The Kelvin Group
The Kelvin Group is a PE-backed national platform providing mission-critical industrial and commercial refrigeration, HVAC, non-destructive testing, and process safety compliance services to food, pharmaceutical, healthcare, grocery, and industrial customers across the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersWilmington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Kelvin Group does
The Kelvin Group is a privately held, PE-backed national platform that delivers mission-critical industrial and commercial refrigeration, HVAC, non-destructive testing (NDT), and process safety/compliance services to industrial customers across the United States. The company is organized as a platform-plus-acquired-brands model, consolidating regional service providers under a unified corporate structure while preserving each brand's local identity. Its core operating brands include ARC Mechanical (Northeast), Refrigeration Design & Service/RD&S (Mid-Atlantic and Southeast), RC&E (Texas and the Midwest), PermaCold Engineering (Pacific Northwest), Mullally Bros. (Upstate New York), and Sotera (the national compliance platform formed from the merger of HCG Associates and JS Compliance). Additional acquired brands such as AES-NDT, GMS Services, Dahms Refrigeration, Capitol Engineering, Global Mechanical, Cooling & Heating Specialists, RECCO, Protexus, and MaxPSM extend coverage into HVAC, mechanical services, and industrial asset integrity.
The business serves 2,800+ customers across food and beverage processing, cold storage distribution, pharmaceutical, healthcare, grocery/supermarket, petroleum, chemical, power generation, agricultural, and dairy operations. Services span planned maintenance, emergency service, engineering, design-build construction, installation, mechanical integrity inspection, and regulatory compliance — including Process Safety Management (PSM), Risk Management Programs (RMP), and Ammonia Refrigeration Management (ARM). The company specializes in natural-refrigerant systems (ammonia and CO2) and emphasizes energy-efficient, sustainable solutions. Internal programs such as Kelvin University, the Kelvin Knowledge Center, and 20 People Development Programs support workforce development across the platform.
Kelvin Group was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts. The company has been backed by Southfield Capital since 2017 and has executed 15 acquisitions since 2018, including the recent additions of RC&E (Feb 2024), JS Compliance (Nov 2024), PermaCold Engineering (Jan 2026), and Mullally Bros. (May 2026), along with the formation of Sotera (Jan 2026). Revenue is generated through quote-based, multi-year B2B service contracts with enterprise customers, distributed via direct enterprise field sales through the super-regional brand network. The reported annual growth rate exceeds 20%, driven primarily by acquisition velocity and cross-selling of compliance and engineering services into existing customers.
The Kelvin Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Kelvin Group
- Legal name
- Kelvin Group
- Website
- https://kelvin.cool
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Kelvin Group is a PE-backed national platform providing mission-critical industrial and commercial refrigeration, HVAC, non-destructive testing, and process safety compliance services to food, pharmaceutical, healthcare, grocery, and industrial customers across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Kelvin Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Refrigeration Services
- NAICS
- Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (333415), Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (3334), Industrial and Commercial Fan and Blower and Air Purification Equipment Manufacturing (333413)
- SIC
- Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580), Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Compliance, Refrigerant Regulations & Documentation (HSAOAJAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Refrigerants & F-Gas Accounting and Verification (HFCs, Kigali/EU F-gas) (EUAHADAK), Auxiliary Systems EPC (Station Service, HVAC, Fire Protection, Security) (EUAEADAK), Protection, Metering & Grid Compliance Systems (Relays, Revenue Metering, PQ) (EUAEADAE)
Keywords
Where The Kelvin Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wilmington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices22 records
Markets served
The Kelvin Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Industrial Refrigeration Services: Comprehensive industrial refrigeration services including planned maintenance, service, engineering, and installation for cold storage, food processing, and industrial facilities
- HVAC Services: Commercial and industrial HVAC installation and service including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems
- Non-Destructive Testing (NDT): Non-destructive testing services for petroleum, chemical, power, and agricultural industries
- Compliance Services: Process Safety Management, Risk Management Programs, and Ammonia Refrigeration Management compliance services
- Design-Build Services: Custom refrigeration engineering, design, and construction services including facilities modeling, project management, and industrial insulation
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | B2B Industrial Services - Quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
The Kelvin Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Kelvin Group is a national provider of industrial and commercial mission-critical refrigeration, HVAC, and non-destructive testing services, organized as a family of super-regional brands that deliver design-build engineering, installation, planned maintenance, 24/7 emergency service, and Process Safety Management (PSM)/Risk Management Program (RMP)/Ammonia Refrigeration Management (ARM) compliance. It serves cold storage, food processing, pharmaceutical, healthcare, grocery, petroleum/chemical, power, agricultural, and dairy customers across the United States.
Product overview
Kelvin Group operates as a national family of super-regional brands providing mission-critical industrial and commercial refrigeration, HVAC, and non-destructive testing services. The company is organized as a platform-plus-acquired-brands model, with core operating companies including ARC Mechanical (Northeast), Refrigeration Design & Service (RD&S, Mid-Atlantic/Southeast), RC&E (Texas/Midwest), and PermaCold Engineering (Pacific Northwest). Compliance services are consolidated under Sotera, the nation's largest industrial refrigeration compliance platform formed from the merger of HCG Associates and JS Compliance, delivering PSM, RMP, and ARM services. Additional acquired brands include GMS Services, Dahms Refrigeration, Cooling & Heating Specialists, Global Mechanical, and others. The portfolio serves cold storage, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, grocery, and industrial sectors with design, construction, maintenance, and compliance capabilities. Internal programs including Kelvin Knowledge Center and Kelvin University support workforce development and technical collaboration across the organization.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sotera: The nation's largest industrial refrigeration compliance platform, providing Process Safety Management (PSM), Risk Management Program (RMP), and Ammonia Refrigeration Management (ARM) services.
Products and services
- ARC Mechanical Industrial and commercial refrigeration and specialty HVAC services company serving New England and the Northeast, offering planned maintenance, service, engineering, and installation for industrial and commercial customers.
- Refrigeration Design & Service (RD&S) Leading industrial refrigeration services and design-build provider in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, offering planned maintenance, service, engineering, and installation; also manufactures skid-mounted refrigeration systems and UL-inspected control panels.
- RC&E (Refrigeration, Construction & Engineering) Leading industrial refrigeration services and design-build provider in Texas, offering maintenance services, engineering, facilities modeling, project management, industrial insulation, parts, and process safety and risk management.
- PermaCold Engineering Industrial refrigeration firm specializing in energy-efficient, sustainable systems, natural refrigerants (ammonia and CO₂), and engineering, installation, maintenance, and consulting services for cold storage and process refrigeration applications.
- Sotera Nation's largest industrial refrigeration compliance platform delivering comprehensive Process Safety Management (PSM), Risk Management Program (RMP), and Ammonia Refrigeration Management (ARM) services across the United States and Canada.
- TotalPSM
Quantifiable outcome
- Serving 2,500+ customers nationwide
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Kelvin Group
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Kelvin Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
The Kelvin Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Clew PartnersminorClew Partners served as the buy-side advisor to Kelvin Group for the acquisition of Mullally Bros., Inc.
- Finn, Dixon & HerlingminorFinn, Dixon & Herling provided legal counsel to Kelvin Group and Southfield Capital for the Mullally Bros. acquisition.
- Sotera (Merger of HCG Associates and JS Compliance)coreSotera is the nation's largest industrial refrigeration compliance platform, formed through merger of HCG Associates and JS Compliance. Provides PSM, RMP, and ARM services across the US and Canada.
- PermaCold EngineeringcorePermaCold Engineering specializes in commercial and industrial refrigeration systems, serving the Northwest region. Known for energy-efficient, sustainable systems using natural refrigerants including ammonia and CO₂.
- RC&E (Refrigeration, Construction, & Engineering)coreRC&E is the leading industrial refrigeration services and design-build provider in Texas. Part of Kelvin Group's national family, providing comprehensive services including maintenance, engineering, facilities modeling, project management, and process safety.
- ARC MechanicalcoreARC Mechanical is a Kelvin Group company and the largest independent refrigeration services company in the Northeast, offering specialty HVAC and commercial/industrial refrigeration services. Acquired by Kelvin Group and serves as a core brand within the national platform.
- RD&S (Refrigeration Design & Service)coreRD&S is the leading refrigeration services and design-build provider in the Mid-Atlantic, offering planned maintenance, service, engineering, and installation. A core brand serving the Southeast region.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Kelvin Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- EMCOR Group: Large publicly traded provider of mechanical and electrical construction, facilities services, and industrial services including refrigeration and HVAC. Comparable to Kelvin as a diversified national mechanical services platform serving commercial and industrial customers with mission-critical mechanical work.
- Comfort Systems USA: National HVAC mechanical services contractor operating through a network of regional operating companies. Highly comparable to Kelvin's platform-plus-super-regional-brands model for commercial and industrial HVAC and mechanical services.
- APi Group: Public safety, specialty, and industrial services company with significant exposure to process safety and life safety services. Comparable to Kelvin through its industrial safety services portfolio and acquisition-led growth model.
- Matrix Service Company: Engineering, fabrication, and construction services company serving industrial and energy customers including petroleum, chemical, and power markets. Comparable to Kelvin through NDT, process safety, and industrial mechanical services to similar end markets.
- Trane Technologies: Global climate innovator manufacturing and servicing HVAC, refrigeration, and building automation systems. Comparable to Kelvin through its commercial refrigeration and HVAC service and replacement businesses, though at much larger scale and with OEM ownership of equipment.
Direct peers
- Hussmann (Panasonic): Major manufacturer and servicer of commercial refrigeration equipment and systems for grocery, foodservice, and convenience store customers. Directly comparable to Kelvin's refrigeration services portfolio for supermarket chains and cold storage operators.
- Hillphoenix: Manufacturer and servicer of commercial refrigeration systems, display cases, and power systems for grocery, foodservice, and industrial customers. Comparable to Kelvin's commercial refrigeration design, install, and service capabilities.
- Source Refrigeration & HVAC: Direct competitor providing commercial refrigeration and HVAC service, installation, and energy solutions to grocery, foodservice, and industrial customers across North America. Closest head-to-head competitor to Kelvin's RD&S, ARC, and GMS operating companies.
- Refrigerated Solutions Group: Provider of commercial refrigeration solutions including installation, service, and project management for retail and food service customers. Comparable to Kelvin's commercial refrigeration services offerings for supermarket and foodservice end markets.
Regional players
- Star Refrigeration: UK-based industrial refrigeration engineering and service contractor specializing in ammonia and natural refrigerant systems. Comparable to Kelvin through industrial refrigeration design, installation, and service capabilities, though operating primarily in the United Kingdom.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Kelvin Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe Kelvin Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Kelvin Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles20 records
The Kelvin Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries17 records
The Kelvin Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Kelvin Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A5 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Kelvin Group
What does The Kelvin Group do?
The Kelvin Group is a national provider of industrial and commercial mission-critical refrigeration, HVAC, and non-destructive testing services, organized as a family of super-regional brands that deliver design-build engineering, installation, planned maintenance, 24/7 emergency service, and Process Safety Management (PSM)/Risk Management Program (RMP)/Ammonia Refrigeration Management (ARM) compliance. It serves cold storage, food processing, pharmaceutical, healthcare, grocery, petroleum/chemical, power, agricultural, and dairy customers across the United States.
Is The Kelvin Group a public or private company?
The Kelvin Group is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was The Kelvin Group founded?
The Kelvin Group was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Kelvin Group based?
The Kelvin Group is headquartered in Wilmington, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Kelvin Group make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Industrial Refrigeration Services are the primary driver. The others are HVAC Services, non-Destructive Testing (NDT), compliance Services and design-Build Services.
Who are The Kelvin Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are EMCOR Group, Comfort Systems USA, APi Group, Matrix Service Company and Trane Technologies. Direct peers are Hussmann (Panasonic), Hillphoenix, Source Refrigeration & HVAC and Refrigerated Solutions Group. Star Refrigeration is listed as a regional player.
Does The Kelvin Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Kelvin Group.
What industry is The Kelvin Group in?
The Kelvin Group's product category is Industrial Refrigeration Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAOAJAN, Compliance, Refrigerant Regulations & Documentation, with a secondary code of EUAHADAK, Refrigerants & F-Gas Accounting and Verification (HFCs, Kigali/EU F-gas). Its NAICS code is 333415 and its SIC code is 3580.