 |
|
|
Products: Eberspacher.
Espar specialise in Eberspacher, the premier range of diesel fired air and water heaters.
In the UK, our stock holding of Eberspacher product is second only to that of Eberspacher UK. And we hold many old, obsolete parts which the manufacturer can no longer offer.
Eberspacher's reputation has been gained through many years of technical development. The company began in 1865 in Esslingen manufacturing architectural glass, they offered glazing expertise throughout Europe, for example, from 1929 work began on the architecturally important roof of Milan's Central Railway Station.
Throughout the years, Eberspacher has diversified into other technical products, they offered truck turbochargers from as early as 1947 and were working on their first vehicle exhaust silencers in 1931, something that they remain very much involved with to this day.
Work on vehicle heating systems started in 1933, at this time a method was developed to use exhaust heat exchangers on air cooled engines for the provision of interior heating. The relatively poor results of the early heating systems lead to the development of fuel fired combustion heaters and by 1953 combustion heaters were in series production at the Esslingen factory.
|
|
|
|
|
|

Early Eberspacher BN4 petrol fired heater.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
From the 1930's onwards, Eberspacher have worked closely with the German vehicle manufacturers.
In the early days VW were and remain an important client, with VW fitting combustion heaters in vehicles bound for certain export markets and offering them as an option on the Beetle and the split screen and later type campers. Many very old heaters still exist to this day in the burgeoning classic camper scene.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Heater series production began in 1953. These units may be heading for VW. |
|
|
|
|
|
|

..........Heater for the split screen VW Transorter with 6 volt electrics! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Towards the end of the 1970s, greater use of trucks with sleeper cabs suddenly created a huge market for Eberspacher diesel fired heaters and in 1977, Eberspacher UK was formed to service the need for proper representation in this country.
Although some of the old, bulky X series heaters were used in trucks, it was the advent of the much smaller D1L that really started the trend for 'night heaters' in commercial vehicles.
At around the same time that heaters became popular in trucks, a new market opened up. More and more boat owners began to show interest in the new level of comfort that an Eberspacher heater could offer them.
Of all the Eberspacher worldwide subsidiaries, it was the UK that really developed the marine market to the point where they remain the accepted marine experts within the Eberspacher family, Espar boasts a number of staff members with considerable marine heating experience.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A powerful X7 undergoing testing. X series was a predecessor to modern types. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The D1L was the first truly modern truck 'night heater'.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Water heaters the next big step.
Diesel fired water heaters have become more and more popular in recent years. Unbeknown to many, Eberspacher have been manufacturing water heaters for much longer than may be appreciated.
Special applications such as engine pre-heating in cold climates, bus heating and unusual military applications, have resulted in water heaters being produced as far back as the 1960s.
In the UK, the British Army have been using water heaters in fighting vehicles for a long time and many old D4W heaters are still in use despite being over thirty years old. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As fitted in some British Army vehicles, this old D4W only produced 4kw.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A particularly unusual piece of Eberspacher equipment was the Swingfire, a petrol fired heater incorporating a small petrol engine, it could be used with, or without a water heat exchanger and was used Worldwide by various military organisations for engine pre-heating (both air and water cooled engines), heating tents and even as part of a field kitchen. The US Military were one of the larger users of Swingfire.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Swingfire as used by the US Army. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
With Eberspacher already producing water heaters, it was only a matter of time before these were pressed into service for other applications. The compact D5W unit opened up yet another new market with heaters being installed in narrowboats on the UK inland waterways, providing interior heating using conventional panel radiators and domestic hot water for showers and washing-up.
D5W uses the same diesel fuel as the boat's engine, heating with diesel allows boat owners to reduce the amount of gas that needs to be carried and also, diesel is a far safer fuel to store and use onboard a boat than gas.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
D5W water heater, many are still in use on the inland waterways. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eberspacher in Esslingen, continue to develop new, more efficient combustion heaters such as the Airtronic and Hydronic ranges, as well as developing, in conjunction with their vehicle manufacturing clients, electric heaters, air conditioning systems and climate control systems to provide for the expected surge in electric and hybrid vehicles.
Recently Eberspacher, Esslingen have acquired Sutrak a company specialising in bus air conditioning, it is hoped that this new partnership will result in Eberspacher Sutrak becoming the World leader in bus and coach climate control.
Eberspacher UK undertake their own research and development too, producing here in the UK user friendly heater controls, most recently the 801 series. Other UK developments include the Combitronic Modular motorhome heating system and the heating, air conditioning, and battery cooling systems in the Tesla Roadster electric sports car
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tesla Roadster, heating, air conditioning and battery cooling by Eberspacher UK. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
In partnership with Eberspacher UK, Espar have contributed to the development of specialist items for use with Eberspacher heating systems, including low cost radio remote controls, model specific warm air outlets for OE boat builders and marine heating systems for some very exclusive super yachts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Eberspacher Hydronic 30 L2 heaters being assembled in Espar's workshop for use as a 90kw super yacht heat source. |
|
|