Industrial Refrigeration Service

What Industrial Refrigeration Service does

Industrial Refrigeration Service, Inc. is a family-owned industrial mechanical contractor founded in 1978 by Rudolf and Eva Nechay in Maryland and headquartered in a 30,000 square foot facility in White Marsh, MD with an integrated 24,000 square foot fabrication shop. The company designs, engineers, fabricates, installs, services, and maintains industrial refrigeration systems with a primary specialization in ammonia (NH3) refrigeration, complemented by HFC, HCFC, and CO2 systems, process piping across stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminum, PVC, CPVC, and copper, and light commercial HVAC. Core offerings include custom-fabricated packaged ammonia skid packages, computerized control systems with variable frequency drives, in-house AutoCAD PI&D and 3D design, PSM compliance support, and 24/7 emergency service. The company's commercial model is project-based for new installations (single projects ranging from mid-six figures to multi-million dollar scopes such as a 2,144 HP central ammonia system for MTC Logistics) layered with recurring service and maintenance contracts and parts supply. Industrial Refrigeration Service serves cold storage warehouses, food processing plants, chemical plants, and a small number of industrial process customers across the Mid-Atlantic, primarily Maryland and Virginia, with active participation in IIAR, RETA, MCA, and ASHRAE industry bodies.

Name

Industrial Refrigeration Service

Legal name

Industrial Refrigeration Service, Inc.

Website

https://industrialrefrigserv.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Industrial Refrigeration Service is a family-owned Maryland-based industrial mechanical contractor that designs, fabricates, installs, and services custom ammonia refrigeration systems and process piping for cold storage, food processing, and industrial customers across the Mid-Atlantic region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Refrigeration Services

NAICS

Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (333415), Refrigeration Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423740)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Refrigeration & Cold-Chain Equipment Service (IMAIABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Preventive Maintenance Programs for Refrigeration Systems (HSAOAJAL), Refrigeration Installation & Replacement (Commercial) (HSAOAJAD), Emergency Refrigeration Service (24/7) (HSAOAJAM)

Keywords

• Industrial refrigeration services
• Ammonia refrigeration systems
• Process piping installation
• HVAC contracting
• Cold storage engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Middle River

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Refrigeration Services: Design, engineering, installation, and commissioning of custom industrial refrigeration systems. Revenue is project-based, typically large-scale installations for warehouses, food processing, and manufacturing facilities.
2. Service and Maintenance: 24/7 emergency service and ongoing maintenance programs tailored to each customer. Includes inspection and maintenance programs, mechanical integrity inspections, commissioning, compressor and pump rebuilds.
3. Parts Sales: Extensive inventory of high quality refrigeration parts available for prompt shipping at competitive prices.
4. Process Piping: Process piping installation services including stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminum, PVC, CPVC and copper for food, chemical, chilled water, steam, and compressed air applications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Industrial Refrigeration Service, Inc. designs, engineers, fabricates, installs, and services industrial refrigeration systems — primarily ammonia-based — along with process piping and commercial HVAC for industrial facilities. The company delivers turnkey solutions including custom-fabricated packaged skids, 24/7 emergency service and maintenance, parts supply, and Process Safety Management (PSM) compliance for cold storage warehouses, food processing plants, chemical plants, and similar operations.

Product overview

Industrial Refrigeration Service is a service company (not a software platform) offering industrial refrigeration systems design, installation, service, and maintenance using ammonia, HFC, HCFC, and CO2 refrigerants. The core portfolio includes custom-engineered industrial refrigeration systems, process piping (food-grade sanitary, chemical, chilled water, steam, compressed air), and HVAC (rooftops and split systems). These are complemented by custom-fabricated packaged ammonia skids built in-house, parts supply, and 24/7 emergency service. Equipment is sourced from partnered manufacturers including Frick, GEA, Baltimore Aircoil, Danfoss, Evapco, Hansen, and others. The company operates a 24,000 sq ft fabrication shop and a 30,000 sq ft facility in White Marsh, MD, serving cold storage warehouses, food processing plants, chemical plants, and other industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Industrial Refrigeration Systems (Ammonia, HFC, HCFC, CO2) Custom-designed and engineered industrial refrigeration systems using ammonia, HFC, HCFC, and CO2 refrigerants. Covers design, engineering, installation, service, maintenance, commissioning, and custom-fabricated packaged skids for industrial customers such as cold storage, food processing, and chemical facilities.
• Process Piping Services Process piping installation services covering food-grade sanitary, chemical, chilled water, steam, and compressed air applications using stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminum, PVC, CPVC, and copper materials for industrial facilities.
• HVAC Services HVAC design, engineering, installation, service and maintenance for rooftops and split systems serving commercial and industrial buildings.
• Custom Fabricated Packaged Skids Pre-fabricated, modular ammonia refrigeration skids built in-house in the company's 24,000 sq ft fabrication shop, including structural steel skids, piping, insulation, ammonia detection, ventilation, and electrical systems. Examples include 208 Ton and 600 Ton custom ammonia skid packages.
• Equipment Supply and Installation Supply and installation of equipment from partnered manufacturers including Frick screw compressors, GEA compressor packages, Baltimore Aircoil condensers, Danfoss valves, Evapco evaporators, Hansen autopurgers, AAIM Controls, and SGS evaporators.
• 24/7 Emergency Service and Maintenance Round-the-clock emergency service, inspection and maintenance programs, mechanical integrity inspections, commissioning, compressor and pump rebuilds, control troubleshooting, and emergency shutdowns for refrigeration and process piping systems.
• Refrigeration Parts Supply Extensive inventory of high-quality refrigeration parts available for prompt shipping at competitive prices.

Quantifiable outcome

• Energy savings through ice builder system - 6-figure rebate from power company for lowering peak usage
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Polytemp CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolytemp Corporation is referenced as a resource for cold storage construction. Industrial Refrigeration Service directs customers to Polytemp for cold storage building construction resources, indicating a referral/partnership relationship for complementary services.
• Frick CompanycoreTechnology or IntegrationFrick is described as one of their primary equipment manufacturers, developing state-of-the-art screw compressors and other equipment. Industrial Refrigeration Service specifies Frick equipment in many of their installations, including Frick RXF compressors, screw compressor packages, condensers, and Quantum control systems.
• IIAR (International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial Refrigeration Service is an active participant in IIAR, an organization that develops and educates the industrial refrigeration industry. Their engineers serve on committees striving to better the refrigeration industry.
• RETA (Refrigerating Engineers and Technicians Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive participation in RETA, an industry organization for refrigeration engineers and technicians that develops industry education and standards.
• MCA (Mechanical Contractors Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in the Mechanical Contractors Association, an industry organization supporting mechanical contractors.
• ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers.
• WebTekminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWebTek designed and oversees the Industrial Refrigeration Service website. WebTek specializes in internet marketing and web design services in Lancaster, PA.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• APi Group: Public holding company of specialty industrial services businesses, including mechanical contractors and refrigeration service providers. Overlaps with IRS on industrial refrigeration installation and service, with far greater scale and capital access.
• GEA Group: Global manufacturer of industrial refrigeration systems including ammonia and CO2 solutions for food processing and cold storage. Overlaps with IRS on large ammonia projects (Gardein expansion used GEA compressor packages) and represents both a supplier and a potential competitor on turnkey projects.
• EMCOR Group: Large publicly traded mechanical and electrical construction services firm with refrigeration and HVAC service lines. Competes for the same enterprise facility projects but offers national footprint and broader service portfolio.
• Hoshizaki: Global manufacturer of commercial and industrial refrigeration equipment including ice machines and cold-room systems. Adjacent rather than direct — competes indirectly as an OEM whose equipment IRS specifies, and supplies end-customers who could alternatively self-install.
• Hussmann (Panasonic): Major manufacturer and servicer of commercial refrigeration display cases and cold-chain solutions for grocery and food retail. Overlaps with IRS on cold-storage and food-processing refrigeration, but operates at substantially larger scale with national service.
• Comfort Systems USA: National HVAC and mechanical services contractor serving commercial and industrial customers. Overlaps with IRS on commercial HVAC and industrial refrigeration service work, but at much larger scale and with national geographic reach.
• Heatcraft Worldwide Refrigeration: Manufacturer of commercial refrigeration components and systems (compressors, condensers, evaporators) widely used by industrial refrigeration contractors. Adjacent — IRS specifies Heatcraft-family equipment, and Heatcraft's dealer/installer network overlaps with IRS's installation footprint.

Direct peers

• Stellar: Industrial contractor offering design-build mechanical construction including ammonia and industrial refrigeration systems. Comparable turnkey project execution, custom skid fabrication, and food/cold-storage customer base overlap directly with IRS's offering.

Emerging players

• Colmac Industries: North American manufacturer specializing in ammonia and CO2 industrial refrigeration equipment, including heat exchangers and packaged systems. Comparable ammonia focus and food/cold-storage customer base, with manufacturer rather than contractor business model.

Others

• Frick (Johnson Controls): Industrial refrigeration equipment manufacturer (screw compressors, controls) now part of Johnson Controls. Functions primarily as a supplier relationship for IRS rather than a competitor, but its turnkey project capabilities in large ammonia installations create partial overlap.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Industrial Refrigeration Service