HEFT

What HEFT does

HEFT AB is a Sweden-based manufacturing company that develops nitrogen-induced high expansion foam systems for the humane stunning and euthanasia of pigs and poultry. Its proprietary technology creates a controlled anoxic atmosphere of less than 2% oxygen inside closed containers, which animals are said to enter without respiratory distress because they lack receptors for the changed nitrogen levels. The company sells a three-tier hardware portfolio: The H1 for piglets and poultry, The C1 walk-in system for small to mid-size animals, and The C3 modular containerized system for large-scale emergency depopulation during disease outbreaks, supported by the HEFT Foam Agent consumable and the DS1 docking station control unit.

Name

HEFT

Legal name

HEFT AB

Website

https://heftinternational.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HEFT AB is a Sweden-based manufacturer of nitrogen-induced high expansion foam systems used for the humane stunning and euthanasia of pigs and poultry, serving farmers, emergency response agencies, and slaughterhouses across Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal welfare equipment / livestock stunning systems

NAICS

Food Product Machinery Manufacturing (333241)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Handling & Housing Equipment (Stalls, Headlocks, Chutes, Gates) (AFAAAIAK)

Keywords

• Animal stunning equipment
• Humane euthanasia systems
• Nitrogen foam technology
• Livestock management solutions
• Controlled atmosphere stunning

Headquarters

HQ city

Uddevalla

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Systems Sales: HEFT sells its proprietary euthanasia/stunning systems (H1, C1, C3) which are manufactured in Sweden. Systems include containers, control units, and associated hardware. Pricing not publicly disclosed.
2. Foam Agent Consumables: Recurring revenue from the HEFT Foam Agent, a purpose-developed foam concentrate required for system operation. Sold in 5-liter packages with 5% dilution ratio. Regular repurchase required for ongoing system use.
3. Industrial Equipment Solutions: Providing cost-effective and time-efficient solutions for more humane stunning technologies targeting the slaughterhouse market, a significant portion of which involves replacing carbon dioxide-based stunning systems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HEFT develops, manufactures, and sells proprietary nitrogen-induced high expansion foam systems (The H1, The C1, The C3) for humane stunning and euthanasia of pigs and poultry, together with the proprietary HEFT Foam Agent consumable and the DS1 docking station control unit. Systems are sold B2B to farms, slaughterhouses, and emergency response operators across Europe, with recurring revenue from foam agent consumables required for ongoing operation.

Product overview

HEFT offers a portfolio of hardware systems based on nitrogen-induced high expansion foam technology for more humane stunning and euthanasia of pigs and poultry. The product line consists of three main systems: The H1 for piglets and poultry, The C1 for small to mid-size animals with walk-in functionality, and The C3 for large-scale emergency depopulation. All systems use the proprietary HEFT Foam Agent as the foam concentrate and are controlled via the DS1 docking station. The technology creates an anoxic environment (less than 2% oxygen) for consistent, non-aversive stunning. Solutions are offered across three segments: on-farm daily euthanasia, emergency response, and primary processing at slaughterhouses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The H1 On-site euthanasia system designed for smaller animals such as piglets and poultry. Operated semi-automatically with approximately 213 liters gas consumption and 0.23 liters foam consumption per use, an outer dimension of 1150x750x510 mm, inner dimension of 850x600x280 mm, and a technical filling time of 7 seconds.
• The C1 On-farm euthanasia system for small to mid-size pigs and poultry with walk-in functionality. Semi-automatic process controlled via the DS1 docking station, with outer dimensions of 1190x790x930 mm, inner dimensions of 880x740x700 mm, 8-second technical filling time, approximately 468 liters gas consumption, and 0.53 liters foam consumption per use.
• The C3 Scalable, modular, containerized solution for large-scale euthanasia of pigs and poultry during emergency situations such as disease control and depopulation. Features 14 modules, 3,000 liters foam capacity per minute per module, 10 square meters of animal area, and indicative capacity of 30 pigs of 50 kg per run.
• HEFT Foam Agent Purpose-developed foam concentrate for use in HEFT systems based on nitrogen-induced high expansion foam technology. Supplied as a 5-liter package at a 5% dilution ratio with 24-month shelf life; contains natural ingredients, no PFAS, produces large clear bubbles with low water content, and is classified as non-hazardous waste.
• DS1 Docking Station Docking station for controlling and distributing power, nitrogen, and foam agent into HEFT applications. Features color-marked connections and fitting tubes for easy assembly and is delivered with a mobile rack for convenient and safe storage; pairs with C1 and other HEFT systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3-4x less gas consumption compared to flushing methods
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ARVET VETERINARIA SLcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for Spain covering the Spanish and potentially Portuguese markets. Located in Lleida, Spain - a major agricultural region. Provides local sales, support, and customer relationships for HEFT products in the territory.
• CALIPROcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for France. Located in Lamballe Armor, France - in the Brittany region known for livestock production. Handles local distribution and support for HEFT products.
• RASAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for the Netherlands. Located in Putten, Netherlands. Provides local sales and support for HEFT products in the Dutch market.
• SwedfarmcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for Sweden (domestic market). Located in Linghem, Sweden. Handles local distribution and customer support for HEFT products within Sweden.
• RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwedish research institute collaborating with HEFT on technology development. Sweden is known for innovation and forward-thinking fostering culture, with RISE supporting the development of high expansion foam technology.
• SLU (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading Swedish university collaborating on research. Part of Swedish research legacy that has produced pioneers in multiple areas. Contributes to setting new global standards for stunning technology.
• Wageningen University & ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading international research institution in agriculture and animal science. Collaborates with HEFT on research to validate and improve high expansion foam technology.
• University of MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor US research university collaborating on animal welfare and stunning technology research. Extends HEFT's research network beyond Europe to North America.
• The Poultry FederationminorOthersIndustry organization displayed as a partner logo on HEFT website, indicating industry recognition and relationship with poultry industry associations.
• HSA (Humane Slaughter Association)minorOthersUK-based organization dedicated to promoting humane slaughter practices. HSA logo displayed on HEFT website, indicating alignment with animal welfare standards and industry credibility.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Linde plc: Global industrial gases supplier providing nitrogen and CO2 used in stunning applications. Adjacent ecosystem participant whose nitrogen supply underpins HEFT's technology and whose CO2 business competes with HEFT's replacement value proposition.

Broad incumbents

• BAADER: German-based global supplier of poultry, meat, and fish processing equipment with stunning and slaughtering systems. Comparable broad incumbent in slaughterhouse equipment with strong installed base across European and global meat processors.
• Marel hf: Iceland-based global leader in food processing equipment including primary processing (stunning, slaughtering, defeathering) for poultry, meat, and fish. Broad incumbent serving the same slaughterhouse customers that HEFT targets, with vastly larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Big Dutchman: German-founded global leader in livestock housing and farm equipment for pigs and poultry. Adjacent comparison for HEFT's on-farm customer segment, providing handling, feeding, and housing systems to the same producer base.
• JBT FoodTech: Division of John Bean Technologies providing food processing and protein equipment including stunning systems and slaughterhouse automation. Overlaps with HEFT's slaughterhouse customer segment but operates as part of a much larger diversified industrial technology portfolio.

Direct peers

• Frontmatec (incl. previously Cato/Scanio): Danish-headquartered supplier of customized slaughterhouse and processing equipment for the meat industry including stunning systems for pigs and cattle. Highly comparable as a Danish/European specialized slaughterhouse equipment manufacturer with similar customer base.
• Cattorini Srl: Italian manufacturer of stunning and slaughtering equipment for livestock including captive bolt and electrical stunners. Comparable product category (animal stunning devices for slaughterhouses) with overlapping target customers in European meat processing.
• Simmons Engineering / BFD Technologies: US manufacturer of stunning and euthanasia equipment for processing plants and farms. Smaller specialty competitor focused on humane livestock stunning devices that compete with HEFT in the same application domain.
• Jarvis Products Corporation: US-based manufacturer of captive bolt, electrical, and pneumatic stunning equipment for slaughterhouses serving cattle, pigs, and poultry. Most direct competitor to HEFT in the animal stunning equipment category, though Jarvis relies on traditional mechanical/electrical methods versus HEFT's nitrogen-foam approach.
• Termet Oy: Finnish manufacturer of animal stunning equipment used in European slaughterhouses. Direct peer in specialized slaughterhouse machinery with overlap in pig and cattle stunning product lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HeftAb
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 HEFT