What Refrigeration Concepts does

Refrigeration Concepts, Inc. (RCI) is a family-owned industrial refrigeration contractor headquartered in Comstock Park, Michigan, founded in 1987. The company designs, engineers, fabricates, installs, and maintains industrial refrigeration systems for food processing, food storage and distribution, beverage production, and ice arena facilities across North America. Its service portfolio spans the full project life cycle — engineering and design (including laser scanning and controls design), fabrication with certified welding procedures (TIG, MIG, aluminum, stainless, carbon, ARC), on-site installation with process piping, controls integration on Allen Bradley, OPTO22, and ANDOVER platforms with PLC/HMI/SCADA capability, 24/7 emergency repair, scheduled maintenance contracts, Process Safety Management (mechanical integrity audits, APSM compliance), and a multi-vendor parts inventory covering Danfoss, Evapco, Johnson Controls, Parker, Vilter, Frick, GEA, and Guentner.

RCI operates a direct, quote-based sales model targeting enterprise and mid-market industrial customers. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and contracts are negotiated per project or service engagement. The firm holds Michigan's exclusive "Frick Factor" provider status for that industrial refrigeration OEM, uses a West Michigan shop for prefabrication and skid packages shipped nationally, and is a member of IIAR, RETA, and ASHRAE. Headcount is reported at 11–50 employees, with no disclosed institutional investors or external funding; the business is privately and family-held.

Revenue mechanics are anchored in three streams: new build/retrofit project work (typically larger, lump-sum contract revenue), recurring service and maintenance contracts (steady annuity), and parts/supply sales. Customer segments are concentrated in food and beverage verticals — dairy, meat, produce, processed foods, beverages, controlled-atmosphere storage, and blast freezing — supplemented by a smaller ice arena practice. The stated client base includes some of North America's largest production, storage, and distribution facilities in those verticals.

Name

Refrigeration Concepts

Legal name

Refrigeration Concepts, Inc.

Website

https://rcicold.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Refrigeration Concepts, Inc. is a family-owned industrial refrigeration contractor that designs, builds, installs, and services refrigeration systems for food processing, food storage, beverage production, and ice arena facilities across North America from its Comstock Park, Michigan headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Refrigeration Contracting

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)

SIC

Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580), Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585)

akta.pro primary industry

Chillers & Cooling Plant Equipment (IMAHAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refrigeration & Cold-Chain Equipment Service (IMAIABAE), Preventive Maintenance Programs for Refrigeration Systems (HSAOAJAL), Compressor, Condenser & Evaporator Service (HSAOAJAG), Refrigeration Components & Controls (Compressors, Valves, Sensors) (IMAHAKAH), Refrigeration Controls, Thermostats & Sensors Service (HSAOAJAF)

Keywords

• Industrial refrigeration systems
• Refrigeration system design
• Refrigeration installation services
• Cold storage construction
• Ammonia refrigeration maintenance

Headquarters

HQ city

Comstock Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

Refrigeration Concepts designs, engineers, builds, installs, and services industrial refrigeration systems for food processing, food storage and distribution, beverage production, and ice arena facilities. The company offers end-to-end contracting services including conceptual design, fabrication, installation with certified welding procedures, controls integration (PLC, HMI, SCADA), process safety management, and 24/7 emergency repair and maintenance, supported by an in-stock parts inventory from certified vendors.

Product overview

Refrigeration Concepts (RCI) offers a unified portfolio of industrial refrigeration services for the food and beverage industry, centered around full-service contracting that encompasses system design, fabrication, installation, 24/7 emergency response, and ongoing repair and maintenance. The core offering is supported by specialized sub-products including Process Safety Management (mechanical integrity audits, employee training, APSM compliance), Engineering and Design (conceptual design, laser scanning, controls design), and Installation (project management, fabrication with certified welding procedures, process piping, and controls implementation). Parts and Supplies round out the portfolio through a network of certified vendors providing in-stock replacement components. Together, these services form an end-to-end solution from initial system design through long-term maintenance support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full-Service Industrial Refrigeration Contracting Comprehensive industrial refrigeration contracting services encompassing system design, engineering, fabrication, installation, controls integration, and ongoing maintenance support for food processing, food storage and distribution, beverage production, and ice arena facilities across North America.
• 24/7 Emergency Refrigeration Service Round-the-clock emergency refrigeration repair services delivered by certified staff with a well-stocked parts inventory, responding to critical system failures at industrial facilities.
• Parts and Supplies In-stock industrial refrigeration replacement parts sourced from certified vendors (Danfoss, Evapco, Johnson Controls, Parker, Vilter, Frick, GEA, Guentner), offered at competitive pricing with expedited shipping when items are not immediately available.
• Engineering and Design Conceptual design, engineering prints, laser scanning, and controls design services for custom industrial refrigeration systems, supporting clients from concept through to final construction documents.
• Refrigeration System Installation Complete installation services including project management, fabrication with certified welding procedures (TIG, MIG, Aluminum, Stainless, Carbon, ARC), process piping, and controls implementation using Allen Bradley, OPTO22, and ANDOVER platforms with PLC, HMI, SCADA integration and UL 508A industrial control panels.
• Repair and Maintenance Services Scheduled maintenance contracts, calibrations, mechanical integrity audits, and repair services for refrigeration, electrical, and control systems, delivered by factory-trained and licensed service technicians.
• Process Safety Management (PSM) Process safety management services including mechanical integrity audits, employee training, and APSM compliance specifically for ammonia and other industrial refrigeration systems.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• FrickcoreTechnology or IntegrationExclusive Frick Factor provider in Michigan; authorized vendor providing industrial refrigeration equipment and parts
• International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR)coreOthersIndustry membership organization for ammonia refrigeration professionals; RCI follows IIAR standards in construction
• Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association (RETA)coreOthersIndustry membership organization for refrigeration engineers and technicians
• American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)coreOthersIndustry membership organization; RCI follows ASHRAE standards in construction

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Star Refrigeration: Industrial refrigeration contracting specialist with US operations delivering design, installation, and service for ammonia and synthetic refrigeration systems across food, beverage, and cold storage - closely comparable end-to-end contractor model.
• CIMCO Refrigeration: Canadian-headquartered industrial refrigeration contractor that designs, builds, services, and maintains large-scale refrigeration systems for food processing, beverage, cold storage, and ice arena customers - direct overlap with RCI in market, services, and customer base.
• Colmac Coil Manufacturing: Industrial heat transfer equipment manufacturer serving food processing, cold storage, and industrial refrigeration applications - directly comparable product/customer overlap with RCI's industrial refrigeration focus.
• Kysor//Warren (Epta): Industrial and commercial refrigeration manufacturer and contractor serving supermarkets, food processing, and cold storage with display cases and refrigeration systems - overlapping industrial customer base and product scope.

Broad incumbents

• GEA Refrigeration Technologies: Global industrial refrigeration OEM and service provider supplying compressors, packages, and engineered refrigeration plants to food, beverage, and industrial customers worldwide - larger established player in the same vertical with similar end markets.
• Hillphoenix: Established commercial and industrial refrigeration manufacturer serving grocery, foodservice, and cold storage with display cases, systems, and integrated refrigeration - comparable customer verticals and product scope.
• Johnson Controls / Frick: Global HVAC and industrial refrigeration incumbent; parent of Frick, RCI's core equipment partner. Provides industrial refrigeration equipment, controls, and building services that overlap directly with RCI's offerings and supplier stack.
• Heatcraft Refrigeration Products: Commercial and industrial refrigeration manufacturer (part of Lennox) supplying condensing units, evaporators, and compressors for cold storage and food retail - overlapping end markets though broader product portfolio.
• Bohn Refrigeration (part of Rheem): Industrial and commercial refrigeration manufacturer providing evaporators and condensing units for cold storage and food processing - broader incumbent with adjacent product overlap to RCI's installed systems.

Emerging players

• Evapco: Industrial heat transfer and refrigeration component manufacturer serving food processing, cold storage, and industrial customers; RCI vendor partner with deep overlap in target verticals and product types.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/refrigeration-concepts-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Refrigeration Concepts