What Secop GmbH does

Secop GmbH is a German manufacturer of hermetic refrigeration compressors for commercial cooling applications, with heritage tracing back to the licensed production of the "Pancake" compressor in 1951-1952 and an official founding as Danfoss Compressors in 1956. Following acquisitions by AURELIUS AG in 2010, Nidec in 2017, and ESSVP IV (advised by Orlando Management AG) in 2019, the company now operates as a private, PE-owned specialist headquartered in Flensburg with approximately 1,000+ employees worldwide and production facilities in Slovakia and China.

The company's product portfolio is organized into three pillars: AC-powered stationary cooling compressors (KL, SLVE, NLE, NLV/NLVE, K, S, G, P, FRK and SCE Plus series) for light commercial refrigeration including food retail, food service, merchandisers, beverage dispensers, and biomedical freezers; DC-powered mobile cooling compressors (BD Nano, BD Micro, BD-P) for trucks, recreational vehicles, boats, electric vehicles, and portable boxes; and medical cold-chain solutions including ultra-low temperature compressors and condensing units capable of -60°C to -90°C cascade operation for vaccine storage and biomedical applications. Core technology differentiators are the use of natural low-GWP refrigerants (R290 propane and R600a isobutane), variable-speed drive electronics developed in a dedicated Motor Competence Center, and WHO PQS-prequalified solar direct drive systems for off-grid medical cold chain. Cumulative production has exceeded 200 million compressors.

Secop runs a B2B enterprise sales motion with a worldwide distribution network and direct sales support in more than 50 countries. Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of compressors and electronic controls to leading international commercial refrigeration manufacturers, with no publicly disclosed pricing model. Supporting the hardware is a digital tooling layer (Product Selector, Tool4Cool, Secop Toolkit App) used for application matching and field configuration.

Name

Secop GmbH

Legal name

Secop GmbH

Website

https://secop.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Secop GmbH is a German manufacturer of hermetic refrigeration compressors for commercial cooling, serving OEMs across light commercial refrigeration, mobile/DC-powered applications, and medical cold-chain with a portfolio built on natural refrigerants and variable-speed drive technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Refrigeration Compressors

NAICS

Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (333415), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512), Industrial and Commercial Fan and Blower and Air Purification Equipment Manufacturing (333413)

SIC

Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Industrial & Commercial Fans & Blowers & Air Purifing Equip (3564), Auto Controls For Regulating Residential & Comml Environments (3822), Electronic Coils, Transformers & Other Inductors (3677), Gaskets, Packg & Sealg Devices & Rubber & Plastics Hose (3050)

akta.pro primary industry

Chillers & Cooling Plant Equipment (IMAHAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Blast Chiller & Specialty Refrigeration Service (HSAOAJAJ), Refrigeration Controls, Thermostats & Sensors Service (HSAOAJAF), Compressors, Refrigeration Components & Condensing Units (IMADANAG), Cooling Systems & Thermal Management (CRAC/CRAH, Chillers, Liquid Cooling) (HDABAKAD), Automotive Coolant & Refrigerant Circuit Components (Pumps/Valves/Reservoirs/Expansion Devices) (IMACALAE), Cooling & Thermal Solutions (Air/Liquid, fans, thermal paste) (HDACAGAF), Water Heating & Treatment Appliance Retail (Water Heaters, Water Softeners, Filtration Systems) (CRACACAF), Refrigeration Components & Controls (Compressors, Valves, Sensors) (IMAHAKAH), Microgrids & Energy Management Controllers (Campus/Community/Industrial) (EUADAPAE)

Keywords

• Hermetic refrigeration compressors
• Commercial cooling compressors
• DC mobile compressors
• Medical cold chain compressors
• Natural refrigerant compressors

Headquarters

HQ city

Flensburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Commercial Refrigeration Compressors: Sale of hermetic refrigeration compressors and electronic controls for commercial refrigeration applications including stationary cooling, mobile cooling, and medical cold-chain solutions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Secop develops and manufactures high-performance hermetic refrigeration compressors and electronic controls for three core solution areas: AC-powered stationary cooling for light commercial refrigeration (food retail, food service, merchandisers, commercial freezers), DC-powered mobile cooling for automotive, recreational vehicles, boats, and portable boxes, and medical cold chain solutions including ultra-low temperature compressors and condensing units for vaccine storage and biomedical applications. The portfolio emphasizes natural refrigerants (R290 propane, R600a isobutane), variable-speed drive efficiency, and turnkey condensing units supported by digital selection and configuration software tools.

Product overview

Secop develops and produces high-performance hermetic refrigeration compressors and cooling solutions for commercial applications. The product portfolio comprises three main categories: AC-powered stationary cooling compressors (KL Series, SLVE Series, NLE Series, NLV/NLVE Series, K-Series, NLE Plus, SCE Plus, P-Series, FRK-Series, S-Series, G-Series) for food retail, food service, and commercial freezers; DC-powered mobile cooling compressors (BD Nano, BD Micro, BD-P Series) for electric vehicles, trucks, recreational vehicles, boats, and portable boxes; and medical cold chain solutions (ULT compressors and condensing units) for vaccine storage, biomedical applications, and ultra-low temperature storage. The offering also includes condensing units (stationary and mobile ULT variants), the Solar Direct Drive System for off-grid applications, and supporting software tools including Product Selector, Tool4Cool, and Secop Toolkit App. The company emphasizes natural refrigerants (R290 propane, R600a isobutane) and variable-speed drive technology for energy efficiency.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KL Series Compressors Hermetic refrigeration compressors for AC voltage, fixed-speed, designed for light commercial stationary cooling applications including food retail and food service.
• SLVE Series Variable-Speed Compressors Variable-speed hermetic refrigeration compressors for AC voltage using R290 propane, offering energy-efficient operation through variable-speed drive technology for stationary commercial applications.
• BD Nano DC Compressors Variable-speed DC compressors for mobile cooling solutions in battery-driven applications including electric vehicles, trucks, recreational vehicles, and portable boxes.
• BD Micro DC Compressors DC-powered compressors for mobile refrigeration applications including trucks, automobiles, boats, and recreational vehicles.
• BD-P Series DC Compressors High-performance hermetic DC compressors for mobile cooling in automotive and recreational vehicle applications.
• NLV Series Variable-Speed Propane Compressors Variable-speed propane compressors for stationary cooling with enhanced energy efficiency using R290 natural refrigerant.
• NLVE Series Variable-Speed Propane Compressors Variable-speed propane compressors with electronic controls for optimized performance in commercial refrigeration applications.
• NLE Plus Propane Compressors Enhanced propane compressors for commercial refrigeration with improved efficiency and performance using R290 refrigerant.
• SCE Plus R290 Compressors Commercial compressors using R290 propane refrigerant for stationary cooling applications.
• K-Series R600a Compressors Hermetic compressors for light commercial refrigeration using R600a isobutane natural refrigerant.
• NLE Series Compressors Fixed-speed compressors for commercial refrigeration using natural refrigerants.
• P-Series Compressors Commercial refrigeration compressors for stationary applications.
• FRK-Series Compressors Hermetic compressors for light commercial and selected residential refrigeration applications.
• S-Series Compressors Commercial refrigeration compressors including SC models for light commercial market applications.
• G-Series Compressors Hermetic compressors for commercial refrigeration applications.
• Condensing Units Pre-assembled refrigeration units combining compressor, condenser, and controls for easy integration into commercial refrigeration systems.
• Mobile ULT Condensing Units Ultra-low temperature condensing units designed for mobile medical and biomedical cooling applications.
• Stationary ULT Condensing Units Fixed ultra-low temperature condensing units for stationary biomedical and pharmaceutical cold chain storage.
• Solar Direct Drive System Solar-powered cooling system for off-grid medical and mobile refrigeration applications, with a WHO PQS prequalified power management module for vaccine storage.
• Tool4Cool Software PC-based software for configuring and optimizing variable-speed drive compressor performance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ultra-low temperature capability down to -90°C for biomedical applications

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Embraco (Nidec): Embraco, owned by Nidec, is a global manufacturer of hermetic compressors for refrigeration and was Secop's direct owner from 2017–2019. It competes head-to-head across light commercial, household, and DC compressor segments with very similar product portfolios. Highly comparable in technology, customers, and go-to-market.
• Danfoss (Climate Solutions): Danfoss was Secop's parent before the 2010 spin-off (as Danfoss Compressors). Today Danfoss Climate Solutions competes directly with Secop in commercial refrigeration compressors, controls, and complete system solutions. A much larger, system-level incumbent with broader portfolio breadth.
• Copeland (formerly Emerson Climate Technologies): Copeland is one of the world's largest manufacturers of hermetic and scroll compressors for HVAC and refrigeration. It directly competes with Secop in light commercial and commercial refrigeration, particularly in food retail and foodservice applications in North America and globally.
• BITZER SE: BITZER is a leading global manufacturer of refrigeration compressors (reciprocating, screw, scroll) for commercial and industrial refrigeration. Closely comparable in stationary commercial refrigeration compressor focus, with strong overlap in food retail, cold storage, and process cooling customers.
• Panasonic Corporation (HVAC & Refrigeration): Panasonic manufactures DC and AC hermetic compressors for refrigeration, with notable strength in mobile and battery-driven applications — directly competing with Secop's BD Nano and BD Micro product lines in the automotive and portable cooling space.
• Tecumseh Products Company: Tecumseh is a long-standing manufacturer of hermetic compressors for commercial and household refrigeration. Direct overlap with Secop in light commercial stationary cooling for food retail and foodservice end markets.
• Frascold S.p.A. Frascold is an Italian manufacturer of semi-hermetic and hermetic compressors for commercial and industrial refrigeration, competing with Secop across stationary light commercial applications in European and emerging markets.

Emerging players

• LG Electronics (Compressor Business): LG manufactures hermetic compressors for HVAC and refrigeration, including specialized variable-speed and DC units. Competes with Secop in selected commercial and mobile cooling segments, though LG's compressor business is bundled within a much broader consumer electronics portfolio.
• Sanhua Holding Group: Sanhua is a major Chinese supplier of refrigeration components including compressors, valves, and controls. While traditionally focused on components, Sanhua's expansion into compressor manufacturing overlaps with Secop's commercial and mobile refrigeration product lines, particularly in Asian markets.

Broad incumbents

• Carrier Global Corporation: Carrier is a global HVAC incumbent with a substantial refrigeration compressor footprint (including the former Carlyle/JCI compressor business). Overlaps with Secop in commercial refrigeration end markets but competes at the system level rather than as a focused compressor specialist.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/mysecop

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

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 Secop GmbH