What Classeq does

Classeq Ltd is a UK-based designer, manufacturer, and distributor of commercial warewashing equipment, founded in 1977 (1980 per company timeline) and operating as a subsidiary of the Winterhalter Group since the 2004 acquisition. The company is headquartered in Milton Keynes with a 3,000 sq.m. purpose-built manufacturing and R&D facility at Beacon Business Park in Stafford, Staffordshire — opened in 2017 — where its entire product range is designed, built, and tested. Its portfolio has been deliberately rationalised around two lines: an undercounter range (C400, C500, C500 Utensil, launched March 2024 and October 2025) and a pass-through range (CP500 and CP500 SR, launched July 2025), with optional integral water softening and an integrated steam-recovery unit on the CP500 SR.

The company's offering extends beyond hardware into a connectivity layer, a service-contract business, and a certification moat. Clean Connect, rolled out across the range in 2026, is a Wi-Fi enabled platform for remote status, performance, and maintenance monitoring across multiple sites; a Bluetooth companion app supports operators and technicians. Recurring revenue is generated through two service packages — Premium Plus (annual maintenance, parts, labour, two preventative visits, 7-day call-out) and Total Care (proactive all-inclusive uptime-focused maintenance) — and a dedicated spare-parts operation. Every machine incorporates a Type AB WRAS Approved air gap (240202710), and the company publishes TM65 embodied-carbon data for the range via a partnership with ImpactLoop to support sustainability-led procurement.

Classeq sells exclusively through a UK-wide network of catering equipment distributors and resellers, supported by dedicated regional Sales Area Managers and a Business Development Team covering England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. End customers are predominantly B2B operators in the hospitality sector (hotels, pubs, restaurants, bars), education (schools, colleges, universities), care homes, and multi-site hospitality groups. The model is sales-led and channel-partner-led rather than direct-to-end-customer, with consultants and kitchen designers addressed via AutoQuotes/Specifi integration and a dedicated consultant liaison. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is set per engagement through distribution partners, with service contracts billed annually.

Name

Classeq

Legal name

Classeq Ltd

Website

https://classeq.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Classeq Ltd is a UK-based manufacturer of commercial glasswashers, dishwashers, and pass-through warewashing equipment, serving hospitality, education, and care-home operators exclusively through a nationwide distributor network, with a 3,000 sq.m. Staffordshire production facility and recurring service contracts. It operates as part of the Winterhalter Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Warewashing Equipment

NAICS

Major Household Appliance Manufacturing (33522)

SIC

Household Appliances (3630), Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro primary industry

Dishwasher Retail (CRACACAD)

Keywords

• Commercial warewashing equipment
• Glasswashers and dishwashers
• Commercial kitchen equipment
• Hospitality warewashing solutions
• Undercounter and pass-through dishwashers

Headquarters

HQ city

Milton Keynes

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Warewashing Machine Sales: Sale of commercial undercounter glasswashers, dishwashers, utensil washers, and pass-through dishwashers through distributor and reseller network. Machines are designed, built and tested in the UK at the Staffordshire facility.
2. Service Contracts (Premium Plus & Total Care): Annual service contracts including planned preventative maintenance, parts and labour, and uptime guarantees. Total Care is a proactive all-inclusive package; Premium Plus includes call out, parts, labour and two preventative maintenance visits per year.
3. Spare Parts: Supply of genuine Classeq spare parts for maintenance and repairs, supported by dedicated spares team

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Classeq designs, manufactures, and distributes a range of commercial warewashing equipment — including undercounter glasswashers/dishwashers (C400, C500, C500 Utensil) and pass-through dishwashers (CP500, CP500 SR) — for the hospitality, education, and care home sectors. The range is sold exclusively through UK catering equipment distributors and backed by service contracts (Premium Plus, Total Care), genuine spare parts, and the Clean Connect IoT monitoring platform.

Product overview

Classeq is a British manufacturer of professional warewashing equipment, offering two main product lines: Undercounter range (C400, C500, C500 Utensil) and Pass Through range (CP500, CP500 SR). All machines can be commissioned as glasswashers or dishwashers on installation. The product portfolio includes standard equipment (drain pumps, rinse booster pumps, detergent and rinse aid pumps) across all models, with optional integral water softeners. The CP500 SR features an integrated steam recovery unit. Connectivity is provided through the Clean Connect Wi-Fi monitoring platform and Bluetooth app for operators and technicians. The company also offers service packages (Premium Plus, Total Care) and a range of accessories including water softeners, baskets, tabling, and chemical lance kits. Part of the Winterhalter Group since 2004, with manufacturing in Staffordshire.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Clean Connect: Wi-Fi connectivity platform that allows monitoring of warewashing machines across multiple sites, tracking wash quality, efficiency and maintenance.
• Classeq App

Products and services

• C400 Undercounter Washer Compact undercounter glasswasher/dishwasher with 400x400mm basket, capable of washing up to 640 glasses or 270 plates per hour. Commissioned as glass or dishwasher on install. Ships with drain pump, rinse booster pump, detergent and rinse aid pumps as standard. Targets hospitality and education operators needing a simple, reliable entry-level undercounter washer.
• C500 Undercounter Washer 500x500mm basket undercounter glasswasher/dishwasher capable of washing up to 1,000 glasses or 540 plates per hour. Features double-skinned door and cabinet, reduced rinse water consumption, and energy-saving standby mode. Targets hospitality operators needing higher capacity within the standard undercounter footprint.
• C500 Utensil Washer Specialised undercounter warewasher for larger items with a 628mm-deep wash tank and utensil rack. Washes up to five 1/1 gastronorm trays or chopping boards using a 7-minute utensil wash programme at higher wash and rinse temperatures. Supplied with two utensil baskets and a 2-year warranty. Compatible with the Classeq Bluetooth app.
• CP500 Pass Through Washer High-volume pass-through dishwasher and glasswasher with 500x500mm basket, capable of washing up to 720 plates or 1,000 glasses per hour across four wash programmes (1.5, 3, 5 and 7 minutes). Ships with drain pump, rinse booster pump, detergent and rinse aid pumps as standard, and is Wi-Fi enabled for Clean Connect portal access. Targets education, hospitality, and high-volume caterers.
• CP500 SR Pass Through Washer with Steam Recovery Pass-through dishwasher/glasswasher with integrated Steam Recovery Unit that minimises steam in the kitchen, eliminates the need for separate extraction, and recycles captured heat to preheat incoming water for improved energy efficiency. Configurable for straight or corner locations. Wi-Fi enabled with Clean Connect portal access.
• Clean Connect IoT Monitoring Platform Wi-Fi enabled monitoring platform that allows operators to monitor wash quality, energy efficiency, salt usage, and plan maintenance based on real usage across single or multiple sites from a single online portal. Compatible with Classeq machines manufactured after 1st February 2026 and supports rental and leasing programmes via the Rental Mode feature. Targets multi-site hospitality groups and operators wanting remote visibility.
• Classeq Bluetooth App Bluetooth-connected mobile application for operators and technicians providing access to user guides, machine settings, performance data, diagnostics and service information. Compatible with C400, C400WS, C500, C500WS, C500 Utensil and all CP500 models, and required for Wi-Fi setup on new machines.
• Premium Plus Service Contract Annual service contract including planned preventative maintenance, 7-day-a-week call-out, parts and labour cover, and two preventative maintenance visits per year. Service is delivered by Classeq's directly employed nationwide technician network trained by the design and production team. Targets customers wanting scheduled cover beyond standard warranty.
• Total Care Service Package Proactive all-inclusive maintenance package tailored to individual warewashing requirements with a pay-as-you-go option. Includes detailed condition reports, chemical assessment, and staff training at each visit, designed to minimise equipment downtime.

Quantifiable outcome

• CP500 can wash up to 720 plates per hour as dishwasher, up to 1000 glasses per hour as glasswasher
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Winterhalter GroupcoreOthers · 1 January 2004Classeq was purchased by Winterhalter in 2004 and remains a proud part of the Winterhalter Group of companies. Winterhalter is a global specialist warewashing organization. Classeq benefits from global expertise while retaining its own clear identity. As part of Winterhalter, technicians work on both Classeq and Winterhalter machines.
• ImpactLoopcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with ImpactLoop, a data intelligence platform, to create TM65 embodied carbon data for each product in the Classeq range. ImpactLoop converts product information from Classeq's factory into estimated embodied carbon figures (kgCO₂e) using standardized TM65 calculation factors.
• CEDA (Catering Equipment Distributors Association)minorOthersCEDA is the premier Trade Association representing professional Catering Equipment Distributors and Service companies in the UK. CEDA represents members and the wider industry on topics including technical legislation, HR, training, education and sustainability.
• Food Service Equipment Association (FEA)minorOthersThe FEA is the UK's largest independent foodservice equipment trade association, representing and unifying the foodservice equipment industry for over 80 years.
• Lockhart Catering EquipmentminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor partner that worked with Classeq to install warewashing solutions at Surbiton High School. Managed installation around school calendar over Christmas period.
• James F. Kidd & Son LtdminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor partner that collaborated with Classeq on Glasgow University Union project, providing site survey, detailed drawings, removal and installation services, and staff training.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• JLA Group: JLA provides commercial laundry, warewashing, and kitchen equipment combined with managed-service and rental offerings to UK hospitality and care customers. Comparable UK customer base and an overlapping service/repair and rental business model position JLA as a relevant emerging player in connected warewashing services.

Direct peers

• CMA Dishmachines: CMA Dishmachines designs and manufactures commercial undercounter and high-temperature dishwashers primarily for the US foodservice market. Comparable product mix and customer focus (small to mid-sized hospitality operators) make it a relevant direct peer.
• Winterhalter: Winterhalter is Classeq's parent company and a global specialist commercial warewashing manufacturer offering undercounter, rack-type, and flight machines to the same hospitality segments. Although same-group, its own branded range competes head-to-head with Classeq in many accounts and is the most direct product-level peer.
• Meiko: Meiko is a German-headquartered specialist in commercial warewashing technology (undercounter, pass-through, and flight machines) with a strong UK and European presence. Closely comparable product range, target customer (hotels, restaurants, education), and engineering-led differentiation put Meiko in direct competition with Classeq.
• Jackson MSC: Jackson MSC is a US-based specialist in commercial warewashing equipment offering undercounter and pass-through dishwashers and glasswashers to restaurants, bars, and schools. Highly comparable product range and target customer make it a strong direct peer, albeit primarily operating in North America.

Regional players

• Fagor Professional: Fagor Professional is a Spanish-based manufacturer of commercial kitchen and warewashing equipment serving European hospitality operators. Overlapping product category and customer base, but with a regional (Iberian/European) footprint that overlaps with Classeq's distributor reach.
• Smeg Professional: Smeg Professional supplies commercial warewashing and kitchen equipment across European hospitality markets, with comparable undercounter and pass-through product types. Overlapping product range and customer segments make it a relevant regional peer.

Broad incumbents

• Ali Group: Ali Group owns and operates multiple commercial foodservice equipment brands (including warewashing specialists such as Comenda and others) globally. As a holding company in the same equipment category with both manufacturing and distribution reach, it is a relevant broad-incumbent peer for portfolio comparison.
• Hobart (ITW): Hobart, part of Illinois Tool Works, is one of the largest global manufacturers of commercial warewashing equipment (undercounter, flight-type, and rack-conveyor dishwashers) serving the same hospitality and foodservice customers as Classeq. Comparable product portfolio, broader scale, and a long-established direct and dealer sales model make it a direct incumbent reference point.
• Electrolux Professional: Electrolux Professional manufactures commercial dishwashers, glasswashers, and utensil washers alongside a much broader professional kitchen portfolio. Comparable warewashing products and overlapping customer base in hospitality and education make it a relevant broad-incumbent peer.

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/classequk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/classeq

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Classeq