Airrex Diesel Heaters Keep a Scottish Rally Workshop Running
A professional rally team in Scotland heats its workshop with three Airrex diesel infrared heaters, the oldest of which has been operating for around 12 years. Fuel consumption is extremely low and noticeably lower than their previous noisy, smelly diesel blowers. Reliability is described as “fantastic,” with minimal maintenance required. The heaters travel with the team to international rally events to keep service areas warm. In the Scottish Borders, where cold, damp winters are a part of daily life, a professional rally team has created a workshop environment capable of meeting the demands of world-level motorsport. Their facility in Kelso includes several work areas: the main workshop, a dedicated transmission and engine rebuild room, and a paint shop. Much of the building is insulated, helping maintain stable temperatures during the winter workloads. The team operates a full rally car programme, building, preparing, repairing, and rebuilding modern machines that compete in championships across the globe. Reliability, precision, and well-controlled working conditions are essential — both for the team and for the cars. Twelve Years with Airrex Infrared Heaters The workshop runs three Airrex diesel infrared heaters, the oldest of which has been in continuous use for roughly twelve years and still performs flawlessly. According to owner Dommy Buckley, Airrex stood out immediately: “They’re a class apart. Very economical and so clean burning. You can’t get better.” The heaters are used seasonally but run every day throughout the winter, from October to April. The team also transports their Airrex heaters to colder international rallies in France, Finland, and Norway, relying on them to warm service areas in harsh outdoor conditions. Stable Heat from a Mobile Heater — Even with Doors Constantly Opening The workshop has a gable-top roof with a high peak, which can easily allow warm air to rise and escape. To counter this, the team uses a small fan to push warm air back down into the work area. Combined with Airrex’s infrared technology, this keeps the space warm and consistent even when doors are frequently opened. According to Buckley, “It works a treat.” Fuel Efficiency That’s Hard to Believe Fuel consumption is one of the first things people ask about — and it’s where the team has seen one of the biggest improvements. Buckley laughs when he talks about it: “It’s like nothing! Honestly… we’re a spreadsheet-free environment, but it’s easy to work out they’re efficient.” Airrex diesel infrared heaters are designed to use significantly less fuel than traditional blown-air diesel units, and the team experiences this every day in both running costs and overall comfort. Before switching to Airrex, they relied on older heaters that Dommy remembers all too well: “Terrible, noisy, smelly prehistoric machines.” The difference was immediate. With Airrex, fuel consumption dropped sharply, exhaust odour disappeared, and the workshop became quieter, cleaner, and far more pleasant to work in. Maintenance and Reliability of Their Diesel Heaters While the team has occasionally used a Service Kit, most of the maintenance is now handled by Rex Nordic’s Darren, whose expertise makes the whole process effortless. As Buckley says: “Darren’s skills are much better and easier to just get him to do it!” Reliability is another area where the heaters shine. When asked to summarise over a decade of use — both in the workshop and on the road — Dommy doesn’t hesitate: “F A N T A S T I C ……” The heaters require very little attention, deliver stable heat in any environment, and have become a trusted part of the team’s operations. Dommy recommends them widely: “I’ve recommended them to a lot of people. All spaces — they work anywhere, really.” From insulated workshops to temporary outdoor service zones at international rally events, Airrex diesel infrared heaters have proved to be dependable partners wherever the team goes. Motorsport Workshop (Scotland) Type: Rally car workshop Structure: Mostly insulated, gable-top roof Heating: Three Airrex diesel infrared heaters (oldest ~12 years) Usage: Daily from October–April Previous heating: Noisy, smelly, blown-air diesel units Fuel use: Very low (“like nothing”) Reliability: Excellent, trouble-free Maintenance: Minimal; serviced by Rex Nordic technician Extra use: Taken to rally events abroad
Airrex AH-300 helped cut a garage’s costs significantly
Two years ago, Riku Turunen from Kontiolahti was considering the heating costs of his industrial hall. It consumed a lot of power and the bills really reflected that. Things had to change in a sensible manner. Riku’s garage hall is 135 square metres in size, and the highest point of the roof is at four metres. The large roll-up doors are prone to waste heat, so the task was a challenging one. Airrex AH-300 was selected as the heating device. AH-300 is an almost odourless, diesel-powered infrared heater with a 100% efficiency that is very well suited for industrial halls such as Turunen’s garage. Practice showed instantly that Airrex was a great solution because the device was easy to use as well as cost-efficient. “I must say that over the past two years, I’ve noticed how reliable and easy this device is to use. It’s mainly been in one place, and I’ve had no need to do anything to it although I’m using it all the time.” Besides convenience, savings are playing an important role now. “Earlier, if a period of, say, three weeks incurred an expense of a little more than €680, now I’m only spending €370, fuel included. Annually, that’s quite a big sum of money,” Turunen ponders. Once again, all that was needed was one device to solve issues. Airrex AH-300 reduced heating costs, and Riku Turunen can now focus on the essential – conducting his business – without any worries. READ MORE ABOUT AIRREX AH-300
Melting snow and ice with Airrex AH-800 heater
Founded in 1995, Amados Oy is specialised in the marketing and sales of machines related to construction, agriculture and property maintenance in Finland and Russia. The heater Airrex AH-800 was acquired to heat Amados’ workshop hall approximately 2.5 years ago, and it has been in heavy use ever since. Mikkeli-based Amados’ hall is 5–6 metres high and spans approximately 150 square metres, and various working machines are washed there throughout the year. At worst, half a metre of snow may pile up on top of vehicles such as wheel loaders and tractors in winter when they are driven to the hall for washing. “It only takes around three hours to deal with a large amount of snow and ice until it’s all melted away. The heater is in heavy use at that point, but it works superbly,” says Jari Ikonen from Amados. Previously, hot-air blowers were used for heating in Amados’ hall but, according to Ikonen, they were susceptible to becoming dirty. Airrex has no such issues. The diesel-powered infrared heater AH-800 is in continuous use at Amados in the cold season, and 800 litres of fuel is consumed annually. The heater is in heavy use, indeed. READ MORE ABOUT AH-800
Terrace heater, hall heater and BBQ hut heater – Airrex AH-300
Harry Mäkelä has an impressive terrace in his house. Mäkelä uses his grill a lot in winter, so the Airrex infrared heater may be switched on from Friday until Saturday. “We used to use this duct-shaped fuel oil heater. We found its flame and blast slightly dangerous in terms of heating a BBQ hut constructed of log beams with a diameter of 20 cm. A few years ago, when my son acquired an infrared heater and put it by the door of a 200-square metre maintenance hall as a kind of an air curtain, I decided to get these devices for our personal use as well. In temperatures of 20 degrees below zero, we consume around one litre of oil per hour in the BBQ hut. The 2-storey terrace is 17 metres wide and 5 metres deep. One Airrex AH-300 heater is in the lower terrace and one is upstairs. When we had to start refuelling the old heater with fuel oil, the tank of the new heater, in comparison, remains almost half-full,” Mäkelä describes his experiences. In Mäkelä’s experience, an exhaust pipe is not necessary in a big terrace or even in a BBQ hut. The heater does not emit any smoke at all because the oil burns so cleanly. Switching off the heater only causes a small fizzling sound, after which you can smell fuel oil for a while. Mäkelä, however, reckons that the consumption and odour emissions of older Airrex infrared heaters could be reduced if at least their filters were replaced. The heaters have been used for 3–4 years without requiring any particular maintenance. “I can warmly recommend these heaters to everybody, I have been very satisfied with them,” Harry Mäkelä says, summing up his experience. READ MORE ABOUT DIESEL HEATERS
Flower friendly Airrex AH-300 infrared heater solves greenhouse heating problem
Three years ago, at the Munkkivuori Garden, it was considered how the premises would be kept warm and the flowers happy. The gas heater didn’t work, but the diesel-powered Airrex AH-300 was chosen as the right heating solution. The garden has a smaller store section and a larger greenhouse. The entire space is about 5 meters wide and 30 meters long. Initially, they purchased one heater, but very quickly they bought another to the store section. The product has been very easy to use and working perfectly. Now the company has even bought a third heater. – We have been very pleased with these infrared heaters. Two of them are constantly in use and the third is used when needed. On the greenhouse side, the heat is kept at just under ten degrees Celsius and then at the store again at 13-14 degrees Celsius, says store manager Aki Lahtinen. ”Cost-wise, I can say that Airrex is much cheaper than gas heaters” The AH-300 has a charm of comfort and the flowers are happy. The device is almost odorless and produces carbon dioxide, which is great in such an environment. The 15kW / h heating output is just optimal and the low fuel consumption has brought the desired cost efficiency. Workers do not have to worry about using the equipment, just refuel and let the heater do its job. – Yes, these are easy to use, all you have to do is refuel. In terms of cost, I can say that it is much cheaper than gas-fired heaters, says Lahtinen. The Airrex AH-300 has many things that make it easy to use in such spaces. It can be easily moved and does not require a separate exhaust pipe. It is almost odorless and does not make any noise. Infrared radiation heats the material instead of the air. No fan is needed so dust or other contaminants do not rise from the floor. All in all, the Garden has been very satisfied with Airrex heaters. The thermostat-controlled heater is set at the desired temperature and then everyone can concentrate on the essentials. Read more about AH-300
Airrex diesel heater – lasting warmth and proven savings
Good heating isn’t just about raw power – it’s about efficiency, comfort, and control. Airrex diesel infrared heaters have proven that steady warmth doesn’t have to mean high running costs. The following real-world examples show how Airrex keeps large workshops, warehouses and industrial spaces warm throughout the winter – while keeping fuel use impressively low. Proven results with infrared heating: only 2.5 litres per day Many people are surprised to discover how little fuel Airrex diesel heaters actually use. They are designed to heat spaces evenly and efficiently, without wasting energy where it isn’t needed. Grels Ström, a retired technical expert from Rex Nordic, uses an Airrex heater in his 480 m³ warehouse. The building has ceiling insulation, plasterboard walls, and a concrete floor – a structure that holds heat extremely well. Previously, the space was heated with direct electric heating, but switching to diesel has cut both consumption and costs dramatically. Ström explains: “At first, fuel use can be a little higher. It usually takes about a week or so for consumption to settle. Infrared heat is absorbed directly into the structures, and once they’re properly warm, surprisingly little fuel is needed to keep the temperature steady.” He maintains an indoor temperature of +15 °C even when it’s around 0 °C outside, and daily fuel consumption averages just 2.5 litres of diesel. His Airrex heater has run reliably without any issues or need for servicing. A brief period of higher consumption at the start is perfectly normal – the building materials often contain moisture that needs to dry out first. Once they’re dry, the system reaches maximum efficiency. This is where Airrex infrared technology excels: the heat is stored in the structure and released steadily back into the space. After that, only short heating cycles are needed to maintain comfort – and the savings are clearly reflected in the fuel bill. Smart thermostat keeps consumption under control Every Airrex infrared heater is equipped with an intelligent built-in thermostat that keeps fuel use to a minimum. The unit starts and stops automatically to maintain the desired temperature. Diesel is metered precisely – only as much as needed and not a drop more – which keeps consumption extremely low. In everyday use, the heater runs independently. Once the building’s structures are warm, the unit maintains a steady temperature with short operating cycles. There’s no need for constant adjustment – the thermostat does it all automatically. Unlike traditional fan heaters, Airrex units don’t blow hot air towards the ceiling or outside when doors open. Infrared heat is directed straight into walls, floors, and machinery, which absorb and store the warmth. As a result, energy use stays exceptionally low, and if a door is opened, the stored heat quickly restores the indoor temperature. Long-term savings with Airrex diesel heaters Markku Ojanen has experienced the same results first-hand. He heats a 360 m² insulated hall, three metres high, which used to rely on radiators and fan heaters. The old system consumed around 2,500 litres of oil each year. After switching to an Airrex AH-300 diesel heater, the difference was immediate. In the first winter alone, fuel use dropped to about 1,000 litres per year – less than half of what it was before. He keeps the hall at +9–10 °C, raising it to +13 °C while working. Over ten years, the savings have totalled around £8,500–£9,000, and the same heater is still operating flawlessly today. “Maintenance has always been done on time, but it’s never needed a single repair,” Ojanen says. “It just keeps running.” Sustainable warmth you can feel Airrex infrared heating works on a simple but powerful principle: instead of heating air, it radiates warmth directly into surrounding surfaces. Floors, walls and equipment absorb the heat – just like sunlight warms your skin on a cool day. Once these surfaces are warm, they release the heat evenly back into the room, creating a consistent indoor temperature. This stored warmth acts as a natural heat buffer, which keeps fuel consumption low after the first weeks of use. The heater only runs as much as is needed to maintain the balance. That’s the key difference between infrared and traditional fan heaters. Infrared heat doesn’t escape when doors open or air moves. The stored heat within the structure quickly restores the temperature, keeping warmth where it’s needed and savings ongoing. Site 1 – Warehouse Type: Warehouse 480 m³ Structure: Concrete floor, insulated ceiling, plasterboard walls Previous heating: Direct electric New solution: Airrex diesel infrared heater Maintained temperature: +15 °C in mild winter conditions Average daily fuel consumption: ~2.5 litres of diesel Maintenance: Reliable operation, almost no servicing required Savings: Considerably lower consumption compared with the previous system Site 2 – Industrial hall Type: Insulated hall 1 080 m³ (360 m², 3 m height) Previous system: Radiators + fan heaters Previous fuel use: ~2,500 litres of oil per year New solution: Airrex AH-300 diesel heater Current fuel use: ~1,000 litres per year Years in use: 10 years Estimated savings over 10 years: £8,500–£9,000 Reliability: Same unit still operating perfectly, no repairs needed
Warmth that stays – Airrex heater keeps the workshop comfortable all winter
Keeping a 244 m² car repair workshop warm in winter is no simple job, especially with six-meter-high ceilings, concrete walls, a partly insulated sheet-metal roof, and a door that opens constantly. In Finnish winter conditions, heat escapes fast. With an Airrex diesel space heater, the indoor temperature stays at a steady +16–17 °C throughout the winter. Janne Mukkala, owner of JM-Konehuolto Oy from Finland, has used his Airrex for six years – and wouldn’t switch to anything else. “The heater has worked flawlessly. When the door opens and the temperature drops, it starts automatically and brings the heat back quickly. Reliability is what I value most.” A fuel-powered heater that supports district heating in freezing weather Before installing the Airrex unit, the workshop temperature fluctuated constantly during the winter. District heating alone wasn’t enough to keep the workspace warm, especially when the overhead doors were opened in sub-zero conditions. The Airrex diesel heater provided the missing boost. “Now we can open the door whenever we need to without losing the indoor warmth,” says Mukkala. “Airrex reacts quickly to temperature changes and supports the district heating really well.” For garages and workshops where effective, clean heat is needed without complex installation, Airrex is an excellent choice. At JM-Konehuolto, the heater runs daily throughout the winter, sometimes overnight. Airrex – easy to use and built to last The Airrex infrared heater has been operating for six years without a single service requirement. “I’ve never had to do anything to it – it just works.” Airrex technology is designed with simplicity in mind. Thanks to its advanced oil-burning system and clean combustion, the heater is almost maintenance-free. It runs quietly and without odour, smoke or fumes inside the workshop. For best performance, we still recommend replacing the annual service kit to maintain efficiency and long-term reliability. A satisfied user – warm workshop, minimal effort Simple, reliable, and economical – that’s how many Rex Nordic customers describe the Airrex heaters. “It has been the most reliable heating solution we’ve ever had,” says Mukkala. Airrex complements district heating system perfectly, keeping the workshop warm all winter, even with imperfect insulation and frequent door openings. Who is the Airrex diesel space heater for? The Airrex diesel space heater is designed for demanding environments where consistent warmth, fast recovery, and ease of use matter. It performs exceptionally well in garages, repair shops, warehouses, and workshops – especially in spaces where doors open frequently and indoor heat is easily lost. Thanks to its mobility, the unit can be moved wherever warmth is required, making it a practical solution for busy work areas with changing layouts. It’s also a reliable option in locations with limited electrical power, providing steady, clean heat even when traditional heaters struggle to keep up. Facts: JM-Konehuolto Oy, Finland Type of business: Car repair workshopFacility size: 244 m² | Height 6 mStructure: Concrete walls and floor, partially insulated metal roofHeating solution: District heating + Airrex AH-800i diesel space heaterUsage: Daily during winter, occasionally overnightIn operation: 6 years | No maintenance requiredMaintained temperature: +16–17 °C