Thermowave

What Thermowave does

Thermowave is a German manufacturer of plate heat exchangers founded in the early 1990s and headquartered in Berga, Saxony-Anhalt. The company designs and builds bespoke plate heat exchangers configured to customer specifications across a broad range of materials (stainless steel grades, titanium, nickel alloys), frame designs, and sizes from DN25 to DN450, with each unit individually manufactured. Its product portfolio spans four branded lines — thermolineECO (standardized gasketed/double wall, rapid delivery), thermolineVARIO (flexible multi-configuration), thermolinePURE (food and beverage, up to 96% heat recovery), and thermolinePLUS (high-pressure up to 63 bar for natural refrigerants CO2 and NH3) — plus a Plate & Shell hybrid range in three variants (Type O opening, Type W fully welded, Type K kettle reboiler). Underlying technology is anchored by corrugated plate pairs in countercurrent arrangement, supported by the proprietary ThermoLineCalculator design software and a TÜV-certified in-house testing facility that feeds empirical performance correlations into the engineering workflow.

The business serves industrial and commercial customers across refrigeration, HVAC, food and beverage, chemical/petrochemical processing, and power and energy applications. Go-to-market combines direct commercial sales (with quote-based pricing via an RFQ process routed through [email protected]) and a global network of certified official service centers and sales partners covering 15+ countries in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and South America. Revenue is generated from one-time equipment sales plus a recurring spare parts and after-sales service stream tied to the installed base. Since 2024, Thermowave has operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nexson Group, a French specialist in compact welded heat exchangers, combining complementary thermal technology portfolios for expanded R&D, production capacity, and global market access.

Name

Thermowave

Legal name

thermowave Gesellschaft für Wärmetechnik mbH

Website

https://thermowave.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Thermowave is a German manufacturer of bespoke plate heat exchangers serving refrigeration, HVAC, food and beverage, chemical processing, and power industries, operating as a subsidiary of French Nexson Group since 2024 with a global service and sales partner network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Heat Exchangers

NAICS

Power Boiler and Heat Exchanger Manufacturing (332410), Heating Equipment (except Warm Air Furnaces) Manufacturing (333414), Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (333415)

SIC

Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Heating Equipment, Except Electric & Warm Air Furnaces (3433)

akta.pro primary industry

Heat Exchangers & Thermal Transfer Equipment (IMAHAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Heat Exchangers, Coils & Hydronic HVAC Components (IMADANAF)

Keywords

• Plate heat exchangers
• Industrial heat transfer
• Refrigeration equipment
• HVAC components
• Food beverage pasteurizers

Headquarters

HQ city

Berga

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Plate Heat Exchanger Sales: Thermowave manufactures bespoke plate heat exchangers configured to customer specifications across a wide range of materials, frame designs and sizes. Every unit leaving the Berga facility is a unique, individually manufactured product. Revenue is generated through direct equipment sales with customization as the primary value driver.
2. Spare Parts and After-Sales Service: Long-term spare parts availability for plate heat exchangers ensures customer economy and high availability. After-sales services include maintenance, modifications, repairs, and field service support. Certified original spare parts are available through official service centers.
3. Replacement Parts Supply: Comprehensive range of high-quality spare parts including gaskets, plates, frames, bolts and other critical components, all developed to meet highest quality and reliability standards. Order requires manufacturing number, customer data, and nameplate technical data.
4. New Sales Commercial Services: Commercial inquiry handling and quotation services for new heat exchanger purchases, supported by RFQuote PHE documentation and data sheet submission process.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Thermowave designs and manufactures tailor-made plate heat exchangers in a wide range of materials (stainless steel, titanium, nickel alloys), frame designs and sizes, configured to individual customer specifications. Products span gasketed, semi-welded, double-wall, and fully welded Plate & Shell designs (Types O, W, K), marketed under the thermolineECO, thermolineVARIO, thermolinePURE, and thermolinePLUS families and supported by spare parts, after-sales service, and new-sales commercial handling.

Product overview

Thermowave is a leading manufacturer of plate heat exchangers organized into distinct product families: thermolineECO (standard gasketed/double wall), thermolineVARIO (flexible multi-configuration), thermolinePURE (food & beverage), and thermolinePLUS (high-pressure up to 63 bar). Additionally, the company offers Plate & Shell hybrid heat exchangers in three types: Type O (opening capable), Type W (fully welded), and Type K (kettle reboiler). The product line includes gasketed, semi-welded, and double wall configurations, serving industries including refrigeration, HVAC, food & beverage, process technology, and power energy. Services include spare parts, after-sales support, and new sales assistance. In 2024, Thermowave became part of the Nexson Group, integrating compact welded heat exchanger expertise into its portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• thermolineECO: Gasketed and double wall plate heat exchangers - highly standardized modular system with rapid delivery
• thermolineVARIO
• thermolinePURE
• thermolinePLUS

Products and services

• thermolineECO Gasketed Plate Heat Exchangers Highly standardized modular gasketed and double wall plate heat exchanger series with compact design, superior dynamics, and high efficiency, deliverable within days for customers needing cost-effective thermal transfer solutions.
• thermolineVARIO Flexible Plate Heat Exchangers Highly flexible plate heat exchanger series for gasketed, semi-welded, and double wall configurations, designed to respond to specific customer needs with thermodynamic and hydraulic optimization for process safety in cooling of food, process media, spaces, and buildings.
• thermolinePURE Food Industry Heat Exchangers Plate heat exchanger product line specifically designed for food and beverage industry processes including pasteurization of beer, water, soft drinks, and other beverages, meeting the strictest hygiene requirements with heat recovery up to 96%.
• thermolinePLUS High-Pressure Plate Heat Exchangers High-pressure plate heat exchanger family with semi-welded design operating at up to 63 bar on the module side, using laser-welded modules to handle natural refrigerants such as CO2 and NH3 in industrial refrigeration and cooling processes.
• Plate & Shell Heat Exchanger Type O (Opening Capable) Plate and shell heat exchanger with a flanged and bolted shell that allows the plate stack to be removed for inspection or mechanical cleaning, minimizing process downtime for demanding applications.
• Plate & Shell Heat Exchanger Type W (Fully Welded) Plate and shell heat exchanger with fully welded plate stack enclosed in a robust shell, eliminating gaskets, with both plate stack and shell fully welded but separated to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction.
• Plate & Shell Heat Exchanger Type K (Kettle Reboiler) Compact fully welded plate and shell kettle reboiler designed for highly efficient evaporation, functioning as a flooded evaporator that maintains refrigerant in a submerged state for optimal heat exchange.
• Double Wall Plate Heat Exchangers Plate heat exchangers with double plate layers between hot and cold fluids that create an additional barrier preventing cross-contamination, enabling visible leak detection if a layer is damaged, ideal for drinking water, pharmaceutical, and food applications.
• Semi-welded Plate Heat Exchangers Hybrid plate heat exchangers combining laser-welded plate modules with traditional gasketed plates to guarantee maximum safety against leakage and contamination while delivering high thermal efficiency through turbulence-optimized plate design.
• Gasketed Plate Heat Exchangers Plate heat exchangers with gaskets featuring scalable flexibility where thermal performance can be adjusted after installation by adding or removing plates, capable of handling extremely close temperature differences and maximizing energy recovery.
• Spare Parts Service Comprehensive spare parts supply including gaskets, plates, frames, bolts and other essential components meeting highest quality and reliability standards, distributed through official service centers to ensure long-term customer equipment availability.
• After-Sales Service Comprehensive after-sales support including maintenance, modifications, repairs, assembly work, and field service assistance for refrigeration and specialized technical applications of plate heat exchangers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Heat recovery up to 96% achievable with thermolinePURE series
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Nexson GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024In 2024, Thermowave became part of the Nexson Group, a French company known worldwide for expertise in developing and manufacturing compact welded heat exchangers. This strategic acquisition brought together two complementary thermal technology specialists. Thermowave now benefits from new technological, industrial and commercial synergies, with expanded R&D investment, broader product portfolio including compact and welded technologies, strengthened production capacities, and greater access to global markets through Nexson's international trade network.
• Société Amen (France)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial service center certified for Thermowave repair services, assembly and testing, and certified reseller of original spare parts. Located at 140 Route de Castres, 81580 Cambounet-sur-le-Sor, France.
• AIMS General Trading (UAE)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial service center representing Thermowave in Abu Dhabi, UAE at ICAD 3, Musaffah. Provides certified repair services and spare parts.
• Varalka (India)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial service center representing Thermowave in India at C-64, Sector 57, Noida 201307, Uttar Pradesh.
• ICPIAF (Romania)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial service center representing Thermowave in Romania at Strada Fabricii de Chibrituri 13-21, Cluj-Napoca.
• WARTECH (Poland)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial service center representing Thermowave in Poland at Groszowice 99, 26-630 Groszowice.
• Protherm (South Africa)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial service center representing Thermowave in South Africa at No. 8, 4th Street, Wynberg Sandton, 2090.
• XCS / Xchanger Services (UK)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial service center representing Thermowave in the UK at 1 Barleyfield, Hinckley Fields Industrial Estate, Hinckley, Leicester.
• Refricomp (Spain)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial service center representing Thermowave in Spain at Avenida Manoteras 22, Officina 101, 28050 Madrid.
• Tescosaudi (KSA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial service center representing Thermowave in Saudi Arabia at 1st Support Services Area, Jubail Industrial City.
• Nexson Thermowave DZ (Algeria)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial service center representing Thermowave in Algeria in the industrial zone Sidi Khaled, Oued El Berdi.
• Airtech (Italy)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCertified sales partner and reseller of Thermowave products in Italy at Via Don G. Zonta, 12 C, 36030 Zugliano Vicenza.
• Q-Boss (Australia)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCertified sales partner for Thermowave products in Australia at 118 Dowd Street, Welshpool WA 6106.
• Danavex (Denmark)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCertified sales partner for Thermowave products in Denmark at Engvej 3, 9240 Nibe.
• TechnoIN (Chile)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCertified sales partner for Thermowave products in Chile at Avenida Chena #10.881, Complejo Industrial Santa Margarita, Santiago.
• TÜV ThuringencoreOthersTÜV Thuringen provides certification of Thermowave's testing facility every two years, confirming the alignment of design calculations with actual performance data.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sondex (Danfoss): Plate heat exchanger brand under Danfoss Climate Solutions offering gasketed and welded PHEs for refrigeration, HVAC, and district energy. Competes directly with Thermowave in industrial refrigeration and HVAC.
• Tranter (SPX Technologies): Long-established plate heat exchanger manufacturer with global service network. Strong overlap with Thermowave's broad plate PHE range and competes similarly in oil & gas, chemical, and HVAC applications.
• Kelvion: Manufacturer of gasketed, welded, and brazed plate heat exchangers serving HVAC, refrigeration, oil & gas, and chemical markets. Closest peer in product breadth and customization model, recently expanding high-pressure CO2/NH3 capabilities.
• SWEP (Dover Corporation): Brazed plate heat exchanger specialist serving HVAC, refrigeration, and industrial markets. Competes with Thermowave's plate lines and is particularly strong in standardized brazed units for natural refrigerant and district cooling applications.
• API Heat Transfer: Specialist manufacturer of plate, gasketed, welded, and shell-and-tube heat exchangers. Comparable custom-engineering model to Thermowave with focus on industrial process applications.

Regional players

• Hisaka Works: Japanese plate heat exchanger manufacturer with global reach, serving chemical, food, refrigeration, and HVAC. Comparable technology and customization; competes indirectly in Asian and global chemical/refrigeration markets.
• Barriquand Technologies Thermiques: French plate heat exchanger manufacturer with strong French and European industrial footprint. Particularly relevant since Thermowave is now part of Nexson Group, also France-based.

Broad incumbents

• Alfa Laval: Global leader in gasketed plate heat exchangers serving HVAC, refrigeration, dairy, chemical, and power markets. Direct overlap with Thermowave's thermolineECO/VARIO/PURE lines and a key benchmark on scale, distribution, and standardized catalog offerings.
• GEA Group: Major plate and welded heat exchanger manufacturer with broad food, refrigeration, chemical and process industry coverage. Competes with Thermowave in food-grade (PURE equivalent) and high-pressure refrigeration segments.
• Xylem (Bell & Gossett): Large diversified water technology company with a heat transfer portfolio (Bell & Gossett) serving HVAC and district energy. Less specialization in plate PHEs but competes in commercial HVAC heating/cooling.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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• Instagraminstagram.com/thermowave_de

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 Thermowave