Benndorf and Hildebrand

What Benndorf and Hildebrand does

Benndorf und Hildebrand GmbH is a Berlin-based industrial engineering company founded in 1981 that plans, distributes, and services commercial refrigeration and air conditioning systems. The company operates as an authorized regional dealer and system integrator for global HVAC OEMs, holding an authorized Trane dealership for Berlin and Brandenburg since 1985 (expanded from West Berlin in 1990) and an EVAPCO partnership covering five eastern German federal states since 1999. Its portfolio spans chillers, heat pumps, and cooling towers from 5 kW to 14,000 kW, supplemented by proprietary measurement, control, and regulation (MSR) technology with BACnet/IP integration and a rental cooling solutions line.

The company targets commercial real estate, hospitality, healthcare, research, media, and industrial customers across the Berlin-Brandenburg region and eastern Germany. Notable reference installations include 44 MW of district cooling at Potsdamer Platz, 2.2 MW at Hotel Adlon Kempinski, and a 2.4 MW system with Turbocor compressors at Axel-Springer, alongside work for Asklepios Klinik, BAM Adlershof, Humboldt University, Boulevard Berlin, Spreespeicher, and 3B Pharmaceuticals.

Revenue mechanics combine equipment distribution from OEM partners, project-based system integration and engineering services, ongoing service and maintenance on multi-megawatt installations, and a rental cooling line. The company runs with 51-100 employees under four managing directors (Ralf Benndorf, Ralf Jaroni, Sven Klose, Frank Marquardt) and has no disclosed parent, M&A activity, or external funding.

Name

Benndorf and Hildebrand

Legal name

Benndorf und Hildebrand GmbH

Website

https://benndorf-hildebrand.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Benndorf und Hildebrand GmbH is a Berlin-based industrial engineering firm founded in 1981 that plans, distributes, and services commercial refrigeration and HVAC systems. It serves as authorized Trane and EVAPCO dealer across Berlin-Brandenburg and five eastern German states, targeting real estate, hospitality, healthcare, and industrial customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Refrigeration and HVAC Services

NAICS

Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (333415), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512), Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies (Hydronics) Merchant Wholesalers (423720)

SIC

Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580)

akta.pro primary industry

HVAC & Refrigeration Contracting (IMAFALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

HVAC Equipment (Heating, Cooling & Air Handling) (IMAHAKAB), Chillers & Cooling Plant Equipment (IMAHAKAE), Heat Exchangers, Coils & Hydronic HVAC Components (IMADANAF)

Keywords

• Refrigeration systems
• Heat pump solutions
• HVAC services
• Cooling systems
• Building climate control

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Refrigeration System Sales: Sale of chillers, heat pumps, cooling towers, and related equipment from manufacturer partners including Trane, EVAPCO, Thermocold, ACM, and World E&C.
2. Service and Maintenance: Maintenance contracts, repairs, and ongoing service for refrigeration systems including 24/7 emergency support.
3. Planning and Consulting: Technical building equipment planning services for refrigeration and HVAC systems.
4. Rental Cooling: Rental of chillers and heat pumps for temporary needs including emergency coverage, events, maintenance periods, and ice rinks, with service and maintenance included.
5. MSR Technology: Measurement, control, and regulation technology for refrigeration and heat generation systems.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Benndorf and Hildebrand is a holistic system provider for refrigeration and heat pump technology, delivering planning, sales (distribution of chillers, heat pumps, cooling towers), service and maintenance, and MSR (measurement, control, regulation) technology for industrial and commercial customers in Germany. The company combines manufacturer partnerships (Trane, EVAPCO, Thermocold, ACM, Lakos, World E&C) with in-house technical expertise and an own rental fleet to deliver turnkey cooling and heating solutions.

Product overview

Benndorf and Hildebrand is a holistic system provider for refrigeration technology and heat pump solutions in Germany, offering planning, sales (Vertrieb), and service/maintenance for cooling systems. The company distributes products from multiple manufacturers including Trane, Thermocold, Evapco, ACM, Lakos, and WORLD E&C. Their product portfolio includes air-cooled and water-cooled liquid chillers, heat pumps (air/water and water/water configurations), absorption chillers, evaporative cooling towers, dry coolers, adiabatic coolers, industrial filter and separator systems, and associated control systems (MSR-Technik). They also offer rental cooling solutions (Mietkälte) for emergency, temporary, and planned maintenance applications. Products range from small-scale units (5-50 kW) suitable for commercial buildings to large-scale industrial turbo chillers (up to 14,000 kW) for industrial processes. The company provides MSR (measurement, control, and regulation) technology for refrigeration and heat generation plants, enabling integration with building management systems via protocols like BACnet/IP.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Technical Building Equipment Planning (TGA Planung) Planning services for refrigeration and HVAC systems, providing technical building equipment (TGA) planning support to engineers, architects, and end customers. Designed for planning offices, plant builders, and project developers needing expert system design for industrial and commercial installations.
• Refrigeration and Heat Pump Equipment Sales (Vertrieb) Distribution and sale of chillers, heat pumps, cooling towers, dry coolers, absorption chillers, and industrial filtration systems from manufacturer partners Trane, EVAPCO, Thermocold, ACM, Lakos, and World E&C. Serves industrial facilities, commercial buildings, hotels, hospitals, and government institutions across Germany.
• Service and Maintenance for Refrigeration Systems Comprehensive maintenance, repair, and 24/7 emergency support for refrigeration and heat pump systems across the full lifecycle from commissioning through replacement and disposal. Targeted at industrial, commercial, and institutional operators needing reliable ongoing system care.
• MSR Technology (Measurement, Control, Regulation) Automation, visualization, and control systems for refrigeration and heat generation plants, including BACnet/IP integration with building management systems (MBE/Management- und Bedienebene). Enables central monitoring and control of chiller plants.
• Rental Cooling Solutions (Mietkälte) Short-term and long-term rental of chillers and heat pumps with full service and maintenance included. Designed for emergency coverage, events, scheduled maintenance periods, ice rinks, and other temporary cooling needs without major capital investment.

Quantifiable outcome

• District cooling network at Potsdamer Platz serves multiple landmark buildings with 44 MW total capacity
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TranecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Trane dealer since 1985 for Berlin (West), expanding to cover all of Berlin and Brandenburg since 1990. Offers complete range of Trane refrigeration and HVAC products including chillers, heat pumps, and cooling towers.
• EVAPCOcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized EVAPCO partner since 1999 for the five eastern German federal states. Provides EVAPCO cooling towers, dry coolers, and adiabatic cooling solutions.
• ThermocoldcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian HVAC manufacturer partner offering heating, ventilation, and air conditioning products. Focus on environmental impact, CO2 emission reduction, and energy efficiency for residential, commercial, and industrial applications.
• ACM (Kälte Klima)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian manufacturer founded in 1987 specializing in compressor-based cooling systems, rooftop air handling units, and precision air conditioning cabinets for building HVAC and industrial applications.
• LAKOS (Claude Laval Corporation)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS manufacturer founded in 1972 based in Fresno, California. Specializes in separators and filtration systems for industrial manufacturing, HVAC, food industry, agriculture, and municipal facilities.
• World E&CminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKorean manufacturer offering absorption chillers and liquid coolers including WSL (single-stage liquid cooler with hot water drive) and WDLE (hot water absorption chiller).
• Mittwald CM Service GmbH & Co. KGminorOthersExternal web hosting provider based in Espelkamp, Germany. Provides hosting services for company website.
• CleverReachminorOthersNewsletter service provider for email marketing campaigns. Handles newsletter distribution and tracking.
• Philipp und KnollminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner for Zollernhof project collaboration in Berlin.
• Knott & Partner VDIminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTGA planning partner for Spreespeicher project. Experienced building services engineering planner for various project types.
• GIG Technology & Real Estate GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNationwide plant engineering and building retrofit services. Long-term partner acting as contractor and plant builder for Spreespeicher project.
• JRP Immobilienmanagement GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProperty management company specializing in comprehensive property care and owner representation for commercial properties, project steering, and project management for large and small retrofit projects.
• OfficeFirst Real Estate GmbHminorOthersOwner of Berlin Spreespeicher property, enabling the cooling system expansion project.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Caverion Deutschland: Nordic-origin HVAC and building systems integrator with strong German operations. Competes for industrial and commercial HVAC planning, installation, and service contracts that overlap with Benndorf & Hildebrand's mid-to-large project portfolio.
• Viessmann Climate Solutions: Large German heating, industrial, and refrigeration systems manufacturer with full heat pump portfolio. Operates in the same space as Benndorf & Hildebrand but with proprietary product lines, broader geographic reach, and direct installer/sales channels.
• Stiebel Eltron: Major German manufacturer of heat pumps, heating, and ventilation technology. Broad incumbent in the same HVAC/refrigeration category, particularly in heat pumps where Benndorf & Hildebrand distributes third-party heat pumps from Trane and Thermocold.
• Bitzer: German-based global manufacturer of refrigeration compressors and components serving industrial and commercial refrigeration. Adjacent peer in the German refrigeration value chain — supplies compressor technology into many of the same systems Benndorf & Hildebrand integrates and services.
• Johnson Controls (York): Global incumbent in HVAC and building controls (York, Trane-adjacent competitor). Competes with the same Trane-brand chillers and heat pumps that Benndorf & Hildebrand distributes, but at much larger scale with direct end-customer relationships and proprietary equipment.

Direct peers

• KMW Systems: German system provider of refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump solutions for industrial and commercial customers. Direct comparable in business model (planning, distribution, service, MSR) and customer segment focus within Germany.
• ENGIE Refrigeration: Germany-based manufacturer and system provider of industrial and commercial refrigeration, heat pumps, and cooling solutions. Overlaps directly with Benndorf & Hildebrand's industrial/commercial refrigeration focus, including chiller manufacturing, service, and large-project execution.
• SCHIESSL Kälte- und Klimatechnik: German refrigeration and HVAC distributor/service company headquartered in Regensburg, with branches across Germany. Closely comparable as a multi-brand refrigeration wholesaler and service provider serving industrial and commercial customers in Germany.

Regional players

• WISAG Industrie Service: Large German technical facility services provider with HVAC/refrigeration service and plant engineering offerings. Adjacent peer that competes for the same industrial and commercial cooling service and maintenance contracts in Germany.
• POLAR Refrigeration (Carrier): Refrigeration equipment manufacturer and service provider based outside Germany with strong European presence. Comparable as a refrigeration system provider serving commercial/industrial customers, including large chiller offerings overlapping with Benndorf & Hildebrand's Trane-branded portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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• Instagraminstagram.com/benndorfhildebrand

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Benndorf and Hildebrand