What Labcold does

Labcold Limited is a UK-based manufacturer of medical and scientific refrigeration, founded in 1932 and headquartered in Basingstoke, Hampshire, with a workforce of 51-100 employees. The company designs, develops, and assembles a portfolio of hardware products including IntelliCold® pharmacy refrigerators (a Bluetooth-enabled line with proprietary triple-probe temperature protection and event-based logging), ATEX Zone 2-certified hazardous-area refrigerators and freezers, blood bank refrigerators, plasma freezers, platelet agitators, laboratory and ultra-low temperature freezers, ward refrigerators, and biological product storage units. Manufacturing, R&D, quality, customer care, and sales are co-located at the Basingstoke facility, and the company is a member of the Made in Britain community.

The commercial model combines one-time hardware sales (configured via direct UK sales and export operations) with recurring services delivered by in-house engineers. Recurring and professional service revenue streams include tiered preventative maintenance contracts (Standard, Premium, Premium+), UKAS-accredited on-site temperature calibration (Laboratory #8898), MHRA-compliant temperature mapping with IQ/OQ/PQ documentation, temperature mapping kits for self-service, repairs, commissioning, equipment loans, and WEEE disposal services. Customers are segmented vertically across hospitals, pharmacies, blood banks and transfusion services, research laboratories, pharmaceutical manufacturers, vaccination centres, veterinary clinics, and hazardous-area labs, with sales conducted consultatively through enquiry-led direct engagement rather than a transactional model. The company claims UK market leadership in medical and scientific refrigeration and holds ISO 9001, ISO 13485, Cyber Essentials, SafeContractor, and ATEX accreditations alongside the UKAS calibration laboratory.

Name

Labcold

Legal name

Labcold Limited

Website

https://labcold.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1932

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Labcold Limited is a UK manufacturer of medical and scientific refrigeration, founded 1932 and based in Basingstoke, producing pharmacy refrigerators, blood product storage, ATEX-certified hazardous-area units, and laboratory freezers, supported by recurring UKAS-accredited calibration and maintenance services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical and Scientific Refrigeration

NAICS

Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341), Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (333415), Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (3391)

SIC

Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821), Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585)

akta.pro primary industry

General Lab Equipment (Centrifuges, Incubators, Shakers, Ovens) (HLAGAIAC)

Keywords

• Medical refrigeration equipment
• Pharmacy refrigerators
• Blood product storage
• Laboratory freezers
• Temperature calibration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Basingstoke

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Medical Refrigeration Hardware Sales: Sale of refrigerators, freezers, and cold storage equipment for medical, pharmacy, laboratory, blood product, and biological storage applications. Products include pharmacy refrigerators, blood bank refrigerators, plasma freezers, platelet agitators, laboratory fridges, ultra-low temperature freezers, sparkfree units, and ATEX certified equipment.
2. Preventative Maintenance Contracts: Annual maintenance contracts delivered by trained in-house engineers including inspection, calibration, and fault visits. Offered in tiers: Inspection and Calibration, Standard (15% spare parts discount), Premium (20% discount, 2 fault visits), and Premium+ (2 visits, 25% discount, 4 fault visits).
3. UKAS Accredited Calibration Services: On-site calibration services using UKAS accredited procedures for both Labcold and non-Labcold equipment. Calibration lab #8898 provides traceable, internationally recognised calibration certificates.
4. Temperature Mapping Services: Temperature mapping service designed to MHRA regulations with valid IQ, PQ and OQ procedures. Also offers temperature mapping kits for customer self-service with various logger options for different chamber sizes and temperature ranges.
5. Warranty and Extended Warranty: Standard 12-month parts and labour warranty (or 18 months from factory). Extended warranties available on selected products. Consumable items covered for 30 days, wear items for 90 days.
6. WEEE Disposal Services: Disposal services for end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment through B2B Compliance scheme. Chargeable service based on size/weight of items to be disposed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Labcold designs, manufactures, and supplies medical and scientific refrigeration equipment (pharmacy refrigerators, blood bank units, plasma freezers, platelet agitators, laboratory fridges, ultra-low temperature freezers, sparkfree and ATEX-certified units, and biological product storage) for healthcare, pharmacy, blood transfusion, and research customers. The company complements its hardware portfolio with UKAS-accredited temperature calibration, MHRA-compliant temperature mapping, tiered preventative maintenance contracts, repairs, commissioning, and equipment loans.

Product overview

Labcold is the UK's largest Medical and Scientific refrigeration manufacturer, offering a unified portfolio of cold chain solutions comprising hardware products and support services. The core hardware range includes: the IntelliCold Pharmacy Fridges (with Bench Top, Undercounter, and Free Standing models ranging 36L to 543L), Advanced Pharmacy Fridge Range (steel/stainless steel construction), Laboratory Refrigeration (spark-free, ultra-low temperature freezers to -80C, ice makers, cooled incubators), ATEX Range (Zone 2 hazardous area certified refrigerators and freezers), Ward Refrigeration, Biological Product Storage, and Blood Product Storage (blood bank refrigerators, plasma freezers, platelet incubators/agitators). Supporting services include UKAS Accredited Calibration (Laboratory #8898), Temperature Mapping (with self-service kits), Preventative Maintenance Contracts (ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 certified), Repairs, Commissioning, Consultation, Equipment Loans, and Export Sales. The IntelliCold 24-Range launched January 2026 represents the latest generation with Bluetooth connectivity, triple-probe protection, and event-based logging. Accessories include Micro SD Cards, Digital Door Master Keys, Divided Drawers, and Stacking Kits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IntelliCold®: Advanced pharmacy refrigeration range featuring intelligent temperature control, Bluetooth connectivity, and digital lock options.
• ATEX Range

Products and services

• IntelliCold Pharmacy Fridges Medical-grade pharmacy refrigerators with IntelliCold touch-screen controller, Bluetooth data access via Labcold Connect App, integral temperature data logging, alarm battery backup, and optional digital lock. Range includes Bench Top, Undercounter, and Free Standing models (36L to 543L). Designed for the safe storage of temperature-sensitive medicines and vaccines in line with Public Health England guidance.
• ATEX Range Refrigerators and Freezers Explosion-proof refrigerators (66L, 150L, 400L capacities) and freezers (66L, 124L, 406L capacities) certified to ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU for Zone 2 hazardous areas. Fitted with external digital temperature display, high/low temperature and door-open audible and visual alarms, and key lock. UK 2-year parts and labour warranty included. Designed for laboratories with stringent safety requirements for flammable or volatile substances.
• Blood Product Storage Range Certified blood storage refrigerators (+2°C to +6°C), plasma freezers (-25°C or lower), platelet incubators and agitators (+20°C to +24°C) with continuous monitoring, alarms, and backup systems. Labcold was the first UK manufacturer to gain ISO 13485 medical device certification for blood storage products. Supplies NHS Blood Transfusion departments.
• Laboratory Refrigeration Range Laboratory fridges and freezers including sparkfree models for flammable substances, ultra-low temperature freezers (down to -80°C), clean ice makers, cooled incubators, and Advanced refrigerators with stainless steel interiors for research and diagnostic laboratory environments.
• Ward Refrigeration Dependable ward fridges designed for secure, everyday storage of food and beverages in healthcare settings such as hospital wards and care environments.
• Biological Product Storage High-performance medical storage solutions including breastmilk fridges and units designed to protect the safety and viability of biological materials used in healthcare and research.
• UKAS Accredited Calibration Service On-site temperature calibration service (Laboratory #8898) performed to UKAS accredited procedures, providing traceable, verifiable, and internationally recognised calibration certificates. Available for both Labcold and non-Labcold equipment to extend product lifespan and support regulatory compliance.
• Temperature Mapping Service Temperature mapping service designed to MHRA regulations with valid IQ, PQ, and OQ procedures, plus assistance with QMS. Also offers self-service temperature mapping kits for Compact Refrigerators (30-150L), Medium to Large Refrigerators (150-600L), Large Double Refrigerators (600L+), Cold Rooms, Small Freezers, and Medium to Large Freezers with full instructions and GMP-compliant report.
• Preventative Maintenance Contracts Annual preventative maintenance delivered by in-house engineers across the UK, fully certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 13485. Four tiers: Inspection and Calibration, Standard (15% spare parts discount), Premium (20% discount, 2 free fault visits), and Premium+ (2 annual visits, 25% discount, 4 free fault visits, free calibration).
• Repairs Service In-house engineering team providing diagnosis, fixing, and repair of critical cold storage products to minimise downtime and restore regulatory compliance.
• Commissioning Service Service ensuring cold storage equipment is installed and set up to meet functional and regulatory standards, including validation and performance verification at the customer site.
• Equipment Loans Service Loan refrigeration equipment provided to customers during service, repair, or commissioning periods to maintain cold chain continuity and avoid operational disruption.
• Export Sales Service International sales and distribution service for Labcold products outside the UK, leveraging Made In Britain credentials. Local importers and distributors are responsible for equivalent WEEE registration in EU member states.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 80% reduction in compliance check time through Bluetooth data access
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core, community, minor and brand.

• B2B CompliancesupportingOthersB2B Compliance is Labcold's appointed compliance contractor for WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) disposal in the UK. They are the UK's largest group compliance scheme specialising in scientific and medical items. Registration number: 5130501, Scheme approval No: WEEE/MP3338PT/SCH. This is a not-for-profit disposal service.
• UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service)coreOthersUKAS is the sole national accreditation body for the UK. Labcold operates an in-house UKAS accredited temperature calibration laboratory (#8898), providing traceable calibration services. Processes and technical capabilities are regularly assessed by UKAS assessors.
• SGSsupportingOthersSGS is a certification and inspection company. Labcold is listed in SGS's certified client directory, demonstrating compliance with quality standards.
• Naomi House and JacksplacecommunityOthersNaomi House and Jacksplace is a hospice for children and young people with life-limited and life-threatening conditions. Labcold supports through charitable donations of refrigerators, volunteering (Thank You Day telephone campaign), and fundraising activities with the 'penguin' mascot.
• Relay TransportminorOthersRelay Transport provided free delivery service for Labcold's donated refrigerators to Naomi House and Jacksplace hospices, demonstrating community support.
• Made In BritainbrandOthersMade In Britain is a UK manufacturing community organisation. Labcold is a recognised member, using the official Made In Britain mark to promote British manufacturing credentials internationally.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Dometic Group: Global manufacturer of commercial and specialty refrigeration, including medical/scientific-grade products. Broad incumbent with overlap in commercial refrigeration equipment for healthcare-adjacent applications.
• PHCbi (PHC Holdings): Global manufacturer of laboratory and medical refrigeration including ultra-low temperature freezers and biomedical freezers. Broad incumbent offering overlapping product lines to Labcold in lab/scientific cold storage as part of a larger life-sciences portfolio.
• Eppendorf: German life sciences equipment manufacturer with a portfolio that includes laboratory freezers, ULT freezers, and cryopreservation storage. Broad incumbent with overlapping lab refrigeration offering to pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic customers.
• Thermo Scientific (Thermo Fisher): Global life sciences giant with a comprehensive line of laboratory freezers, ultra-low temperature freezers, and cold storage solutions. Broad incumbent in the same customer accounts as Labcold with significantly larger R&D and distribution scale.

Direct peers

• Helmer Scientific: US-based manufacturer of medical and scientific-grade refrigerators, freezers, and platelet storage. Directly comparable to Labcold in pharmacy, blood bank, and laboratory refrigeration with overlapping customer base in hospitals and transfusion services.
• B Medical Systems: Luxembourg-based manufacturer of medical cold chain equipment including blood bank refrigerators, plasma freezers, and vaccine refrigerators. Directly comparable product portfolio to Labcold with strong position in public-sector and humanitarian healthcare markets.
• Lec Medical: UK-based specialist in medical-grade refrigeration including pharmacy refrigerators and laboratory fridges. Closest UK-based direct peer to Labcold with overlapping product categories and NHS healthcare customer base.
• Philipp Kirsch: German manufacturer of medical and laboratory refrigerators, freezers, and blood bank equipment since 1865. Directly comparable as a European specialty manufacturer of medical/scientific refrigeration serving pharmacies, hospitals, and research labs.
• Elcold: Danish manufacturer of freezers and refrigerators including laboratory and scientific models. Direct peer in scientific and laboratory refrigeration with comparable European mid-sized manufacturer profile.

Emerging players

• Haier Biomedical: Chinese-headquartered manufacturer of biomedical cold chain including ULT freezers, blood bank refrigerators, and pharmacy refrigerators. Emerging global player rapidly expanding in laboratory and medical refrigeration with pricing pressure on UK and European mid-sized peers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Labcold
• Facebookfacebook.com/Labcold

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Labcold