Antrim-based manufacturer Okotech Ltd recently won a contract from Cardiff City Council for its Heatboss ‘smart’ wireless radiator control valves and room thermostat control system to be installed in a range of buildings, the first of which will be a primary school in Cardiff. As well as schools, Heatboss will be installed in care homes, offices and heritage buildings.

The company also gained its first hotel client earlier this year; the Bayview Hotel, Portballintrae, is achieving savings of 30-40% on its heating costs. Okotech has received R&D assistance of £22,345 from Invest Northern Ireland to help it develop the Heatboss product.

Janette O’Hagan from Okotech said: “The system enables users to control temperatures and on/off times for each individual room, ensuring that only the correct amount of heat is used, when and where it’s needed. The system can be controlled remotely from any Web-enabled device. The Heatboss system overcomes the installation issues encountered by other wireless heating controls in scaling up to commercial and public-sized buildings. It also integrates seamlessly with any underlying building management system to ensure optimal savings.”

Kevin McCann, director of R&D at Invest NI, said: “It is great to see this investment in R&D delivering a return for the business. The company continues to review its product range to ensure that it is meeting the demands of customers. This innovative approach has enabled it to look to new markets and expand its customer base.”