Herschel Infrared

What Herschel Infrared does

Herschel Infrared Ltd is a privately held UK manufacturer of far infrared radiant heating panels, headquartered in Bristol and founded in 2008. The company designs, manufactures, and sells a broad portfolio of long-wave infrared heating products, including its flagship Comfort range built in the UK from British steel with a German-made heating element, alongside the Select XLS, Krystal, and Inspire picture panel lines, plus specialty bathroom mirrors, towel heaters, patio heaters, and the HydroNova electric hot water system. Its proprietary Swift Comfort Plus (SCP) technology combines a high-performance heating element with special-grade aluminium foil and UK-made insulation to reduce rearward heat loss by over 20%, and the Comfort range is the only infrared panel on the UK market tested to the IEC 60675-3:2020 international standard for radiant efficiency. Herschel is also the only UK recipient of the European Quality Label from the European Infrared Heating Alliance (EIHA).

The company operates a direct-to-consumer go-to-market built around its own e-commerce storefront, supplemented by a network of qualified UK installers, a dedicated architects/specifiers B2B trade program, and physical showrooms in Bristol, Wellingborough, and Surrey, with Bristol housing the UK's only climate-controlled Infrared Experience Lounge. Revenue is generated almost entirely through one-time hardware unit sales, with no recurring subscription component; pricing ranges from around £238 for entry-level Select XLS panels to £539+ for the premium Krystal glass range, with bespoke Inspire picture panels made to order in Germany. Herschel serves a diversified customer base spanning residential homes (whole-house and retrofit heating as a gas boiler and heat pump alternative), commercial businesses seeking zone heating and carbon reduction, heritage buildings and churches, hot yoga and wellness studios, outdoor entertaining spaces, and increasingly social housing providers and government decarbonisation programs.

Operationally, Herschel positions itself as the UK's longest established and most trusted infrared heater manufacturer, with media validation from BBC, Which, Channel 4, More4, and The Telegraph. The company is founder-led by Jonathan Howard, with Matt Dodds as associate director, employs between 11 and 50 people, and has received no disclosed venture capital or institutional investment, indicating an organically grown, bootstrapped business model. Product momentum in 2025-2026, including the Krystal launch and the Select XLS LED range, plus entry into the Welsh Government social housing showcase in January 2026, point to a measured but active expansion of both product surface and addressable customer segments.

Name

Herschel Infrared

Legal name

Herschel Infrared Ltd

Website

https://herschel-infrared.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Herschel Infrared is a privately held UK manufacturer of far infrared radiant heating panels, serving residential, commercial, heritage, and social housing customers through direct e-commerce, installer networks, and showrooms across Bristol, Wellingborough, and Surrey.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Infrared Heating Equipment

NAICS

Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341), Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (3334)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor Heating, Fire Pits & Fireplaces Retail (CRAIAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bath Fixtures & Wellness (Showers, Tubs, Steam, Saunas) Showrooms (CRAIAFAD)

Keywords

• Infrared heating panels
• Electric heating solutions
• Radiant heating systems
• Infrared heating manufacturer
• Energy efficient heating

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Infrared Heating Panel Sales: Direct sale of infrared heating panels and accessories to consumers and businesses through e-commerce and installer networks. Revenue generated from one-time hardware purchases with varying wattage models and feature sets. No recurring revenue component as products are purchased outright.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Herschel Infrared manufactures and sells energy-efficient far-infrared radiant heating panels and related products (mirror heaters, towel heaters, patio heaters, water heating systems, and smart controls) for homes, businesses, heritage buildings, and wellness facilities. The company designs and assembles its panels in its UK production facility using British steel and German heating elements, and sells them direct to consumers via e-commerce and showrooms as well as to trade customers via a UK installer network and dedicated architects/specifiers program. The portfolio spans the entry-level Select XLS line, the best-selling Comfort range, the premium Krystal glass panel, and bespoke Inspire picture panels, all powered by proprietary Swift Comfort Plus technology.

Product overview

Herschel Infrared is a UK-based manufacturer offering the widest range of energy-efficient infrared heating solutions. The product portfolio consists of multiple infrared panel heater lines (Comfort, Comfort Colour, Select XLS, Krystal, Inspire) and specialty heaters (mirror, towel, round, patio). Key product lines include: Comfort (best-selling UK-made panel with German heating element and 10-year warranty), Select XLS (entry-level with 5-year warranty), Krystal (premium glass design), and Inspire (bespoke picture panels). The company also offers water heating solutions (HydroNova), smart heating controls with app integration, and patio heaters. Products are offered across different market segments: residential (homes), commercial (businesses), heritage (churches), and wellness (hot yoga studios).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Comfort: Best-selling infrared panel heater made with British steel and German heating element, featuring Swift Comfort Plus technology. Comes with 10-year warranty.
• Krystal
• Select XLS
• Inspire
• Swift Comfort Plus (SCP)
• HydroNova

Products and services

• Comfort Infrared Panel Heater Best-selling premium infrared panel heater built in Herschel's UK Production Facility with British steel and German heating element, featuring Swift Comfort Plus technology and a 10-year warranty, tested to the IEC 60675-3:2020 radiant efficiency standard. Aimed at homeowners, specifiers, and installers seeking primary electric heating for homes and commercial spaces.
• Comfort Colour Infrared Panel Heater Customisable version of the Comfort panel available in 14 colour finishes with a bespoke colour matching option, made to order in the UK with a 10-year warranty. Targeted at design-conscious residential and commercial buyers who need the performance of the Comfort line in a specific interior colour scheme.
• Select XLS Infrared Panel Heater Entry-level Herschel infrared panel with a 5-year warranty, available in 5 models from 300W to 1100W with optional Plug & Play mains connection. Suited to homeowners and small commercial spaces looking for an affordable, easy-to-install infrared heating option that still conforms to the IEC 60675-3:2020 radiant standard.
• Select XLS Easy DIY Infrared Panel Heater DIY-friendly infrared panel heater designed for easy wall-mounting and plugging into a mains power socket without hardwiring, available in 4 models from 400W to 1100W. Aimed at self-install homeowners who want an entry-level Herschel product without an electrician.
• Select XLS Heated Bathroom Mirror with Lights Dual-purpose infrared mirror heater with integrated LED lighting and integrated controls, ideal for bathrooms, available in 400W and 600W models. Targets homeowners and specifiers looking for a combined mirror, lighting, and heating solution for bathrooms.
• Select XLS LED Back Lit Infrared Panel Heater High-efficiency infrared panel with ambient backlit LED illumination in an ultra-slim modern design, targeted at living areas. Combines Herschel's radiant heating with integrated lighting to deliver heating and ambient light from a single unit.
• Select XLS LED Front Lit Infrared Panel Heater Dual-purpose heating and lighting solution combining Herschel radiant heating with integrated front-lit LED illumination, ideal for home offices and modern living spaces. Released as a 2026 model.
• Select XLS Round Infrared Panel Heater Round-shaped infrared panel heater available in 2 models, designed for design-focused interiors where a conventional square panel is unsuitable. Sold under the Select XLS warranty tier.
• Select XLS Mirror Infrared Panel Heater Infrared panel heater with mirror finish designed for bathrooms and wet rooms, available in 3 models from 350W to 700W. Targeted at residential and commercial bathroom installations needing combined mirror and heating functions.
• Select XLS Infrared Towel Heater Dual-purpose infrared towel heater combining room heating with towel warming functionality, available in white and black finishes and in 500W and 700W models. Aimed at bathroom installations in homes, hotels, and wellness facilities.
• Krystal Infrared Panel Heater Premium infrared heater with a sleek ultra-compact design in black or white microcrystal ceramic glass, offering a ceiling-recess option for a seamless modern look, available in 4 models from 600W to 1000W. Targets high-end residential and commercial interiors where design finish is a primary buying criterion.
• Inspire Picture Infrared Panel Heater Bespoke picture panel heater made to order in Germany with optional frame finish and custom image printing on the panel surface, supplied with a 10-year warranty. Aimed at design-led residential, hospitality, and commercial interiors where the heater doubles as artwork.
• Hawaii Wave Infrared Patio Heater Designer infrared patio heater for efficient outdoor comfort heating, marketed as a contemporary solution to extend the usability of gardens, patios, and outdoor lounging areas as an alternative to propane heaters.
• HydroNova Hot Water System Efficient electric water heating solution with optional solar PV integration, providing hot water on demand and helping to reduce water heating bills. Sits alongside the infrared panel range as Herschel's standalone water heating offering for homes and small commercial sites seeking renewables-compatible hot water.
• Herschel Heating Controls Range of smart thermostat controllers (T-MT, T-BT, T-PL, MD2, T-MKS, T-MKW, T2/R2) with App control and LOT20 compliant energy-saving features including Open Window detection, Adaptive Start, geofencing, and motion sensing. Sold to homeowners and installers as the dedicated control ecosystem for Herschel infrared panels.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% reduction in energy bills reported by one customer switching from gas to infrared combined with solar PV
• +3 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• TPI Corporation: US-based manufacturer of infrared heating equipment for commercial and residential applications, including radiant panels and outdoor heaters. Comparable technology and target customer base in the infrared space heating category.
• Redwell Manufaktur: Austrian manufacturer of infrared heating panels serving European residential and commercial markets. Closest direct competitor to Herschel with comparable product positioning, certified quality standards, and premium pricing strategy.
• Welltherm: German manufacturer of infrared heating panels for residential and commercial applications. Direct competitor in the European infrared heating category with similar product range, glass and metal panel offerings, and quality certifications.

Emerging players

• Beurer: German health and wellness brand with a growing infrared heating product range including portable infrared panels and heated blankets. Partial overlap with Herschel's infrared technology but focused more on consumer wellness than whole-home heating.

Broad incumbents

• Stiebel Eltron: German manufacturer of heating and hot water solutions including infrared panels, heat pumps, and ventilation. Established European brand with comparable Made-in-Germany positioning and competing product lines in the residential electric heating market.
• Glen Dimplex: Irish-headquartered global leader in electric heating including infrared panels, storage heaters, and heat pumps under brands like Dimplex and Creda. Much larger incumbent with broader portfolio that competes directly in the electric space heating category Herschel addresses.
• Daikin: Global HVAC leader and major heat pump manufacturer competing in the UK space heating replacement market. As a broad incumbent in low-carbon heating, Daikin represents an alternative technology choice customers make versus Herschel's infrared solution.
• Midea Group: Chinese appliance giant manufacturing consumer heating products including infrared heaters at lower price points. Competes with Herschel at the value end of the infrared market, particularly through online marketplaces and unbranded imports.
• Bosch Thermotechnology: German manufacturer of heating and hot water systems including heat pumps, boilers, and electric heating products. Competes in the same UK space heating replacement market as Herschel with substantially greater scale and installer network.

Others

• Honeywell Home (Resideo): Major smart heating controls and thermostat manufacturer. Adjacent rather than directly competitive — Herschel integrates with Honeywell-style smart controls but competes with them in defining the smart home heating ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/herschel_ir
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/Herschel-infrared
• Facebookfacebook.com/Herschel.IR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/herschel-far-infrared-heaters
• Instagraminstagram.com/Herschel_infrared
• Pinterestpinterest.com/herschel_ir

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Herschel Infrared