Garden City Ammonia Program
Garden City Ammonia Program (GCAP) is a privately held industrial training and certification company headquartered in Garden City, Kansas, serving industrial ammonia refrigeration operators and technicians across food processing, cold storage, and manufacturing facilities through hands-on courses, RETA exam preparation, and PSM/RMP compliance services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersGarden City, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Garden City Ammonia Program does
Garden City Ammonia Program (GCAP) is a privately held, third-party industrial training and compliance services company headquartered in Garden City, Kansas. Founded in 2003 by Randy Williams, the company specializes in training, testing, and certification for industrial ammonia (R-717) refrigeration operators, and has issued over 47,000 certificates to more than 1,100 end-users across North America and beyond. Beyond its core ammonia refrigeration curriculum, GCAP operates four additional divisions covering steam boiler licensing, Process Safety Management/Risk Management Plan (PSM/RMP) compliance and audits, CO2 refrigeration, and online training (GCAP CoolCast). The company prepares students for the Refrigerating Engineers and Technicians Association (RETA) Certified Assistant Refrigeration Operator (CARO) and Certified Industrial Refrigeration Operator (CIRO) examinations, and delivers a proprietary Certified Refrigeration Operator (CRO) credential.\n\nThe company's competitive technology centers on a hands-on training facility in Garden City, KS equipped with live two-stage, DX and Flooded ammonia refrigeration systems, tear-away displays, and classrooms used to demonstrate system balancing, abnormal pressure evaluation, and operational adjustments. Coursework ranges from 20 to 40+ hours of in-class instruction and includes competency testing, a Spanish-language track, an NH3 Boot Camp, and an Operator I/II/III progression. GCAP publishes proprietary training textbooks including 'Understanding Industrial Refrigeration from the Inside Out' (also in Spanish), 'CRO - Certified Refrigeration Operator: An Advanced Understanding', and 'Implementing Process Safety Management for Ammonia Refrigeration', and operates the R-717 Inn Extended Stay motel to accommodate traveling students.\n\nGCAP's revenue model is anchored by professional services, with paid training courses and certification exams as the primary stream, supplemented by recurring hotel revenue, training book sales at $285 per copy, compliance auditing, and modest merchandise sales that fund a scholarship program. Distribution is hybrid: in-person at the Kansas facility, online through GCAP CoolCast, and on-site at customer facilities under enterprise field sales. Demand is structurally reinforced by OSHA-mandated PSM and EPA-mandated RMP training requirements for industrial ammonia refrigeration sites, and certifications expire on a three-year renewal cycle, providing recurring revenue. Marketing leverages podcasts (Ammonia Tip of the Day), YouTube NH3 Videos, social channels, National Ammonia Safety Day events, and an industry jobs board connecting graduates with employers.
Garden City Ammonia Program firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Garden City Ammonia Program
- Legal name
- Garden City Ammonia Program, LLC
- Website
- https://ammoniatraining.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Garden City Ammonia Program (GCAP) is a privately held industrial training and certification company headquartered in Garden City, Kansas, serving industrial ammonia refrigeration operators and technicians across food processing, cold storage, and manufacturing facilities through hands-on courses, RETA exam preparation, and PSM/RMP compliance services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Garden City Ammonia Program industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Safety Training Services
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)
- SIC
- Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Refrigeration & Cold Storage (Commercial/Industrial) (EDAOACAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Refrigeration Systems Maintenance (Commercial/Industrial) (BPABACAI), EPA 608 & Refrigerant Handling Compliance Training (EDAOACAN), Refrigerants & F-Gas Accounting and Verification (HFCs, Kigali/EU F-gas) (EUAHADAK)
Keywords
Where Garden City Ammonia Program is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Garden City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Garden City Ammonia Program business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Training Courses and Certifications: GCAP generates revenue through ammonia refrigeration training courses, operator certifications, and exam fees. Courses range from 20 to 0 hours of in-class instruction with live equipment demonstration and competency testing.
- Hotel Accommodations: R-717 Inn Extended Stay motel provides accommodations for GCAP students at $129.99 per night plus tax, with shuttle service to training facilities
- Training Materials and Books: Sale of training books including Understanding Industrial Refrigeration from the Inside Out, CRO textbooks, and Process Safety Management manuals at $285.00 per book
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including hats, shirts, hoodies, mugs, tumblers, patches, and accessories. All merchandise contributions support the scholarship program.
- PSM/RMP Audits: Compliance auditing services for Process Safety Management and Risk Management Plan requirements for industrial facilities using ammonia refrigeration
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | NH3 Safety Day Attendance |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | R-717 Inn Extended Stay Hotel |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Training Materials and Books |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | GCAP Merchandise |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Garden City Ammonia Program product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Garden City Ammonia Program (GCAP) provides hands-on industrial training, testing, and certification services focused on ammonia (R-717) and CO2 refrigeration operations, steam boiler licensing, and Process Safety Management/Risk Management Plan (PSM/RMP) compliance. The company operates five divisions—Ammonia Refrigeration Training, Steam Boiler Training, PSM/RMP Compliance Services, CO2 Refrigeration Training, and the GCAP CoolCast online platform—offering multi-tier operator courses (Operator I, II, III), RETA CARO and CIRO certification exam preparation, NH3 Boot Camps, Spanish-language courses, on-site customized training, and PSM/RMP compliance audits.
Product overview
Garden City Ammonia Program (GCAP) is a multi-division industrial training and compliance services company offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services for the refrigeration industry. The company operates five distinct divisions: Ammonia Refrigeration Training (AmmoniaTraining.com), Steam Boiler Training (BoilerLicense.com), PSM/RMP Compliance Services (ChemNEP.com), CO2 Refrigeration Training (CO2Training.com), and the GCAP CoolCast online training platform (GCAPCoolCast.com). GCAP's core training products include a three-tier Ammonia Operator certification pathway (Operator I, II, and III), the NH3 Boot Camp intensive program, and Spanish-language courses. The company also provides RETA certification preparation for CARO and CIRO credentials, publishes training books including the flagship 'Understanding Industrial Refrigeration from the Inside Out', and offers compliance consulting services for Process Safety Management and Risk Management Plan requirements.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Ammonia Operator I Course Entry-level course for technicians covering fundamental ammonia refrigeration concepts and operational basics, preparing students for RETA CARO certification with hands-on lab experience.
- Ammonia Operator II Course Intermediate-level ammonia refrigeration course building on Operator I fundamentals, preparing students for RETA CIRO certification with practical analytical evaluation training.
- Ammonia Operator III Course Advanced ammonia refrigeration training intended for senior operators and supervisors with extensive hands-on lab work on live systems.
- NH3 Boot Camp Intensive accelerated ammonia refrigeration training program condensing core operator competencies into a focused curriculum.
- Spanish NH3 Operator I Course Spanish-language version of the Ammonia Operator I course offered to Spanish-speaking industrial technicians.
- RETA CARO Certification Preparation Course preparing students for the RETA Certified Assistant Refrigeration Operator (CARO) examination, requiring no prior industry experience.
- RETA CIRO Certification Preparation Advanced course preparing students for the RETA Certified Industrial Refrigeration Operator (CIRO) examination, requiring two years of industry experience.
- GCAP CoolCast Online Training Online training and certification platform offering virtual ammonia refrigeration courses accessible globally for remote learners.
- Ammonia Refrigeration PSM/RMP Audits Process Safety Management and Risk Management Plan compliance auditing services for industrial facilities operating ammonia refrigeration systems.
- Steam Boiler Licensing Training Professional steam boiler licensing and certification training services supporting federal, state, and local municipal licensing requirements.
- CO2 Refrigeration Training Training services for carbon dioxide-based refrigeration systems and transcritical CO2 applications.
- GCAP Training Books Proprietary training publications including 'Understanding Industrial Refrigeration from the Inside Out', 'CRO - Certified Refrigeration Operator', and 'Implementing Process Safety Management for Ammonia Refrigeration', priced at $285.00 each.
- R-717 Inn Extended Stay Extended-stay motel providing accommodations for GCAP training students at $129.99 per night plus tax, with shuttle service to training facilities.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 47,000+ certificates issued representing over 1,100+ different end-users within North America and beyond since 2003
Companies that use Garden City Ammonia Program
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Garden City Ammonia Program technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Garden City Ammonia Program partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Refrigerating Engineers and Technicians Association (RETA)coreRETA was established in 1910 with the mission to enhance the professional development of industrial refrigeration operators and technical engineers. GCAP offers RETA CARO and CIRO certification exams and prepares students through Operator I and II courses using RETA's recommended study materials including Industrial Refrigeration I and IV.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Garden City Ammonia Program competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Refrigerating Engineers and Technicians Association (RETA): RETA is the certification body that issues CARO and CIRO credentials GCAP prepares students for. Both organizations compete and cooperate in delivering industrial refrigeration operator training, certifications, and continuing education.
- International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR): IIAR is the principal industry association for ammonia refrigeration, providing standards, conferences, and training. Overlaps with GCAP on ammonia safety education, PSM/RMP guidance, and operator competency programs.
- Industrial Refrigeration Consortium, University of Wisconsin–Madison: University-hosted program that delivers industrial refrigeration operator training, PSM compliance support, and applied research. Competes with GCAP for advanced operator education and PSM/RMP technical training spend.
- Refrigeration School Inc. (RSI): Vocational school providing hands-on HVAC/R and commercial refrigeration training, including ammonia-adjacent content. Targets a similar technician persona though skewed toward entry-level rather than certified-operator markets.
Broad incumbents
- Chemours (Opteon and Refrigerant Training Programs): Major refrigerant manufacturer that delivers training and certification programs on low-GWP refrigerants (including natural refrigerants and CO2). Competes for a share of compliance and refrigerant-handling training spend that GCAP also targets.
- Emerson (Copeland): Major refrigeration controls and compressor manufacturer with its own technician training and certification programs. Adjacent competitor for industrial refrigeration operator training, particularly for equipment-specific competency.
- Carrier Global Corporation: Global HVAC and refrigeration OEM with extensive service technician training programs, including commercial and industrial refrigeration. Overlaps with GCAP in operator and service training for refrigeration end users.
- Danfoss A/S: Global refrigeration components and controls manufacturer with Danfoss Learning offerings covering CO2, ammonia, and HVAC systems. Competes indirectly for industrial refrigeration training budget, especially as CO2 adoption grows.
- Trane Technologies: Global HVAC and commercial refrigeration OEM operating Trane and Thermo King brands with internal training academies. Overlaps with GCAP for industrial/commercial refrigeration operator training delivered to enterprise customers.
- Bitzer US: Refrigeration compressor manufacturer offering Bitzer Academy training on industrial refrigeration systems and service. Competes for a slice of advanced refrigeration operator training demand that GCAP serves.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Garden City Ammonia Program social profiles
Digital presenceGarden City Ammonia Program compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Garden City Ammonia Program financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Garden City Ammonia Program leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Garden City Ammonia Program funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Garden City Ammonia Program M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Garden City Ammonia Program
What does Garden City Ammonia Program do?
Garden City Ammonia Program (GCAP) provides hands-on industrial training, testing, and certification services focused on ammonia (R-717) and CO2 refrigeration operations, steam boiler licensing, and Process Safety Management/Risk Management Plan (PSM/RMP) compliance. The company operates five divisions—Ammonia Refrigeration Training, Steam Boiler Training, PSM/RMP Compliance Services, CO2 Refrigeration Training, and the GCAP CoolCast online platform—offering multi-tier operator courses (Operator I, II, III), RETA CARO and CIRO certification exam preparation, NH3 Boot Camps, Spanish-language courses, on-site customized training, and PSM/RMP compliance audits.
Is Garden City Ammonia Program a public or private company?
Garden City Ammonia Program is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Garden City Ammonia Program founded?
Garden City Ammonia Program was founded in 2003. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Garden City Ammonia Program based?
Garden City Ammonia Program is headquartered in Garden City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Garden City Ammonia Program make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Training Courses and Certifications are the primary driver. The others are hotel Accommodations, training Materials and Books, merchandise Sales and PSM/RMP Audits.
Who are Garden City Ammonia Program's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Refrigerating Engineers and Technicians Association (RETA), International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR), Industrial Refrigeration Consortium, University of Wisconsin–Madison and Refrigeration School Inc. (RSI). Broad incumbents are Chemours (Opteon and Refrigerant Training Programs), Emerson (Copeland), Carrier Global Corporation, Danfoss A/S, Trane Technologies and Bitzer US.
Does Garden City Ammonia Program have an API?
No public API is recorded for Garden City Ammonia Program.
What industry is Garden City Ammonia Program in?
Garden City Ammonia Program's product category is Industrial Safety Training Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAOACAD, Refrigeration & Cold Storage (Commercial/Industrial), with a secondary code of BPABACAI, Refrigeration Systems Maintenance (Commercial/Industrial). Its NAICS code is 54138 and its SIC code is 3580.