The head of government learnt in detail about the innovative technology, for which the company has received various awards, including the "Refrigeration Award" of the German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. Afterward, Tillich went on a tour of the production facilities, and was impressed by the modern production methods employed at thermea. The Prime Minister – himself a graduate engineer for construction and gear equipment – appeared impressed by the environmentally friendly and highly efficient thermeco2 machines.
Under the trade name thermeco2, the company thermea Energiesysteme GmbH manufactures high-temperature heat pumps, chillers and compressed-air dryers for industrial use and building services. The machines have already proven themselves in practice. The company is based in Ottendorf-Okrilla near Dresden, and was founded in 2008. The main stakeholders are Dürr AG – Clean Technology Systems division – and Robert Bosch GmbH.