can contact for questions and where we are located.

After considerable early market success in Greece and Austria during the 1980s, Germany began to set the pace of the European solar heating market in the 1990s. Since 2000, the active German market and the accompanying

professionalisation of the solar industry have motivated neighbouring European countries to grasp the benefits of solar technology on a large-scale basis.

Statistics show that for every five Austrians today, 1 m² surface area of solar panels has been installed. The same holds true only for every 20 Germans and every 200 French citizens. These statistics show how much still needs to be accomplished in the solar heating industry. Rising energy prices and increasing climate control both point to a huge growth potential, which with the right strategy, can be efficiently capitalised upon. A key factor in this process will be industrially produced absorbers and collectors.

Small solar water heating systems make up a majority of the market today, but larger solar heating systems are quickly gaining ground. Various applications used in solar heating demand systems which are customised to specific requirements as well as specifically optimised collector constructions. In the future, success on the market will reflect both quality and competitive pricing.

From conceptual development through construction and all the way to production, quality control, certification, final delivery and recycling, we offer a complete product service package – from a single source.

Due to the complexity of solar products, a close partnership with the customer is always our first priority. This process often results in numerous collaborative developments and solutions which are individually tailored to the customer‘s requirements. Expertise is always on hand, ensuring further innovations.

If desired, our products can be delivered with a design certification, a Technical Control Board (TÜV) inspection confirmation and with the Blue Angel product sticker. For European sales, our standard collectors are certified under the Solar Keymark programme.

In 2004, KBB Kollektorbau entered the industrial production of laser-welded absorbers. In the largely automated production line, copper and aluminium absorbers are produced in 1-minute cycles. During its initial two years of production, the laser welding facility developed by KBB produced over 300,000 m² of high-tech absorbers for leading solar providers.

Laser-welded absorbers can withstand the higher standstill temperatures of the new collector generation. For this reason, they are particularly suitable for collectors which feature anti-reflex glass and optimal thermal insulation. In this way, greater thermal effectiveness and efficiency characteristics can be obtained. Such collectors are particularly well suited for countries with higher levels of solar radiation.

Due to sharp increases in copper prices, KBB Kollektorbau started production in 2005 of laser-welded aluminium absorbers following extensive testing procedures. Aluminium absorbers had a clear cost advantage in 2006 over copper absorbers, with the same performance.

Excellent performance

As the connection is very strong and absolutely temperature-resistant.
A well-welded absorber enables outstanding heat transfer characteristics.*
Flexible design and precise construction:
As pipes and absorber sheets can be connected to each other to 100%. On demand, KBB´s innovative process also allows pipe bends and collecting ducts to be welded to the sheets.
Uniform quality:
As laser welding enables a high degree of process stability.
Versatility:
As various material matches are possible, particularly aluminium with copper.
Aesthetic:
As the welding occurs on the back side of the absorber, the highly selective absorber surface remains largely intact.
Eco-friendly:
As the technology is completely free of additives and is recyclable.