What Nilan does

Nilan A/S is a Danish, family-owned manufacturer of energy-efficient ventilation and heat pump systems founded in 1974 and headquartered in Hedensted, Denmark. The company designs, engineers, and manufactures integrated indoor climate solutions that combine mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, domestic hot water production, and reversible heat pump heating/cooling in compact units such as the Compact P2 (residential, up to 95% heat-recovery efficiency) and the AIR9 E-SILENT air-to-water heat pump (40 dB(A), natural refrigerant R290 with GWP <3). Its commercial portfolio spans the VR 120–560 rotary-heat-exchanger series (up to 6,500 m³/h), the VPM and VPR series with heat-pump combinations (up to 35,000 m³/h), and VPM Cleanroom units for laboratories, hospitals, and food/electronics environments. Control is delivered through the CTS400 and CTS602 platforms with Modbus RS485 integration to Schneider IHC/KNX building management systems, complemented by the Nilan App and the Nilan Service Center remote-monitoring platform via a Nilan Gateway.

Nilan's business model is hardware-led and channel-driven. The company is explicitly a production company that does not sell directly to private end-customers; instead, revenue flows through certified dealer and service-partner networks in Denmark and through 12 wholly-owned European subsidiaries plus independent partners spanning 25+ countries (Germany, Finland, France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Norway, Belgium, Hungary, Austria, Poland, Slovenia, Ireland, UK, Baltics, and others). Three revenue streams are present: (1) hardware sales of residential multi-aggregates, commercial ventilation units, and air-to-water heat pumps; (2) accessories and spare parts (filters, sensors, control panels, heat pipes); and (3) after-sales services including maintenance, remote diagnostics, duct cleaning, and emergency call-outs. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is largely quote-based, dealer-determined for residential, and direct-quoted for commercial projects exceeding 35,000 m³/h. Targeted customer segments are residential homeowners and builders (primary) and commercial buildings including offices, schools, hospitals, shopping centres, restaurants, and cleanrooms (primary), with a smaller specialized cleanroom/laboratory segment. Distribution is supported by trade-show participation (VVS, ISH), a ProCalculator commercial-project quoting tool, and thought-leadership content built around PHI Passive House certifications, EN 15804 EPDs, and three Solar Decathlon wins. Nilan is privately held with no external PE/VC backing, is led by second-generation family CEO Peter Sønderskov (appointed September 2024), and is currently executing its largest physical and product expansion in company history (Danmarksvej site acquisition in February 2026, new Showroom/Academy/Innovation & Test Center in October 2025, AIR9 E-SILENT launch in June 2026, and a portfolio-wide transition to R290 natural refrigerant).

Name

Nilan

Legal name

Nilan A/S

Website

https://nilan.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Nilan A/S is a Danish, family-owned manufacturer founded in 1974 that designs and produces energy-efficient ventilation and heat pump systems — combining heat recovery, domestic hot water, and heating/cooling in compact integrated units — for residential and commercial building markets across 25+ European countries via a certified dealer and wholly-owned subsidiary network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hedensted

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales - Ventilation Units: Nilan's primary revenue stream is the sale of ventilation units and heat pumps, including residential multi-aggregates (Compact P, Compact P2), commercial ventilation units (VR series, VPM series), and air-to-water heat pumps (AIR9, DHW AIR). Products are sold through a network of certified dealers in Denmark and across Europe.
2. Accessories and Spare Parts: Sale of accessories including filters, control panels, CO2 sensors, humidity sensors, heating elements, heat pipes, air distribution components, and service parts. Sold through the dealer network and Nilan Service Partners.
3. After-Sales Services and Maintenance: Nilan provides service, maintenance, and remote diagnostics through its Service Center platform and certified Service Partners. Also offers chimney sweep, duct cleaning, and emergency call-out services. Professional services are charged separately.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Nilan develops, designs, and manufactures energy-efficient ventilation units, heat pump systems, and integrated climate control solutions for residential and commercial buildings. Core products combine ventilation, heat recovery (up to 95% efficiency), domestic hot water production, and space heating/cooling in compact units manufactured in Denmark. The portfolio spans residential units (Compact P2, AIR9 E-SILENT, Comfort series), commercial units (VR 120-560 series up to 6,500 m³/h, VPM/VPR series up to 35,000 m³/h), and cleanroom ventilation systems, with supporting digital solutions (Nilan App, Nilan Servicecenter).

Product overview

Nilan is a Danish manufacturer of energy-efficient ventilation and heat pump solutions for residential and commercial applications. The product portfolio centers on integrated climate control systems combining ventilation, heat recovery, domestic hot water production, and space heating/cooling. Core residential products include the Compact P2 multi-unit series (combining ventilation, heat recovery, and hot water), AIR9 E-SILENT air-to-water heat pumps, and Comfort ventilation units. Commercial offerings include the VR 120-560 series with rotary heat exchangers (up to 6,500 m³/h), VPM/VPR series with heat pump combinations (up to 35,000 m³/h), and VPM Cleanroom units for laboratories and hospitals. Supporting software includes Nilan App for mobile control and Nilan Servicecenter for professional monitoring. The company was founded in 1974 and has been developing products for energy-efficient buildings for over 50 years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Compact P: Multi-aggregated unit combining ventilation, heat recovery, hot water production, and integrated heat pump solutions for residential buildings
• Comfort
• Compact P2
• AIR9 E-SILENT
• VR Series
• Nilan App
• Nilan Servicecenter
• NilAir
• VPM Cleanroom

Products and services

• Compact P2 Multi-unit combining ventilation with heat recovery, hot water production, and optional integration with geothermal or air-source heat pump for space heating. Features up to 95% temperature efficiency via counterflow heat exchanger. Designed for single-family homes and terraced houses with ventilation needs up to 425 m³/h.
• AIR9 E-SILENT Air-to-water heat pump with extremely quiet operation at 40 dB(A), using natural refrigerant R290 with GWP below 3. SCOP values of 5.33 (35°C) and 3.98 (55°C). Designed for modern homes with high demands for comfort, energy efficiency, and flexible outdoor unit placement.
• VR 120-560 Series Ventilation units with rotary heat exchangers for commercial applications. Available in five sizes (VR 120, VR 240, VR 360, VR 480, VR 560) covering airflows up to 6,500 m³/h. Features intelligent control and flexible installation options. Designed for offices, schools, and commercial buildings.
• VPM Series Compact ventilation units with heat pump combined with heat pipe. Available with airflows up to 35,000 m³/h. Efficient heat pump can both cool and heat supply air. Designed for offices, shopping centres, restaurants, and other large commercial buildings.
• VPR Series Ventilation units with heat recovery via rotating heat exchanger combined with heat pump. Heat pump has reversible refrigeration cycle for cooling or heating supply air. Available with airflows up to 22,000 m³/h.
• Combi 400 Polar Top Ventilation unit with heat recovery combining passive heat recovery via counterflow heat exchanger and active heat pump for heating/cooling supply air. Features integrated pre-heating coil for frost protection. Designed for larger single-family houses with ventilation needs up to 425 m³/h. PHI certified.
• VPM Cleanroom Cleanroom ventilation units with reversible heat pump that prevents contamination of supply and extract air. Compact solutions with high heat recovery and low power consumption for laboratories, hospitals, food industry, and electronics industry. Available up to 22,000 m³/h.
• Counterflow Heat Exchanger Units Ventilation units with heat recovery via counterflow heat exchanger achieving up to 95% temperature efficiency. Available with airflow up to 5,300 m³/h. Designed for commercial buildings requiring high-efficiency passive heat recovery.
• Nilan Servicecenter Monitoring and optimization software for tracking ventilation units and heat pumps via Nilan Gateway (LAN/WiFi). Enables remote alarm notifications, data viewing, and system diagnostics. Available as desktop software and mobile app. Provides ongoing service revenue opportunity for dealers and building administrators.
• Nilan App Mobile application for controlling home ventilation and heat pump directly from smartphone. Requires CTS400 or CTS602 control system and Nilan Gateway for connectivity. Available on App Store and Google Play.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 95% temperature efficiency for passive heat recovery
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature12 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor, core and flagship.

• Urban EnergymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2025Nilan and Urban Energy entered a strategic collaboration to develop a specially designed Compact P2 GEO unit for Denmark's largest district heating (termonet) project. Urban Energy's representatives visited Nilan's headquarters in Hedensted to formalize the partnership. The collaboration aims to deliver integrated geothermal heat pump solutions for large-scale district energy projects.
• ElreturminorOthers · 1 January 2024Nilan is a certified member of Elretur, Denmark's approved collective scheme for producer responsibility on electrical products and batteries, taking responsibility for the product lifecycle even when the product is end-of-life.
• VELUXcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaborated in a 2022 EUDP-funded research project with Teknologisk Institut to develop future smart control systems for household technical installations. The project targeted homeowners with Nilan Compact P ventilation and VELUX skylights.
• Schneider Electric (IHC/KNX)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2020Nilan's CTS602 and CTS400 control systems support open Modbus RS485 protocol for integration with external building management systems including Schneider Electric's IHC and KNX systems, enabling smart building integration.
• McDonald's DenmarkflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007In 2007, Nilan developed the first HFC-free (fluorinated gas-free) ventilation and cooling system in collaboration with McDonald's Denmark, Danfoss, and Teknologisk Institut. This pioneering project demonstrated Nilan's ability to create environmentally sustainable commercial solutions.
• DanfosscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2007Collaborated with Danfoss on the development of the first HFC-free ventilation system for McDonald's Denmark in 2007, combining Nilan's ventilation expertise with Danfoss component technology.
• Teknologisk Institut (Technological Institute of Denmark)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Partnered with Teknologisk Institut in the 2007 HFC-free system development. Also collaborated on an EUDP research project (2022) with VELUX and Nilan to develop future control systems for household technical installations.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Systemair: Swedish-listed manufacturer of ventilation, air handling units and heat pumps serving residential and commercial buildings across Europe — directly comparable product portfolio, channel-led GTM, and overlapping geographies.
• Swegon: Sweden-based indoor climate and ventilation specialist offering heat recovery units and energy-efficient HVAC for commercial buildings; overlaps with Nilan's VR series and VPM commercial range.
• Vallox: Finnish manufacturer of residential and commercial heat recovery ventilation units, with strong Nordic distribution overlap to Nilan's Compact P2 and Comfort series.
• TROX GROUP: German global leader in ventilation and air conditioning components and systems for commercial buildings — direct competitor in the European commercial ventilation space; Nilan's new CEO previously ran TROX Danmark.
• Zehnder Group: Swiss-listed manufacturer of indoor climate solutions including heat recovery ventilation, radiators and cleanroom air handling — closely comparable residential and commercial ventilation offering.
• Dantherm Group: Danish climate control specialist producing heating, cooling, dehumidification and heat pump solutions for residential, commercial and cleanroom customers — overlapping product categories and Danish manufacturing base.

Regional players

• Exhausto: Danish ventilation and heat recovery manufacturer focused primarily on the Danish and Scandinavian residential and commercial markets — directly overlapping geographies and product types with Nilan's Comfort and Compact series.

Broad incumbents

• Aldes: French-based indoor air quality and ventilation group offering residential and commercial heat recovery units across Europe — broader portfolio but directly comparable ventilation and HRU products.
• Bosch Thermotechnology: Division of Bosch producing heat pumps, ventilation and HVAC for residential and commercial buildings; much larger scale but competing for the same integrated heat-pump-plus-ventilation specification.
• Daikin Europe: European arm of global HVAC leader Daikin producing heat pumps, ventilation and air handling units; competes with Nilan in residential heat pumps and commercial ventilation across Europe.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Nilan