The family owned German group Viessmann announced on 5 December 2006 that the it wants to increase its market share in France. The company, a manufacturer of solar panels, currently employs 830 people in France and has experienced an annual sales growth of 22%. The group decided to accelerate its industrial and commercial development with a capital spending programme of 90 million euro spread out over six years (2005-2010). As a result of this, Viessmann France is expected to create 250 new jobs between December 2006 and December 2010.