QBTEC

What QBTEC does

QBTEC BV, headquartered in Woerden, Netherlands, is a privately held family-owned manufacturer that bills itself as Europe's largest producer of professional cooking and frying installations. Founded in 1944 by Quirinus Bakker (with the first commercial Perfecta deep fryer produced in 1953), the company today operates as the umbrella organization for eight premium brands — Kiremko, Perfecta, Smitto, Qook!, Florigo, De Kuiper, Adieu, and HiFri — each targeting a distinct niche in hospitality or industrial food processing. Its industrial footprint spans a consolidated manufacturing facility in Woerden (expanded by 2,000 sqm in 2023), a related engineering collaboration with Kiremko Food Processing Equipment in Montfoort for global fries/vegetable processing lines, and approximately 190 employees.

The company's product portfolio centers on custom-built deep fryers, frying walls, fish-baking ovens, cast-iron griddles, hot-air/steam convection ovens, and full custom catering kitchens. Underlying technology is primarily mechanical and process-oriented: six robotic welding arms produce 8,000+ boiler bases annually, SafanDarley press brakes with AutoPOL software automate sheet-metal bending from 3D drawings, touchscreen controls and remote service options are increasingly embedded in installed equipment, and HiFri "High-Tech Frying" technology enables oil-free frying using hot air and steam. Proprietary certifications such as the Eco Care label (CO emissions below 2ppm versus a 100ppm European limit, plus 30% lower extraction-motor energy consumption) and AR-based kitchen visualization for customers differentiate the offering. Customer-service capability is anchored by a 12-strong 24/7 field service team operating across regions, backed by a Metalektro collective labor agreement and long-tenured artisans (longest-serving employee over 55 years).

QBTEC monetizes across three streams. First, one-time sale of custom professional equipment under bespoke, quote-priced multi-year contracts to restaurants, hotels, snack bars, fish entrepreneurs, institutional caterers, and industrial fries/vegetable processors. Second, a subscription-style service and maintenance business with annual contracts and 24/7 emergency support that extends equipment life. Third, a pay-as-you-go webshop at webshop.qbtec.eu selling accessories, filters, baskets, and cleaning consumables, with equipment-data-linked accounts driving repeat ordering. Go-to-market is primarily direct enterprise and field sales (Grootkeuken adviseurs and account managers visiting sites and hosting factory tours), supplemented by an industry dealer network, trade shows, SEO-optimized brand websites, and active technical-education partnerships with Dutch hogescholen, ROC Midden Nederland, Kenteq, and SBB. The company is family-controlled by the Okkerman family (who acquired the catering business unit of Kiremko in 1987) with no external investors disclosed, and it expanded its portfolio in 2025 by reabsorbing the Florigo and De Kuiper frying brands.

Name

QBTEC

Legal name

QBTEC BV

Website

https://qbtec.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

QBTEC BV is a Dutch family-owned manufacturer, self-described as Europe's largest producer of professional cooking and frying installations, operating an umbrella of eight premium brands serving hospitality businesses, industrial food processors, and institutional caterers from Woerden with custom-built equipment and 24/7 service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Cooking and Frying Equipment

akta.pro primary industry

Food Preparation Equipment & Smallwares Wholesale (AFAIALAK)

Keywords

• Professional cooking equipment
• Industrial frying installations
• Custom catering kitchens
• Commercial fish baking ovens
• Cast iron griddles

Headquarters

HQ city

Woerden

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Equipment Manufacturing and Sales: QBTEC designs, manufactures, and sells professional cooking and frying installations under eight premium brands (Kiremko, Perfecta, Smitto, Qook!, Florigo, De Kuiper, Adieu, HiFri). Products are sold as custom-built solutions to hospitality businesses, fish entrepreneurs, and industrial food processors. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales with bespoke pricing.
2. Aftermarket Parts, Accessories, and Consumables: QBTEC operates a webshop selling accessories for frying and kitchen equipment, including filters, baskets, and cleaning products (e.g., stainless steel cleaner). Customers link their equipment data to their account for correct sizing. First-order customers receive a can of stainless steel cleaner as a gift.
3. Maintenance, Repair, and Service Contracts: QBTEC provides 24/7 maintenance and repair services, including periodic inspections, annual maintenance visits, troubleshooting, and installation of new equipment. Service is delivered by experienced field technicians equipped with fully stocked service vehicles. Service contracts are offered to keep equipment in optimal condition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

QBTEC designs, manufactures, and sells custom-built professional cooking and frying installations through eight premium brands (Kiremko, Perfecta, Smitto, Qook!, Florigo, De Kuiper, Adieu, HiFri). The company produces frying walls, deep fryers, fish baking ovens, custom catering kitchens, cast-iron griddles, and oil-free hot air fryers primarily for the hospitality industry, restaurants, fish shops, and industrial food processors. The company also provides 24/7 maintenance, repair services, and operates a webshop for accessories and spare parts.

Product overview

QBTEC is Europe's largest manufacturer of professional cooking and frying equipment, operating as an umbrella organization for eight premium brands. The product portfolio includes: Kiremko (frying ranges and deep-frying systems with Eco Care certification), Perfecta (customizable professional frying walls), Smitto (fish baking ovens), Qook! (custom-made catering kitchens), Adieu (cast-iron griddles), HiFri (oil-free hot air fryers), and acquired brands Florigo and De Kuiper (frying solutions for hospitality). The company also operates a customer webshop for accessories. All products are manufactured at the company's factory in Woerden, Netherlands, with a focus on tailor-made solutions, innovation, and over 50 years of industry leadership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kiremko Frying Installations Premium brand for frying ranges and deep-frying systems with Eco Care certification. Known for stylish design, user-friendly operation, and easy cleaning. Features the world's lowest energy consumption and CO2 emissions in frying installations.
• Perfecta Frying Walls Premium brand for professional frying walls and deep-frying systems. Offers top quality with full customization of the frying wall according to customer wishes.
• Smitto Fish Baking Ovens Brand specializing in fish baking ovens. Offers solutions from extensively large to super compact, and from standard to custom-made products for every frying need.
• Qook! Custom Catering Kitchens Brand for custom-made catering kitchens of unparalleled quality. Combines convenience, modern design, and reliability in seamless cooking solutions.
• Adieu Cast-Iron Griddles The only cast-iron griddle in the world on which dishes can be prepared without or with minimum oil, without sticking, burning, or flavor transfer. Exclusively distributed by QBTEC.
• HiFri Oil-Free Fryers High-tech frying technology brand. Ovens work with hot air and steam with no oil required. Snacks prepared with HiFri are just as crispy and delicious as traditionally prepared snacks.
• Florigo Frying Solutions Develops and builds frying solutions for the hospitality industry, focusing on capacity, product consistency, and efficiency.
• De Kuiper Food Industry Solutions Focuses on smart solutions within the food industry, where technology and customisation come together.
• QBTEC 24/7 Maintenance and Service Contracts

Quantifiable outcome

• Highest certified efficiency in the world for frying installations, resulting in maximum energy and fat savings for operators
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SafanDarleycoreTechnology or IntegrationSafanDarley supplies advanced press brakes (3-meter and 1.25-meter) to QBTEC's sheet metal workshop. QBTEC also uses SafanDarley's AutoPOL software which reads 3D drawings from the drawing office and generates fully automatic bending programs. The new press brakes feature angle measuring systems, laser line projection, hydraulic tool clamping, plate tracking system, and fully automatic double printing table. This investment made the sheet metal workshop ultramodern.
• Kiremko Food Processing EquipmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKiremko Food Processing Equipment is a related but independent company in Montfoort producing food processing production lines including pre-frying lines for fries producers and vegetable processing machines. The two companies maintain close engineering collaboration with shared engineers and joint development projects. The relationship dates to the original founding of Kiremko in 1965.
• UWVminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUWV (Employee Insurance Agency) is a Dutch government organization. QBTEC has a successful partnership with UWV as part of its commitment to increasing online visibility and social responsibility, hiring employees through employment programs.
• UW Werken WerktminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with employment initiative UW Werken Werkt, through which QBTEC participates in social employment programs.
• Ferm WerkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFerm Werk is a local employment and integration organization in the Netherlands. QBTEC has a successful partnership with Ferm Werk as part of its social responsibility initiatives.
• Hogeschool RotterdamminorOthersHigher education institution with which QBTEC collaborates for student internships. Students from various disciplines (technology, marketing, administration, economics) gain practical experience at QBTEC.
• Avans HogeschoolminorOthersHigher education institution collaborating with QBTEC for student internships and bridging theory and practice.
• ROC Midden NederlandminorOthersRegional vocational college (MBO) collaborating with QBTEC for student internships in technical and administrative fields.
• Hogeschool van AmsterdamminorOthersHigher education institution with internship collaboration with QBTEC for students in their bachelor or master phase.
• Hogeschool UtrechtminorOthersHigher education institution with internship collaboration with QBTEC.
• MAKE CenterminorOthersTechnical education initiative. QBTEC is a member of MAKE Center and TechnoHUB, local initiatives for technical talent development in the Woerden region.
• TechnoHUBminorOthersRegional technical education hub in which QBTEC participates as a member, supporting technical talent development.
• WTT (Stichting Woerdens Techniek Talent)minorOthersLocal initiative (Stichting Woerdens Techniek Talent) of which QBTEC is a member, supporting technical talent development in the Woerden region.
• KenteqminorOthersKenteq is the Dutch sector organization for vocational education and training. QBTEC is a Kenteq and SBB recognized training company, meeting all conditions to offer students fully-fledged internships.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tecnoinox: Tecnoinox is an Italian manufacturer of stainless-steel professional cooking equipment including ranges, fryers, griddles, and pasta cookers. It competes with QBTEC in the European mid-market and premium hospitality segment with comparable custom-built offerings.
• MKN: MKN is a German manufacturer of professional cooking equipment for commercial kitchens, including ranges, combi-steamers, and frying technology. It is a close European direct peer to QBTEC given its comparable focus on bespoke professional cooking installations for the hospitality and foodservice sector.
• Vulcan (ITW Food Equipment Group): Vulcan, part of Illinois Tool Works' Food Equipment Group, manufactures commercial cooking equipment including fryers, ranges, griddles, and convection ovens. It is a direct competitor to QBTEC across multiple product categories serving the same hospitality customer base.
• Frymaster (Manitowoc): Frymaster, part of the Manitowoc Company, is a leading global manufacturer of commercial deep fryers for quick-service and full-service restaurants. It directly competes with QBTEC's Kiremko, Perfecta, and Smitto fryer lines in the professional frying segment.
• Inoksan: Inoksan is a Turkish manufacturer of professional kitchen and cooking equipment, exporting to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. It is a direct peer to QBTEC in the custom commercial cooking/frying equipment category for hospitality operators.
• Palux: Palux is a German maker of professional cooking systems, combi-steamers, and custom kitchen installations for hotels, restaurants, and catering. It is comparable to QBTEC's Qook! brand given its focus on tailor-made commercial kitchen solutions in the DACH region.

Broad incumbents

• Middleby Corporation: Middleby is a large US-listed commercial foodservice equipment manufacturer with a broad portfolio spanning cooking, refrigeration, and food preparation. It competes with QBTEC's full umbrella through multiple acquired brands (e.g., TurboChef, Celfrost) and represents the global incumbent benchmark for the category.
• Ali Group: Ali Group is one of the largest global manufacturers and distributors of commercial foodservice equipment, owning brands such as Hoshizaki, Welbilt, and Scotsman. It is a broad incumbent competitor to QBTEC across cooking, frying, and kitchen installations worldwide.
• Rational AG: Rational AG is a German market leader in combi-steamer ovens for professional kitchens worldwide. As a publicly listed European cooking equipment specialist, it is a relevant broader incumbent peer for QBTEC's Qook! cooking ranges and HiFri oven lines.

Emerging players

• JDE Equipment (Josper / Pira): Josper and Pira are Spanish-origin specialist brands in charcoal ovens and high-temperature cooking equipment for premium hospitality. They are an emerging niche peer to QBTEC's HiFri and Qook! lines in the bespoke, premium professional cooking equipment segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/qbtec1
• Facebookfacebook.com/qbtec
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qbtec

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries8 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 QBTEC