CB Transport Refrigeration

What CB Transport Refrigeration does

CB Transport Refrigeration Ltd is a privately held UK service and maintenance company founded in 1981 by Bob Collins, specialising in transport refrigeration, commercial refrigeration, and air conditioning systems. Headquartered in a purpose-built facility at Collins House, Knowsley, Merseyside, the company operates three service depots (Knowsley, Lancaster, Tamworth) covering Northwest England, Central England, and North Wales — roughly a third of England. The business trades as 'Carrier Transicold Northwest' and has been the longest-serving Carrier Transicold dealership in the UK since September 1986, holding the largest service partner position within Carrier's UK independent network.

The company offers four core service lines: transport refrigeration service, repair, installation and maintenance for vans, trucks and trailers; commercial refrigeration services for pub cellars, cold rooms and chiller cabinets; air conditioning design, installation, maintenance and repair for domestic, commercial, industrial, coach/bus and truck applications; and parts supply (new, used and factory refurbished), plus engine and compressor re-manufacture. Underlying technology centres on Carrier Transicold transport refrigeration systems, including access to the Vector eCool autonomous electric refrigeration platform, supported by an integrated computerised Parts and Service Management system with a 300sq m two-floor inventory and fully mobile service vehicles with on-board stock.

Revenue is generated through professional services (service, repair and maintenance contracts), hardware sales (parts and equipment), one-time installations, and engine/compressor re-manufacture. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting transport fleet operators, logistics companies, hospitality venues and commercial businesses, delivered through direct account relationships, mobile field technicians, depot-based workshop service, and a formal B2B account application process. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company is family-controlled (Chairman Bob Collins, Managing Director Kevin Collins since March 2010), holds company-wide and individual F-Gas refrigerant handling certifications, and has received six Carrier Transicold PACE Service Partner of the Year awards in the past eight years.

Name

CB Transport Refrigeration

Legal name

CB Transport Refrigeration Ltd

Website

https://cbrefrigeration.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CB Transport Refrigeration Ltd is a privately held UK service and maintenance provider for transport refrigeration, commercial refrigeration, and air conditioning systems, operating as Carrier Transicold Northwest across Northwest England, Central England, and North Wales via three service depots and a mobile technician fleet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Knowsley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Service, Repair and Maintenance: Ongoing service, repair and maintenance of transport refrigeration, commercial refrigeration, and air conditioning systems for fleet operators and commercial businesses
2. Parts Sales: Sale of new, used and factory refurbished parts and equipment. Includes ancillary equipment such as temperature recorders, control panels and fuel tanks. 300sq m stock area with computerised inventory
3. Equipment Sales and Installation: Installation of new transport refrigeration units and commercial refrigeration systems. Used refrigeration units also available
4. Engine and Compressor Re-Manufacture: Rebuilding and re-manufacturing of engines and compressors for transport refrigeration units

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CB Transport Refrigeration is a UK-based service company that provides transport refrigeration, commercial refrigeration, and air conditioning services, alongside parts supply. It operates as the longest-serving Carrier Transicold dealership in the United Kingdom, servicing, repairing, and supplying refrigeration units for commercial vehicles and fixed installations.

Product overview

CB Transport Refrigeration is a service and maintenance company rather than a product manufacturer. The company operates as a multi-service refrigeration and air conditioning provider organized around four core service lines: Transport Refrigeration Services (the primary expertise for 30 years, covering van, truck and trailer refrigeration with Carrier Transicold products), Commercial Refrigeration Services (pub cellars, cold rooms, chiller cabinets), Air Conditioning Services (domestic, commercial, coach/bus, truck applications), and Parts Supply (new, used, refurbished parts and re-manufactured components). The company functions as Carrier Transicold Northwest and serves as the longest serving Carrier dealership in the UK.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Transport Refrigeration Servicing & Repair
• Commercial Refrigeration Services
• Air Conditioning Services
• Refrigeration Parts Supply

Quantifiable outcome

• 6 PACE awards (Carrier Service Partner of The Year) in the last 8 years
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Carrier TransicoldcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 1986In 1985, CB Transport Refrigeration were approached by Carrier Transicold to act as their agents in the North West. Carrier appointed CB as their Service Partner in September 1986. This relationship has matured and become extremely strong over the years. CB Transport Refrigeration remains the longest serving Carrier dealership in the UK. The company has evolved as a major player in the Carrier Transicold Independent Service Network and trades under the title 'Carrier Transicold Northwest'. Both companies remain at the leading edge of transport refrigeration technology. CB Transport Refrigeration is the largest service partner of Carrier Transicold UK.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Arctic Vehicle Solutions: UK provider of refrigerated vehicle conversions, transport refrigeration sales and servicing. Comparable regional peer operating in the same transport refrigeration service category targeting UK fleet operators.
• Hubbard Refrigeration: UK commercial and transport refrigeration service company providing installation, maintenance, and repair across similar customer segments (fleet operators, hospitality, retail). Comparable regional service provider competing for the same transport and commercial refrigeration accounts.
• Marshall Fleet Solutions: UK-based provider of refrigerated transport solutions including vehicle conversion, refrigeration equipment supply, service, and parts. Direct peer offering comparable transport refrigeration services to fleet operators across the UK, often via Thermo King partnerships.
• Cool Temperatures Ltd: UK specialist in transport refrigeration sales, service, and parts for commercial vehicle fleets. Directly comparable as a regional UK service partner offering Carrier and Thermo King support to fleet operators.
• Reefer Service Centre: UK-based specialist servicing and repairing transport refrigeration units on trucks and trailers. Comparable niche competitor in the transport refrigeration aftermarket service segment.

Broad incumbents

• Petit Forestier Group: European leader in refrigerated vehicle rental and temperature-controlled logistics with in-house refrigeration servicing. Broader incumbent offering comparable transport refrigeration service capabilities across multiple European geographies.
• Trane Technologies: Parent of Thermo King and a global HVAC/refrigeration manufacturer. Relevant broad incumbent whose transport refrigeration division competes with Carrier Transicold, the brand CB is exclusively aligned with.
• Thermo King (Trane Technologies): Manufacturer of transport refrigeration units and parent of the largest competing dealer network to Carrier Transicold. Directly comparable as the principal alternative OEM and service network in UK transport refrigeration, competing head-to-head with Carrier products serviced by CB.

Others

• Carrier Transicold UK: UK arm of Carrier Transicold, the OEM partner whose Independent Service Network CB operates within. Strategically aligned rather than directly competing; CB trades as 'Carrier Transicold Northwest' under this relationship.

Emerging players

• Dawsongroup Truck & Trailer Solutions: UK provider of temperature-controlled truck and trailer rental/leasing with integrated refrigeration servicing. Comparable in serving refrigerated fleet operators, though focused on rental fleet ownership rather than independent third-party service like CB.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

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 CB Transport Refrigeration