Solomon Commercials
Solomon Commercials is a UK-based, family-owned manufacturer of refrigerated vans, rigid trucks, and trailers serving food distribution, healthcare, and pharmaceutical cold-chain operators. It produces ~3,500 vehicles annually, operates a 23-centre Bodyguard service network, and markets proprietary Slipstream aerodynamic technology.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersHaslingden, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Solomon Commercials does
Solomon Commercials is a UK-based, family-owned manufacturer of refrigerated and temperature-controlled commercial vehicles, headquartered in Haslingden, Lancashire. Founded in 1976 by Ray Solomon, the company designs and produces a full range of temperature-controlled transport solutions spanning refrigerated vans, home delivery vehicles, rigid trucks from 3.5 to 26 tonnes, and refrigerated trailers, supporting chilled, frozen, and multi-temperature configurations engineered to ATP, GDP, and ISO cold-chain standards. Core proprietary technology centres on the Slipstream aerodynamic system — developed with the University of Manchester using CFD analysis — which delivers independently verified aerodynamic efficiency improvements and supports both fuel economy and EV range optimisation. Production capacity stands at approximately 3,500 vehicles annually across 240,000+ sq ft of manufacturing space, with operations spanning multiple Haslingden sites.
The company's business model combines custom one-off vehicle manufacturing with recurring aftermarket revenue through the Solomon Bodyguard service network (23 UK authorised repair centres plus mobile engineers) and an e-commerce parts portal. Customers span food distribution (ASDA, Arla, Domino's, Hotel Chocolat, Salisbury Poultry, Ginsters, Whitbread, Eden Farm), healthcare (NHS Trusts, Movianto), and logistics (UPS), with multi-year enterprise contracts priced on a quote basis. Strategic OEM partnerships with Mercedes-Benz (VanPartner and General Contractor status), IVECO (Associated Body Builder Gold), and DAF (Approved Electrical Bodybuilder) underpin chassis supply and collaborative product development, including a 2026 eActros 19-tonne electric refrigerated rigid launched with Ecooltec refrigeration technology. The company holds ISO 9001, VCA, Safe Contractor, and Sedex certifications, and is a member of the Cold Chain Federation.
Solomon Commercials firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Solomon Commercials
- Legal name
- Solomon Commercials
- Website
- https://solomoncommercials.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Solomon Commercials is a UK-based, family-owned manufacturer of refrigerated vans, rigid trucks, and trailers serving food distribution, healthcare, and pharmaceutical cold-chain operators. It produces ~3,500 vehicles annually, operates a 23-centre Bodyguard service network, and markets proprietary Slipstream aerodynamic technology.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Solomon Commercials industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Refrigerated Vehicle Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (333415), Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing (33621)
- SIC
- Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Truck & Bus Bodies (3713)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Commercial Vehicle Cooling, HVAC & Thermal Management Manufacturing (IMACABAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Chilled / Fresh Transport (Refrigerated) (TLADAHAG)
Keywords
Where Solomon Commercials is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Haslingden
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Solomon Commercials business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Refrigerated Vehicle Manufacturing: Design and manufacture of temperature-controlled vehicles including refrigerated vans, trucks (3.5-26 tonne), and trailers. Primary revenue stream from custom-built vehicles for food distribution, healthcare, and pharmaceutical sectors.
- Solomon Bodyguard Aftersales Services: Comprehensive after-sales service including warranty, repairs, maintenance support, and mobile body repair engineers. UK-wide network of 23 authorised repair centres to maintain cold chain fleet durability.
- Parts and Components Sales: E-commerce parts portal for ordering replacement parts with next-day delivery service. Covers genuine parts for Solomon Commercials vehicles.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom vehicle quotations |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Solomon Commercials product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Solomon Commercials designs, manufactures, and converts refrigerated commercial vehicles (vans, rigid trucks from 3.5 to 26 tonnes, and trailers) for UK food distribution, healthcare, and pharmaceutical cold chain operators. The company builds ATP-compliant temperature-controlled bodies with multi-zone configurations and complements vehicle sales with the Solomon BodyGuard aftersales service network and a Parts Portal for genuine replacement components.
Product overview
Solomon Commercials is a UK-based manufacturer offering a unified portfolio of temperature-controlled commercial vehicles and support services. The core offering is the Refrigerated Vehicles product line spanning vans, home delivery vehicles, rigid trucks (3.5-26 tonne), and trailers, all available in chilled, frozen, or multi-temperature configurations. This is complemented by two key add-on services: Solomon BodyGuard (aftermarket maintenance, repairs, and parts) and Slipstream Aerodynamics (proprietary aerodynamic optimization technology). A dedicated Parts Portal provides e-commerce access to genuine replacement components. The portfolio serves food distribution, healthcare, and pharmaceutical sectors requiring ATP-compliant cold chain transport.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Solomon Bodyguard: Comprehensive after-sales service including warranty, repairs, and maintenance support for refrigerated temperature-controlled vehicles, backed by a nationwide network of maintenance and repair specialists.
- Slipstream
Products and services
- Refrigerated Vans Temperature-controlled panel van conversions offered in single-temp or multi-temp configurations with chilled, frozen, insulated, and pharma-grade specifications; available with anti-bacterial surfaces, electric standby, and custom shelving for cold chain operators.
- Refrigerated Home Delivery Vehicles Specialist vehicles engineered for e-commerce and last-mile delivery of perishable goods with freeze, chill, and ambient compartments, available in electric and diesel power options with GPS tracking and telematics integration.
- Refrigerated Trucks 3.5 - 7 Tonne Compact rigid trucks designed for urban and regional cold chain distribution supporting multi-temperature loads with up to 1,200kg payload capacity in electric, diesel, and hybrid configurations.
- Refrigerated Trucks 7.5 - 16 Tonne Heavy-duty rigid trucks engineered for national food networks and healthcare distribution with dual-temperature and multi-compartment configurations, high-density insulation, and sector-compliant refrigeration units.
- Delivery Trucks 18 - 26 Tonne Large-scale refrigerated rigid lorries for high-capacity cold chain distribution, offered in single and multi-temperature options with anti-bacterial surfaces and EV refrigerated truck configurations.
- Refrigerated Trailers Reefer trailers and Slipstream Urban Trailers providing high-capacity temperature-controlled transport, with single-temp and multi-temp configurations, anti-slip flooring, and fixed or rear steer axle options.
- eActros 19-tonne Refrigerated Rigid Fully electric 19-tonne refrigerated rigid vehicle co-developed with Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK Ltd and Ecooltec, designed for zero-emission urban and regional food distribution with flexible multi-temperature capability.
- Solomon BodyGuard Aftersales Service Comprehensive after-sales service package for refrigerated vehicles providing warranty, repairs, and maintenance support through a UK-wide network of 23 authorised inspection and repair centres plus mobile body repair engineers.
- Solomon Parts Portal E-commerce portal enabling customers to order genuine Solomon Commercials replacement parts and components for refrigerated vehicles with next-day delivery service.
Quantifiable outcome
- Aerodynamic losses account for 21% of energy consumption in refrigerated HGVs; Slipstream technology improves aerodynamic efficiency by up to 25%
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Solomon Commercials
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Solomon Commercials technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Solomon Commercials partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK LtdcoreGeneral Contractor (GC) Partnership and collaborative development of eActros 19-tonne refrigerated rigid. Mercedes-Benz provides the electric truck chassis while Solomon designs the insulated dual-compartment body and integrates Ecooltec refrigeration technology.
- EcoolteccoreTechnology partner providing sustainable refrigeration technology for the eActros 19-tonne electric refrigerated rigid, enabling zero-emission temperature-controlled distribution.
- University of Manchester - Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil EngineeringcoreResearch partnership with University of Manchester to study aerodynamic benefits on refrigerated vehicles. Uses Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to study airflow around cab-mounted refrigeration units. Aims to develop next-generation Slipstream aerodynamic systems and reduce energy losses for customers.
- Mercedes-BenzcoreVanPartner status for Mercedes-Benz vans and GC Partnership for Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK. Official body builder partner status enabling coordinated vehicle builds.
- IVECOcoreAssociated Body Builder with Gold Status. IVECO authorised body builder for temperature-controlled vehicle conversions.
- DAFcoreApproved Electrical Bodybuilder status with DAF for electrical bodywork on DAF vehicles.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves20 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Solomon Commercials competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Gray & Adams: Long-standing UK competitor headquartered in Dundee, manufacturing refrigerated and temperature-controlled vehicle bodies for food distribution, retail, and pharmaceutical sectors — the most direct domestic rival to Solomon in the UK refrigerated rigid and trailer market.
- Lamberet: French manufacturer of refrigerated vehicle bodies, including rigids, trailers, and semi-trailers, with growing presence in UK and European cold chain — comparable product range, customer base, and OEM bodybuilder model.
- Paneltex: UK-based manufacturer of refrigerated truck and van bodies, with operations also in mainland Europe; competes directly with Solomon in temperature-controlled rigids, trailers, and home delivery vehicles.
- Chereau: French manufacturer specialising in refrigerated trailers and rigid bodies, serving food distribution, pharma, and last-mile cold chain; a like-for-like competitor in reefer body engineering and ATP-compliant builds.
Others
- Thermo King (Trane Technologies): Global leader in transport refrigeration units (TRUs) integrated into refrigerated vehicles; not a direct bodybuilder, but a key adjacent supplier/partner that complements Solomon's body builds — and a potential competitor in integrated refrigerated transport solutions.
- DAF Trucks (PACCAR): OEM truck manufacturer and chassis supplier; Solomon is an approved DAF bodybuilder and a key UK conversion partner, but DAF's parent PACCAR and competitive bodybuilders are ecosystem participants rather than direct rivals.
- Carrier Transicold: Major manufacturer of refrigeration units for trucks, trailers, and containers, including the Supra and Vector ranges; analogous enabling technology supplier to Solomon's body builds, with a comparable shift toward electric refrigeration.
Broad incumbents
- Krone Trailer Group: Major European commercial vehicle and trailer OEM producing refrigerated semi-trailers, rigids, and telematics. A broader incumbent that overlaps with Solomon on refrigerated trailer and truck body manufacturing.
- Schmitz Cargobull: Europe's largest trailer and refrigerated body manufacturer, offering S.CUe refrigerated semi-trailers and rigid bodies. A broad incumbent that competes on scale, integrated telematics, and full-trailer portfolio rather than Solomon's UK-van/rigid specialism.
Regional players
- SOR Iberica (SOR Spain): Spanish and Eastern European refrigerated body manufacturer producing insulated rigid and trailer bodies for cold chain operators; a regional player with comparable product range but limited UK presence.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Solomon Commercials social profiles
Digital presenceSolomon Commercials compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance9 records
Solomon Commercials financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Solomon Commercials leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Solomon Commercials funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Solomon Commercials 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 Solomon Commercials
What does Solomon Commercials do?
Solomon Commercials designs, manufactures, and converts refrigerated commercial vehicles (vans, rigid trucks from 3.5 to 26 tonnes, and trailers) for UK food distribution, healthcare, and pharmaceutical cold chain operators. The company builds ATP-compliant temperature-controlled bodies with multi-zone configurations and complements vehicle sales with the Solomon BodyGuard aftersales service network and a Parts Portal for genuine replacement components.
Is Solomon Commercials a public or private company?
Solomon Commercials is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Solomon Commercials founded?
Solomon Commercials was founded in 1976. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Solomon Commercials based?
Solomon Commercials is headquartered in Haslingden, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Solomon Commercials make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Refrigerated Vehicle Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are solomon Bodyguard Aftersales Services and parts and Components Sales.
Who are Solomon Commercials's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Gray & Adams, Lamberet, Paneltex and Chereau. Others are Thermo King (Trane Technologies), DAF Trucks (PACCAR) and Carrier Transicold. Broad incumbents are Krone Trailer Group and Schmitz Cargobull. SOR Iberica (SOR Spain) is listed as a regional player.
Does Solomon Commercials have an API?
No public API is recorded for Solomon Commercials.
What industry is Solomon Commercials in?
Solomon Commercials's product category is Refrigerated Vehicle Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACABAN, Commercial Vehicle Cooling, HVAC & Thermal Management Manufacturing, with a secondary code of TLADAHAG, Chilled / Fresh Transport (Refrigerated). Its NAICS code is 333415 and its SIC code is 3585.