SAMSUNG is to invest heavily in the UK air conditioning market.

The South Korean group, with an annual turnover in excess of $140 billion regards the UK as the ideal springboard for an expansion of its Europe-wide air conditioning business.

“The UK is a mature market, but still has significant growth potential,” said Samsung’s European CEO SK Park. “The VRF sector, in particular, offers us real opportunities.

“We will be demonstrating our serious commitment to the UK and to air conditioning over the coming months with a number of strategic appointments, partnerships and product developments,” added Mr Park.

Samsung already has a distribution agreement with Climate Center and others, which it says will be expanded.

It has also agreed a nationwide partnership with Nottingham-based consultancy Gallant Marketing, which will handle all aspects of Samsung's customer relationship management programme.

"We are very excited about this partnership," said Gallant's managing director Ted Berry. "Samsung has an excellent range of products, which have yet to be fully exploited in the UK, he added.

Samsung's products include the DVM 111 Plus VRF range which uses digital vapour injection compressor and turbo cooler technology.