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In the early 80’s the Dutch entrepreneur Peter van Vugt starts to import Toyoset mobile paraffin heaters from Japan. He acquires the exclusive sales rights for the Netherlands.
The heaters were sold mainly on consumer fairs. They were meant as an energy alternative for expensive central heating in houses and also convenient for spaces without gas or central heating (for example workshops). -
To effectively position the petrol heater in the market, a good brand name was essential. Zibro Kamin was chosen (Kamin is the German word for heater) and the first brand visual was designed. This visual included a flame, to connect the new brand name to the feeling of warmth and comfort.
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PVG, the company behind the Zibro Kamin brand, was named after the owner, Peter van Vugt. It was an international trading house that focused on the Zibro Kamin brand. The first office was located at the Nieuwe Hescheweg in Oss, The Netherlands.
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Very soon after the launch of the first product, a second Zibro Kamin product was invented. This was a petrol heater with a double clean system (‘Turbo’), which guarantees optimal burning of all residual gases. Benefit for consumers was that there was hardly any odour. This made the Zibro Turbos particularly suitable for living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms. Especially in the spring and autumn a Turbo was a good alternative for the central heating system, as it only heats a specific area.
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At the headquarters a filling system for fuel cans was introduced. This made it possible to supply the expanding paraffin heater market with larger quantities of high quality fuel.
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After a few months, a deposit packaging fuel system was launched. Consumers paid the deposit once, and could easily hand in their empty cans and purchase full cans at any local Zibro dealer.
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In the first year, the Zibro Kamin paraffin heaters were already introduced in Belgium and Luxemburg. This meant a large expansion of the dealer network.
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Due to the energy crisis, the market for energy efficient heating systems was booming. Zibro Kamin clearly positioned itself as a very smart partner, which served the need of customers. This lead to a huge expansion of the sales numbers.
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As the Benelux was already covered, Zibro Kamin expanded its area of interest to France. A lot of effort was put in building a solid dealer network of mainly hardware stores.
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In 1985 the Zibro Kamin products were successfully introduced in Spain, Denmark and the United Kingdom. Crucial for this success was that the employees in these new key markets could fully focus on the sales process, and that all other services were provided from headquarters.
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In 1986 Zibro Kamin heaters were successfully introduced in Portugal, Germany and Norway.
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As Zibro Kamin was originally the brand name for heaters, it was important to clearly position the high quality fuel. A special label was designed and the name Zibro Plus was introduced. ‘Plus’ referred to the optimal burning process and the high efficiency.
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Under the new Zibro Plus brand, fuel became a more important sales product. Due to growing volumes the production was shifted to a logistic partner in Helmond, The Netherlands.
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In 1987 Zibro Kamin was the first to introduce a revolutionary electronic Laser system. This made it possible to exactly indicate the desired temperature and program a timer. A very energy efficient option, as the heater will never use more energy than needed. The special ‘fuzzy logic’ system made it possible that the heater calculated at what time the desired temperature would be reached, and started its heating process in advance.
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Safety is one of the key values of Zibro Kamin. Therefore the company successfully applied for the independent test labels GS/TŰV (Germany) and NF (France). Both labels were awarded to all Zibro petrol products at that time.
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Zibro Kamin and Zibro Plus products became available in the Czech Republic, Austria and Slovenia.
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As heaters are a product for the cold season, Zibro saw interesting marketing opportunities for climate products that were needed all year round. The first product was a dehumidifier; this was also the first product to be introduced under the name Zibro Clima.
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After successful introductions of the Zibro Kamin products in other European countries, the sales network was expanded with Italy, Croatia and Hungary.
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Poland became part of the international sales network in 1992.
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As the right fuel is crucial for paraffin heaters, Zibro again had a revolutionary new innovation: Zibro Kristal. This product had less aromatics and less sulphur. Benefit for the customer is that there is no odour in the room and it is optimal for the life span of the heater.
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The Zibro Kamin brand visual was updated. The new design reflected the benefit of radiant heat, and the positive effect on people.
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Zibro had developed itself as a specialist in climate control for consumers, therefore it was only a small step to enter the air conditioner market. This also contributed to the all-year-roundness of the product portfolio. Furthermore, the air conditioners could be sold via the same retailer channel.
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Wall mounted stoves are permanent heating solutions and require an exhaust pipe. An Optional external tank can be connected to the stove. These models are meant to heat larger spaces.
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As the market for cooling products was increasing, Zibro Clima got its own line of visuals. The giraffe showed that, although it can be hot, you can still feel fresh.
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The new line of visuals was also extended for Zibro Kamin. Two polar bears still feel comfortable and warm, although it is very cold.
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As paraffin for the European market was delivered by ship, it was easier to locate the fuel factory of Zibro Plus Extra and Zibro Plus Kristal near a large sea port. Ghent was chosen for its central location with easy access to the French and Benelux market. There also was a large warehouse for storage. Even when the need for fuel was high because of cold weather, Zibro was still able to fulfil the needs of consumers. This perfectly fits in the strategy of reliability of the brand.
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A special milestone was celebrated in 2000, when PVG Holding, the company behind the Zibro brand, moved to its new headquarters in Oss. The new office had much more floor space to accommodate the growing amount of employees. Furthermore, there was a large warehouse to store all the supplies. The opening was a large celebration.
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Many consumers experienced the comfort of a day timer on the Zibro Kamin laser heaters. To further distinguish its products, Zibro innovated a week timer. This timer made it possible to program the heater one week in advance, which contributed significantly to the feeling of comfort and ease of use for consumers.
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The international expansion continued and from 2000 the Swiss, Bosnian Herzegovinian, Serbian and Slovakian markets were served.
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In 2000, the Zibro Kamin visual was updated and linked more to the emotional well being of users.
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Due to an increasing demand in the market, a series of humidifiers was introduced.
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As Zibro Clima was to be associated with fresh air, the brand visual was adapted with people enjoying the pure air.
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A new series of air conditioners was invented, with a cool down system. The cool down system removes moisture from the air by condensing it in the device. The condensed moisture cools the condenser and is then discharged via the drain hose. This increases the energy efficiency. This meant that no drip cup was needed anymore, which was easier for the consumer. This new feature lead to high sales volumes.
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Until 2005, there were three brands: Zibro Kamin, Zibro Clima and Zibro Plus. As all products contributed to the same purpose (being able to control your own home climate), it was decided to limit the brands to one overall brand: Zibro. Zibro stands for expertise, reliability, care, durability and flexibility.
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Together with the new brand strategy, the old visuals were changed for one overall logo: the Zibro brand logo. The ‘O’ in the logo stands for the living space of the consumer, where Zibro has been introduced as a clear solution to indoor air quality problems. Of course, ‘O’ also refers to oxygen and fresh air. Furthermore, each product group had its own color reference. Orange is for heaters, dark blue for coolers, light blue for (de-)humidifiers and green for purifiers.
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To clearly recognize the Zibro products in stores, a new full colour box was introduced. Naturally, the colors of the product groups were used in the new design. The new boxes made it easier for dealers to present all Zibro products together and create one ‘Zibro climate control wall’.
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The Zibro Clima range was extended with purifiers in 2001. Zibro air purifiers are equipped with a HEPA filter, a solution developed by professional clean room technology. This super filter captures dust, fungi, pollen and bacteria from the air once a screen filter has already removed the larger particles. Unpleasant odors are then captured in the activated carbon filter. The company was one of the first in the market to introduce this new kind of product.
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Zibro invented a sensor to measure the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. When there is too much carbon dioxide and not enough oxygen, the heater will automatically turn off. This provides optimal safety for the user.
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A new market was added to the large Zibro portfolio: Turkey. This market mainly aims at high-end air conditioners.
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The introduction of the Zibro P7 series was well received within the market for climate control. Both in terms of design and ease of use the series has been awarded with a Plus X Award. Also juries of other awards were impressed by the Zibro flagship heater.
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Effective heating is better for the environment. Zibro Bio goes one step further. This low odour fuel is the first one which consists partly of vegetable oil. The plants that are grown for this purpose, such as rapeseed and sunflowers, use CO2 for their growth. As a result, part of the CO2 emission is already compensated for in advance. This makes Zibro Bio an interesting option for the growing number of customers that want to diminish the greenhouse effect.
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The international expansion continued and from 2006 the Swedish and Finnish markets were served.
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In 2007 Zibro introduced a new concept: the Parker™ Quick Connector for split unit air conditioners. This is a switch connection between the inner and the outer unit. The Parker™ Quick connector makes the installation very easy and saves time and money.
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To reduce transport and storage costs of cans a new PET can was introduced. PET is very strong but contains less plastic and is easily recyclable.
Ecologically PET is a good investment, it’s easy to recycle and clean. The added value of the ECO-can was underlined with an Oscar de l'Emballage in the Environment category. Within this category nominations are awarded to products that use less raw materials, or just recyclable, biodegradable or compostable materials for packaging. -
Efficient use of energy is one of Zibro’s key values. In 2008 the motion sensor was invented. This sensor detects the presence of people in the room and makes sure that the stove will only burn when there are people around. If no movement is detected for 10 minutes, the stove will automatically switch to a lower level of combustion.
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In 2008 the 25-year company jubilee of Zibro was celebrated. In these 25 years Zibro went through an intensive strategic process, which resulted in the brand positioning statement for Zibro and its brand values. To increase the clarity and effectiveness of the dissemination of air quality products, the company wanted to use its 25th anniversary as a moment to generate extra publicity to the Zibro air quality concept.
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People are continously looking for products that fit with their personal style. Therefore Zibro succesfully invented the SRE25E, a mobile heater with a changeable cover. Thus you can personalise your heater, even by having your own picture printed on it. This product was very popular, and mentioned in several lifestyle magazines.
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To complement the homemade climates concept, the Zibro product range was expanded in 2008 with 2 other types of heating: electric stoves and gas stoves. Affordable solutions for instant warmth.
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To emphasize the feeling of comfort at home, the official brand visuals were adapted in 2008.
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In 2009 Zibro introduced its first model pellet heater. Pellets are produced from 100% compressed wood waste and as such are CO2-neutral. The pellets also have a high calorific value so they deliver levels of heat comparable to oil and gas but at lower cost. Zibro pellet heaters with a visible flame contribute to a warm and cosy atmosphere and are just as easy to operate as a gas heater. To guarantee an optimal burning process, Zibro also provides high quality pellets.
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From 2009 onwards, Zibro started to conquer the market of wood burners. The attractive design of the Zibro wood burners makes them a real addition to many interiors. Wood is easy to use, practically universally available and can be obtained in bulk. In addition, it is a natural and CO2-neutral fuel. This is an attractive way to heat your house because the smell of wood is fairly pleasant.
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Zibro was the first company to introduce a hybrid heater. This heater operates on paraffin, electricity or a combination of both for even more warmth. The combination of electricity and petroleum leads to 25% more heat compared to models that only operate on paraffin.
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A revolutionary new product with a boiler that consists of a 300L tank of water that is heated by using heat that is naturally present in the air. Therefore the efficiency of an air to water boiler is 300%! You can save up to 67% on your energy costs compared to a conventional electric boiler.
Zibro sees great opportunities for the air-2-water heat pumps, due to government policies to promote efficient heating and cooling, and financial and environmental benefits for consumers. -
The modern design and ease of use make the D5-series dehumidifiers unique in its kind. All models are very silent and equipped with a 3 layer filter. As they are splash proof, they provide an excellent solution for any type of indoor moisture problem.
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Zibro is the first climate control company to introduce a split unit air conditioner for nurseries and play areas. The Zibro SC 3125 Kids air conditioner brings fun, comfort and clean air into a child’s room. The specially designed colourful front panel will certainly appeal to children’s imagination.
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In order to stay the market leader in fuel and ahead of competition Zibro created a new 8L fuel can with a new look. The 8L cans can be sold separately as well as strapped by two cans, the so called 2 x 8L.
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This is the year that Zibro exists for 30 years . Of course, we are proud in reaching this milestone!
