Sabroe Refrigeration
Sabroe Refrigeration is a Denmark-based manufacturer of industrial compressors, chillers, and high-capacity heat pumps serving utilities, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, chemical, and district heating customers globally, operating as a brand within Johnson Controls.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1897
- HeadquartersHøjbjerg, Denmark
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Sabroe Refrigeration does
Sabroe Refrigeration is a Denmark-based manufacturer of industrial refrigeration and heating equipment, operating as a brand within Johnson Controls' Industrial Refrigeration division. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Højbjerg (Holme), the company designs and produces reciprocating and screw compressors, packaged ammonia chillers, and industrial heat pumps for utilities, food and beverage processors, pharmaceutical and healthcare facilities, chemical and petrochemical operators, high-tech facilities, and leisure venues. Its technology base centers on heavy-duty compressor platforms, natural refrigerants (ammonia R717 and CO2), zero and low GWP formulations, and proprietary compact heat exchanger architectures, with output temperatures up to 120°C and heat output up to 7 MW per unit.
The product portfolio includes the ChillPAC compact chiller (60–1,400 kW, 50% smaller refrigerant charge than conventional designs), the HeatPAC, HyePAC, and HicaHP heat pump families, UniSAB controllers, vessels and heat exchangers, electrical panels with variable-speed drive, and the OpenBlue Connected IR platform for data-driven monitoring and optimization. The company sells customized, quote-based industrial equipment directly to enterprise customers through Johnson Controls' global sales organization, with documented project wins including New Aalborg University Hospital, Vattenfall Berlin, Energie Baden-Württemberg, and Aalborg Forsyning.
Revenue is generated through three streams: industrial equipment sales, aftermarket parts and overhaul services, and connected subscription services on the OpenBlue platform. Manufacturing is concentrated at the Højbjerg factory and a recently expanded Holme facility that doubles production capacity, adds a customer experience and test centre, runs on 100% renewable energy, and is compliant with European Heat Pump Association testing standards. The company holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, PED H and H1, and DNV-GL welded pressure vessel certifications.
Sabroe Refrigeration firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sabroe Refrigeration
- Legal name
- Johnson Controls Denmark ApS
- Website
- https://sabroe.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1897
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Sabroe Refrigeration is a Denmark-based manufacturer of industrial compressors, chillers, and high-capacity heat pumps serving utilities, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, chemical, and district heating customers globally, operating as a brand within Johnson Controls.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sabroe Refrigeration industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Refrigeration Equipment
- NAICS
- Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (333415), Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (3334), Heating Equipment (except Warm Air Furnaces) Manufacturing (333414)
- SIC
- Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Commercial & Industrial Refrigeration Systems (IMAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Refrigeration Components & Controls (Compressors, Valves, Sensors) (IMAHAKAH), Chillers & Cooling Plant Equipment (IMAHAKAE), Compressors, Refrigeration Components & Condensing Units (IMADANAG), Heat Exchangers, Coils & Hydronic HVAC Components (IMADANAF)
Keywords
Where Sabroe Refrigeration is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Højbjerg
- HQ country
- Denmark
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Sabroe Refrigeration business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Sales: Sale of compressors, chillers, heat pumps, and complete thermal management systems to industrial and commercial customers
- Aftermarket Parts and Services: Spare parts, exchange compressors, remanufacturing, overhaul services, and technical support for existing installations
- Connected Services (OpenBlue): Data-driven monitoring and optimization services for connected industrial refrigeration equipment
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Custom industrial equipment pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Sabroe Refrigeration product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sabroe manufactures industrial refrigeration and heating equipment, including reciprocating and screw compressor units, packaged chillers (ChillPAC and screw chillers), and a high-capacity industrial heat-pump family (HeatPAC, HyePAC, HicaHP) rated up to 95°C delivery. The portfolio is sold as engineered capital equipment for process cooling, refrigeration, and large-scale heat-recovery applications, with supporting offerings in vessels, heat exchangers, electrical panels, UniSAB controllers, and the OpenBlue connected-platform layer for Industrial Refrigeration.
Product overview
Sabroe is a manufacturer of industrial refrigeration and heating equipment with over 125 years of history (founded 1897), now operating as part of Johnson Controls. The product portfolio centers on compressors (reciprocating and screw), packaged chillers (ChillPAC, screw chillers), and industrial heat pumps (HeatPAC, HyePAC, HicaHP). These core thermal transfer products are supported by complementary control systems (UniSAB controllers), vessel/heat exchanger components, electrical panels, and the OpenBlue connected refrigeration platform for data-driven optimization. Products use natural refrigerants like ammonia (R717) and are designed for district heating, food & beverage, utilities, pharma, and industrial applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SABROE Reciprocating Compressor Units
Quantifiable outcome
- 8x more efficient than conventional cooling solutions
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Sabroe Refrigeration
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Sabroe Refrigeration technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Sabroe Refrigeration partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- European Heat Pump Association (EHPA)coreJohnson Controls/Sabroe facility in Holme, Denmark is compliant with European Heat Pump Association testing standards, enabling certification and market access for high-capacity industrial heat pumps in the European market
- EU Commissioner for Energy and HousingcoreEU Commissioner Dan Jørgensen participated in inauguration ceremony for expanded Holme facility, signaling government support for industrial heat pump decarbonization initiatives
- Aalborg Municipality (via Aalborg Forsyning)coreDistrict cooling partnership where Aalborg Forsyning (municipally-owned utility) operates the chalk lake-based cooling system using Sabroe ChillPACs and HeatPACs, delivering 8x efficiency improvement
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sabroe Refrigeration competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Dorin: Dorin (Italy) manufactures industrial refrigeration compressors and condensing units, with strength in CO2 transcritical and natural-refrigerant systems. Direct competitor in European industrial refrigeration and emerging CO2 segments overlapping Sabroe.
- GEA Refrigeration Technologies: GEA is one of the largest industrial refrigeration equipment suppliers globally, offering ammonia and CO2 compressors, chillers, and heat pumps for food processing, cold storage, dairy, and beverage customers. Directly comparable product portfolio and vertical mix to Sabroe.
- Mayekawa: Mayekawa (Japan) manufactures industrial reciprocating and screw compressors, chillers, and heat pumps under the Mycom brand for food, chemical, and marine customers globally. Direct competitor in industrial ammonia refrigeration and natural-refrigerant technology.
- Emerson Copeland: Emerson's Copeland brand manufactures refrigeration compressors (scroll, semi-hermetic, screw) and controls for industrial and commercial refrigeration customers. Competes with Sabroe in compressor categories and increasingly in industrial heat pump compressors.
- Bitzer: Bitzer is one of the world's largest manufacturers of refrigeration compressors (reciprocating, screw, scroll) used in industrial and commercial refrigeration. Direct competitor in Sabroe's core reciprocating and screw compressor categories.
- Frick Industrial Refrigeration: Frick is Sabroe's sibling brand under Johnson Controls' Industrial Refrigeration division, manufacturing industrial ammonia and CO2 refrigeration systems, screw compressors, and chillers for food/beverage, cold storage, and process industries. Most direct comparable in product portfolio and customer base.
Broad incumbents
- Danfoss: Danfoss manufactures refrigeration and air-conditioning components, including compressors, controls, valves, and increasingly industrial heat pump solutions. Adjacent as a major component supplier and emerging systems competitor to Sabroe in industrial heat pumps.
- Viessmann: Viessmann is a major European manufacturer of heating, industrial, and refrigeration systems with a strong industrial heat pump portfolio. Comparable in industrial heat pump technology and European district heating exposure, though broader in residential heating.
- Carrier Commercial Refrigeration: Carrier (NYSE: CARR) manufactures commercial and industrial refrigeration systems under brands including Carrier Refrigeration and Profroid. Competes with Sabroe in industrial refrigeration and heat recovery, particularly in food retail and process cooling.
Emerging players
- Stiebel Eltron: Stiebel Eltron (Germany) is expanding from residential heat pumps into large-scale and industrial heat pump solutions, directly competing with Sabroe in European district heating and process heat applications with natural refrigerants.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sabroe Refrigeration social profiles
Digital presenceSabroe Refrigeration compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Sabroe Refrigeration financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sabroe Refrigeration leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Sabroe Refrigeration funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sabroe Refrigeration 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 Sabroe Refrigeration
What does Sabroe Refrigeration do?
Sabroe manufactures industrial refrigeration and heating equipment, including reciprocating and screw compressor units, packaged chillers (ChillPAC and screw chillers), and a high-capacity industrial heat-pump family (HeatPAC, HyePAC, HicaHP) rated up to 95°C delivery. The portfolio is sold as engineered capital equipment for process cooling, refrigeration, and large-scale heat-recovery applications, with supporting offerings in vessels, heat exchangers, electrical panels, UniSAB controllers, and the OpenBlue connected-platform layer for Industrial Refrigeration.
Is Sabroe Refrigeration a public or private company?
Sabroe Refrigeration is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Sabroe Refrigeration founded?
Sabroe Refrigeration was founded in 1897. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Sabroe Refrigeration based?
Sabroe Refrigeration is headquartered in Højbjerg, Denmark, in the Europe region.
How does Sabroe Refrigeration make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are aftermarket Parts and Services and connected Services (OpenBlue).
Who are Sabroe Refrigeration's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Dorin, GEA Refrigeration Technologies, Mayekawa, Emerson Copeland, Bitzer and Frick Industrial Refrigeration. Broad incumbents are Danfoss, Viessmann and Carrier Commercial Refrigeration. Stiebel Eltron is listed as an emerging player.
Does Sabroe Refrigeration have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sabroe Refrigeration.
What industry is Sabroe Refrigeration in?
Sabroe Refrigeration's product category is Industrial Refrigeration Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAKAA, Commercial & Industrial Refrigeration Systems, with a secondary code of IMAHAKAH, Refrigeration Components & Controls (Compressors, Valves, Sensors). Its NAICS code is 333415 and its SIC code is 3585.