Zaegel-Held

What Zaegel-Held does

Zaegel-Held is a French heating-solutions brand that imports and distributes multi-energy residential heating equipment in France. Founded in 1946 by Henri Held and Joseph Zaegel and headquartered in Bischoffsheim (Alsace), the company was historically known under the Rex ZHO name and employed roughly 1,000 people at its 1970s peak; today it operates as a small SAS subsidiary of HS France (HS Group), following its 2016 acquisition. The current product portfolio spans air-source heat pumps, biomass boilers, pellet and wood stoves, solar thermal systems, electric boilers, and oil-fired condensing boilers, marketed as a unified multi-energy offering rather than a single-fuel specialist.

The underlying technology is conventional residential heating hardware sourced from European OEMs and sold under the Zaegel-Held and Rex ZHO trade names; technical features include touchscreen controls on heat pumps and a lambda probe for combustion optimization on biomass equipment, both of which represent sensor-based automation rather than differentiated software. Distribution combines a traditional field-sales agent network targeting heating installers and plumbers, a direct website for end-customers, and the Calimax B2B marketplace for installer and wholesaler orders. Professional services — technical assistance delivered through a partnership with Bio Services, and paid installer training certified by Qualit'ENR — are layered on top of equipment sales, and ANAH mandated-agent status positions the brand within French state-backed residential renovation schemes.

The business model is a hybrid of hardware resale and recurring professional services. Revenue is generated through one-off equipment sales to installers, wholesalers, and end-customers, supplemented by per-trainee fees (€1,680 / €1,080 TTC published) for Qualibois/RGE-certified installer courses. Customer segments are threefold: residential homeowners (primary end-user), professional heating installers and plumbers (primary route-to-market), and wholesalers/distributors (bulk channel). All activity is concentrated in France; the company carries a share capital of €1,327,575 and currently operates with approximately 6 employees, indicating that a meaningful share of operational scale sits with parent HS France or partner organizations.

Name

Zaegel-Held

Legal name

SAS ZAEGEL-HELD

Website

https://zaegel-held.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Zaegel-Held is a French multi-energy heating equipment brand offering biomass boilers, heat pumps, solar thermal, electric and oil-fired systems to residential homeowners and professional installers through field sales, the Calimax B2B marketplace and direct channels. Subsidiary of HS France since 2016.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Heating Equipment

NAICS

Heating Equipment (except Warm Air Furnaces) Manufacturing (333414), Power Boiler and Heat Exchanger Manufacturing (332410), Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341)

SIC

Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Heating Equipment, Except Electric & Warm Air Furnaces (3433)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEUAAAGAG

Biomass Combustion & Boiler Island Technology (Grates, Fluidized Bed, Burners)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Bioenergy, Natural Gas & Biomass/Biomass Power & Heat (CHP, District Energy, Industrial Boilers)

SECONDARYIMAMALAJ

Biomass Pellets, Briquettes & Solid Bioenergy Products (industrial/residential)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Paper & Forest Products/Biomaterials & Bio-based Products

Keywords

• Multi-energy heating
• Biomass boilers
• Heat pumps
• Solar thermal systems
• Oil condensing boilers

Headquarters

HQ city

Bischoffsheim, Grandest

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Revenue model

1. Heating Equipment Sales: Primary revenue from the manufacture and sale of heating equipment including boilers (biomass, electric, oil), heat pumps, and stoves. Products are sold through field sales agents, the Calimax B2B marketplace for installers, and directly to end customers. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales with no recurring subscription component.
2. Technical Assistance and Maintenance Services: Bio Services, the technical partner, provides paid services including commissioning (mise en service), technical hotline support, and administrative hosting of heating plants. These professional services complement product sales and generate additional revenue.
3. Qualibois Training: HS France (parent company) offers paid Qualibois training courses for installers and heating professionals at 1,080€ TTC per participant. Training covers biomass equipment installation and hydraulic connection.
4. Financial Aid Management Services: A dedicated aid service helps customers navigate public subsidies (MaPrimeRénov, CEE, eco-PTZ, reduced VAT). While the service itself is free to customers, it facilitates sales by reducing the net cost barrier, indirectly supporting equipment revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Zaegel-Held manufactures, imports, and distributes a multi-energy range of heating equipment for the French market, including biomass boilers (wood pellets, log wood, mixed fuel), air/water heat pumps, solar thermal panels, oil condensing boilers, electric boilers, and stoves. The company also offers supporting services such as technical assistance, financial aid management, and Qualibois installer training.

Product overview

Zaegel-Held is a multi-energy heating solutions company offering a comprehensive portfolio of boilers, heat pumps, solar thermal systems, and stoves. The product lineup includes wood pellet boilers (SMARTEC, SMARTEC Éco, PEL-TEC, EASYTEC), log wood boilers (BIOTEC-L, GREENTEC), dual-fuel mixed boilers (BIOTEC-PLUS), electric boilers (ELECTRA-CM classic, ELECTRA-CM eplus), oil condensing boilers (ROKOR CONDENS PFC, GEMMA CONDENS), air/water heat pumps (HAWA PLUS), solar thermal solutions (Solutions solaires SSC et CESI), pellet stoves (ALESSANDRO, CAPRI, VERONE, AGNES, ADELE), and wood-log stoves (HONO). Products are complemented by accessories including buffer tanks, DHW tanks, hydraulic accessories, and flue components. The company operates as an importer of European heating solutions and distributes through the Calimax marketplace platform for French installers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SMARTEC pellet boiler Fully automatic Class 5 wood pellet boiler with touchscreen controls, internet connectivity for remote operation, and automatic mechanical cleaning system for residential and small collective heating.
• SMARTEC Éco pellet boiler Class 5 automatic wood pellet boiler with touchscreen control managing up to 1 buffer tank, 1 DHW tank, and 4 mixed heating circuits. Optional internet module for remote control.
• PEL-TEC pellet boiler High-efficiency Class 5 automatic wood pellet boiler with modular power range from 12 to 96 kW (scalable to 288 kW), color touchscreen control, and integrated adjacent silo for bag filling with optional suction system.
• EASYTEC pellet boiler Compact and reliable Class 5 wood pellet boiler with robust 6mm steel firebox, large water content, 400L attached silo, climate control, automatic ignition, and optional O2 probe for adaptive combustion.
• BIOTEC-L log wood boiler Very high efficiency Class 5 log wood boiler with large firebox volumes, color touchscreen boiler and climate regulation control. Requires buffer tank(s) for optimal autonomy.
• BIOTEC-PLUS dual-fuel boiler Class 5 double-fuel boiler (log wood + wood pellets) with single flue outlet, Lambda probe ensuring clean combustion above 90%, automatic switching between fuel types, automatic grate cleaning, and 52 or 96 kg pellet reservoir connectable to a larger annual silo via suction.
• GREENTEC log wood boiler Log wood boiler with 90-liter loading chamber for 50cm logs, compact design, large water content for extended operation cycles, easy ash removal, and integration into confined spaces.
• ELECTRA-CM classic electric boiler Electric boiler range designed for compact spaces as primary or secondary heat source, featuring modern design, very quiet operation, and tested reliability and safety.
• ELECTRA-CM eplus electric boiler Electric boiler with enhanced efficiency features in 6 to 12 kW power range, designed for compact installation in residential settings.
• ROKOR CONDENS PFC oil boiler Oil condensing boiler with high-quality eutectic cast iron construction (constant 6mm wall thickness), available in enamel or stainless steel DHW versions, 4 to 35 kW. Designed for robustness, corrosion resistance, and thermal shock resistance.
• GEMMA CONDENS oil boiler Very high efficiency oil condensing boiler for central heating and domestic hot water production, approved for chimney operation and compatible with radiators, water convectors, or low-temperature floor heating.
• HAWA PLUS heat pump Monobloc air/water heat pump (6-18 kW) with Inverter modulation (33-100% power adaptation), EVI technology for high yields at very cold outdoor temperatures (down to -25°C) with water output up to 60°C. Uses low GWP R32 refrigerant.
• Solar thermal solutions SSC and CESI Solar thermal panels with laser welding for optimal heat transfer, high-performance selective coating, tempered glass U1 with 92% light transmission, and 4-connection optimized circulation. Up to 8 panels connectable in series without efficiency loss.
• ALESSANDRO pellet stove Pellet stove designed for daily comfort use, offering warmth on demand with programmable temperature control and presence/absence modes.
• CAPRI pellet stove Compact pellet stove with rational design, robust functional structure, user-friendly control panel with smart settings, large pellet reservoir, and easy cleaning.
• VERONE pellet stove Pellet stove with warm rounded aesthetics, featuring remote control for comfort adaptation and gentle heat distribution.
• AGNES pellet stove Pellet stove with cast iron door and generous glass, featuring natural convection for remarkably quiet operation, wide tilting touchscreen for programming/timer/temperature control, and classic sober design.
• ADELE pellet stove Pellet stove combining lines and curves with slim profile, top flue connection option for space saving, and over 15kg bag of pellets included for comfortable autonomy.
• HONO wood-log stove Log wood stove for daily functional use, featuring deep firebox, accessible air adjustment controls, wide window, three finish options, log storage compartment, and warming niche.
• Heating system accessories Complete range of heating system accessories including buffer tanks (ballons tampon), DHW tanks (chauffe-eaux), hydraulic accessories, flue components (fumisterie), climate controls, differential management systems, pellet transport/storage solutions, solar accessories, and burners.
• Bio Services technical assistance and commissioning Technical assistance service providing daily hotline support during business hours, commissioning (mise en service) of boilers with end-customer training, and administrative hosting of heating plant data. All technicians are trained on the full product range.
• Qualibois installer training 21-hour (3-day) Qualibois Eau training module priced at 1,080€ TTC per participant, covering biomass equipment installation and hydraulic connection. Approved training center by Qualit'ENR (qualification code 236898). 6 to 12 participants per session held at HS France, Bischoffsheim.
• Financial aid management service Dedicated aid service helping customers estimate eligibility and apply for MaPrimeRénov, CEE, eco-PTZ, and reduced VAT subsidies. Zaegel-Held is a mandated agent of ANAH (Agence Nationale de l'Habitat).

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bio ServicescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBio Services is the technical partner of Zaegel-Held, providing technical support to installers. Services include a daily hotline during business hours for on-the-spot technical advice, commissioning (mise en service) where technicians configure boilers and train end customers, and administrative hosting of heating plant data. All technicians are trained on the full product range from biomass boilers to gas boilers and heat pumps.
• CalimaxcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCalimax is a French B2B marketplace dedicated to heating installers, allowing European manufacturers to access the French market without physical retail presence. Zaegel-Held products are listed on Calimax, where installers can access professional pricing, request quotes, download documentation, and place orders. Calimax acts as an intermediary in the sales process between supplier and installer.
• Qualit'ENRminorOthersHS France, the parent company of Zaegel-Held, is an approved training center by Qualit'ENR for the QUALIBOIS EAU qualification (code 236898). Qualit'ENR is the certifying body for RGE Qualibois, the government-recognized quality label for biomass heating installers in France.
• HS France / HS GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHS France (a company of the HS Group) acquired Zaegel-Held in 2016 and continues to develop the brand, focusing on biomass and multi-energy heating solutions. HS France provides training facilities at the same Bischoffsheim site, hosts the Qualibois training center, and manages the group's commercial and administrative functions.
• ANAH (Agence Nationale de l'Habitat)minorOthersZaegel-Held is a mandated agent of ANAH, the French National Housing Agency, allowing the company to assist private individuals in their MaPrimeRénov subsidy applications and distribute public aid.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Daikin Europe: Global HVAC and heat-pump leader aggressively expanding residential heat-pump offerings in France to capture the energy-transition opportunity. Most credible competitor to Zaegel-Held's HAWA PLUS heat-pump line in particular.
• Viessmann: German global heating manufacturer with extensive portfolio spanning biomass boilers, heat pumps, solar thermal, condensing boilers and integrated multi-energy systems. Comparable to Zaegel-Held on multi-energy breadth and biomass heritage, but at vastly larger scale.
• Vaillant Group: European heating incumbent offering gas condensing boilers, heat pumps and biomass systems across residential and commercial segments. Comparable to Zaegel-Held on multi-energy residential heating, with substantially deeper R&D, brand and installer footprint.
• Bosch Thermotechnology: Global heating manufacturer offering condensing boilers, heat pumps, solar thermal and biomass products across European markets. Overlaps with Zaegel-Held's multi-energy residential portfolio at the same French installer and end-customer touchpoints.
• Atlantic (Groupe Atlantic): French-headquartered HVAC and heating major offering heat pumps, boilers, and renewable heating solutions with deep French installer relationships. Directly competes with Zaegel-Held's heat-pump and multi-energy product lines in the French residential market.

Regional players

• De Dietrich Thermique: French heating manufacturer offering gas, oil and biomass boilers plus heat pumps under a long-established French brand. Comparable to Zaegel-Held on multi-energy residential heating positioning in the French market.
• Frisquet: French manufacturer of gas and biomass boilers primarily serving the French residential heating market. Comparable to Zaegel-Held as a French-focused heating brand with condensing boiler and renewable heating product lines.

Direct peers

• Windhager: Austrian biomass heating manufacturer offering pellet, log wood and mixed-fuel boilers plus heat pumps. Directly comparable to Zaegel-Held's multi-energy biomass and complementary heating portfolio distributed across European markets.
• Ökofen: Austrian specialist manufacturer of high-efficiency wood pellet boilers with proprietary condensing technology and Lambda/oxygen-probe combustion control. Closely comparable to Zaegel-Held's biomass boiler focus (PEL-TEC, SMARTEC, BIOTEC) on residential and small commercial scale in Europe.

Others

• HS France (Groupe HS): Parent company that acquired Zaegel-Held in 2016 and provides shared training facilities, commercial and administrative functions. Directly related as the corporate parent and operating-platform provider for Zaegel-Held's activities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zaegel-held

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Zaegel-Held