Econova

What Econova does

Econova is a Belgian artisan builder of custom masonry heating appliances, headquartered in Drongen (Flanders). The firm designs, constructs, and installs massakachels (clay accumulation heaters), houtovens (wood-fired pizza and bread ovens), and houtgestookte fornuizen (solid masonry wood-burning cookstoves), applying the Finnish counterflow principle to channel hot gases downward through heavy fireclay and clay-brick mass before they exit the chimney. This stores thermal energy and releases it as slow radiant warmth, allowing 1.5–2 hours of daily wood combustion to heat a home for a full day. The business is structured as Econova Commv, a Belgian limited partnership, with a stated headcount of 1–10 employees.

The company's go-to-market is sales-led and bespoke. Projects are scoped personally with each customer, supported by an online price simulator for indicative quotes. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time project fees for custom builds, supplemented by distribution of branded European products (Josef Davidssons cast iron stoves from Sweden; Brunner, Ortner, Pertinger, and Tiileri/Finovens components and finished goods). Econova also runs DIY self-build workshops, offering labor-cost discounts to customers who participate in constructing their own stove. The customer base is residential homeowners and DIY enthusiasts in Flanders; the firm has no disclosed industrial, enterprise, or export customers despite the brief's framing as a biocarbon/decarbonization business for industry, which is not supported by the underlying data. Pricing is per-project and not publicly disclosed.

The core technical differentiation lies in clay-brick construction that enables flexible shaping — round, sleek, or integrated into warm benches and heat walls — combined with multi-functional use (heating, cooking, baking, proofing, drying). Strategic partnerships anchor the offering: a craft collaboration with Dutch stove-builder Vuurmeesters (which pioneered clay stove construction in 1990) and channel relationships with five premium European manufacturers. The firm has no disclosed funding history, no management team listing, no certifications, and no patents, indicating an independent founder- or locally-owned micro-business with limited public disclosure.

Name

Econova

Legal name

Econova Commv.

Website

https://econovakachels.be

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Econova is a Belgian artisan builder of custom masonry heating appliances, based in Drongen, Flanders. It designs and installs clay mass stoves, wood-fired ovens, and wood-burning cookstoves for residential homeowners and DIY enthusiasts, and distributes European brands such as Josef Davidssons.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Heating Appliances

NAICS

Heating Equipment (except Warm Air Furnaces) Manufacturing (333414)

SIC

Heating Equip, Except Elec & Warm Air; & Plumbing Fixtures (3430)

akta.pro primary industry

Boilers, Furnaces & Process Heating Equipment (IMAHAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Heat Exchangers, Coils & Hydronic HVAC Components (IMADANAF)

Keywords

• Custom masonry heaters
• Wood-fired ovens
• Clay mass stoves
• Wood-burning cookstoves
• Residential heating solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Drongen

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom-built Mass Stoves: Bespoke mass clay stoves, tile stoves, and soapstone stoves built to customer specifications. Pricing varies by project scope, materials, and design complexity. Revenue is project-based, one-time per installation.
2. Wood-fired Ovens: Traditional wood-fired ovens for pizza and bread baking, available as prefab models or custom-built with fireclay bricks. Project-based revenue.
3. Wood-fired Stoves and Ranges: Massive masonry cookstoves and cast iron stoves (Josef Davidssons, Pertinger) sold through dealer arrangement. Revenue from product sales and installation services.
4. Self-Build Kits and Workshops: Building kits for DIY enthusiasts along with workshops providing basic knowledge for self-construction. Interesting discounts offered on labor costs when customers participate in building their own stove.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Econova designs, custom-builds, and distributes masonry heating appliances for residential customers, including mass clay stoves (leemkachels), wood-fired ovens, and wood-burning cookstoves. The company applies Finnish counterflow technology and thermal mass heat storage to produce low-fuel-consumption, long-heat-release heating units, and offers DIY self-build workshops alongside distribution of branded heating products from European manufacturers such as Josef Davidssons, Pertinger, Brunner, Ortner, and Tiileri/Finovens.

Product overview

Econova is a custom builder of masonry heating appliances, offering three core product lines: Massakachels (clay heaters with slow heat release and high efficiency), Houtovens (wood-fired pizza and bread ovens), and Houtgestookte Fornuizen (solid masonry wood-burning cookstoves). Products are built to custom specifications adapted to each customer's space and needs. The company also distributes branded components including Brunner (German water heating technology), Ortner (Austrian heating components), Tiileri/Finovens (Finnish fireclay building kits), and resells Pertinger Vintage and Josef Davidssons cast iron stoves. Econova also offers self-building support with workshops and discounts for customer-participatory construction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.5 to 2 hours of daily wood burning provides comfortable radiant heat for a full day
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and flagship.

• VuurmeesterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch stove-building company that pioneered clay stove construction in 1990, discovering the excellent heat-storage properties of clay. Through collaboration with Vuurmeesters, Econova continues this craft tradition, using clay bricks to build flexible, custom-shaped heating stoves.
• BrunnermajorTechnology or IntegrationGerman manufacturer recognized as the top brand in mass stoves. Combines innovative technology with unmatched reliability. Brunner's water technology solutions are designed for maximum efficiency, perfect integration with central heating systems, and long service life.
• PertingermajorTechnology or IntegrationItalian brand (South Tyrol) producing the Vintage wood stove model. Combines classic charm with modern technology including high-efficiency combustion, flue gas control, and optional hot water connection. Features cast iron details, ceramic cooking plate, and stylish enamel finish.
• OrtnermajorTechnology or IntegrationAustrian brand synonymous with high-quality mass stove and radiant heating construction. Combines craftsmanship tradition with modern technology, developing stove components that ensure exceptional efficiency, rapid warm-up time, and long-lasting heat output. Offers Ortner Grondoven construction plates and modular chimney channels (KMS).
• Tiileri / FinovensmajorTechnology or IntegrationFinnish building kits serving as the basis for original clay stoves. Fireclay bricks produced in Finland are known for excellent heat storage capacity, durability, and resistance to high temperatures. They absorb fire heat quickly and release it over many hours as pleasant radiant warmth.
• Josef DavidssonsflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwedish manufacturer of cast iron wood stoves. Econova is the main distributor in Belgium of these traditional quality Swedish stoves (Vedspis). The manufacturer has been making these stoves for generations, keeping quality high while updating old models to meet current strict stove standards.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Vuurmeesters: Dutch custom clay/masonry stove builder that pioneered clay stove construction in 1990. Listed as a strategic 'core' collaboration partner of Econova, but operates the same custom clay-stove craft in an adjacent geography, making it the most directly comparable peer.
• Stuv: Belgian designer and manufacturer of wood-burning stoves and fireplaces, headquartered in Belgium. Overlaps directly with Econova on residential wood-heating appliances in the same home market, including contemporary stove designs and bespoke installations.

Broad incumbents

• Tulikivi: Finland-based, publicly listed manufacturer of masonry/soapstone fireplaces and heat-retaining stoves. A broader incumbent in the same mass-heating category Econova serves, with much larger scale, an established European dealer network, and comparable thermal-storage technology.
• Brunner: German manufacturer of mass-stove components and water-heating technology. A 'major' technology partner of Econova and one of the most recognized brands in European massakachel systems, overlapping with Econova on residential mass heating but at significantly larger scale.
• Ortner: Austrian specialist in mass-stove construction components (KMS flue channels, Grondoven plates). A 'major' integration partner of Econova and a recognized Austrian incumbent serving the same masonry-heating installers and end customers.
• Jotul: Norwegian heritage manufacturer of cast-iron wood stoves and fireplaces with broad European distribution. Overlaps with Econova on the residential wood-heating category at substantially larger scale, serving the same eco-conscious European homeowner buyer.
• Contura: Swedish manufacturer of wood stoves and fireplaces owned by NIBE. Competes with Econova for the same sustainability-minded European residential heating customer and benefits from similar Nordic design and emissions-efficiency positioning.
• Hergóm: Spanish/European manufacturer of cast-iron and soapstone wood-burning stoves and fireplaces with established dealer networks. Overlaps with Econova's residential wood-heating offering, particularly for customers seeking traditional, heavy-mass radiant heat solutions.
• Dovre: Norwegian/European cast-iron stove and fireplace brand with an active Belgian presence (dovre.be). Direct overlap with Econova's wood-burning residential heating and cookstove categories in the same Belgian/Flemish geographic footprint.

Emerging players

• Pertinger: Italian (South Tyrol) maker of the Vintage cast-iron wood stove line, also a 'major' partner of Econova. Comparable as a smaller, design-forward wood-stove brand with European distribution that intersects Econova's premium/custom residential segment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/leemkachels

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 Econova