VOS TECHNICS

What VOS TECHNICS does

VOS TECHNICS is a Belgian industrial cooling company founded in 1986 by Michel Onckelinx in Herk-de-Stad, now led by the second-generation brothers Kristof Onckelinx (CEO) and Maarten Onckelinx (CTO). The company designs, builds, and maintains custom industrial cooling and climate control installations for production environments, logistics operators, and industrial process customers across three primary segments: food and beverage manufacturing (meat, dairy, beverages, prepared foods), logistics and cold storage (potatoes, fruit, vegetables, plants, ULO fruit preservation), and industrial processes (breweries, automotive testing, data centers, chemicals). Its core technology revolves around natural refrigerants — ammonia (NH3/R717), CO2 (R744), and propane (R290) — which carry GWP of 0-3 and PFAS-free compositions aligned with EU F-gas regulation phase-outs. The company operates the proprietary Michel cloud-based monitoring platform for 24/7 remote surveillance and anomaly detection of installed systems, and has developed specialized offerings including a thermal battery potato cooling system, a mobile climate chamber (world's first, -40°C to +60°C), and prefabricated cooling installations built inside shipping containers.

The business model combines one-time capital equipment sales from custom-engineered installation projects with recurring revenue from multi-year service, maintenance, and Michel monitoring subscription contracts. Pricing is custom-quoted per project with no public list; VLAIO and VLIF subsidies (8-25% of investment) are leveraged to reduce effective customer cost. Distribution is direct enterprise sales via sales engineers conducting on-site assessments across Belgium. In January 2025, VOS TECHNICS merged with sector peer Arco under Sofindev's majority ownership to form Climate Pioneers group, combining 150+ employees across four Belgian locations (Herk-de-Stad, Lokeren, Charleroi, Geel) and achieving national coverage. The company holds VCA** and ISO 9001 certifications, has a customer NPS of 91, and is recognized as an SDG Pioneer by UNITAR/CIFAL Flanders.

Name

VOS TECHNICS

Legal name

VOS technics bvba

Website

https://vos-technics.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VOS TECHNICS is a Belgian industrial cooling company founded in 1986 that designs, builds, and maintains custom climate control installations using natural refrigerants (ammonia, CO2, propane) for food and beverage manufacturers, agricultural cold storage operators, and industrial process customers across Belgium.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Refrigeration and Cooling Systems

NAICS

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), Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580)

akta.pro primary industry

Chillers & Cooling Plant Equipment (IMAHAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Chillers, Boilers & Central Plant Operations (BPABACAG), Cooling Systems & Thermal Management (CRAC/CRAH, Chillers, Liquid Cooling) (HDABAKAD)

Keywords

• Industrial cooling systems
• Natural refrigerant cooling
• Ammonia refrigeration solutions
• Cold storage installations
• Process cooling equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Union City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Industrial Cooling System Design & Build: VOS technics designs, builds, and commissions bespoke industrial cooling and climate control installations for production, logistics, and process environments. Revenue is generated from capital equipment sales and installation projects, one-time in nature per installation.
2. Service, Maintenance & Monitoring Contracts: Ongoing revenue from preventive maintenance, reactive service, and monitoring subscriptions. The company offers 24/7 service availability and remote monitoring via Michel platform. Contracts are typically multi-year service agreements.
3. Remote Monitoring (Michel): Cloud-based monitoring service bundled with installations and offered as a standalone subscription for existing clients. Provides real-time dashboard, alarm management, and predictive insights.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

VOS TECHNICS designs, builds, and maintains custom industrial cooling and climate control installations using exclusively natural refrigerants (ammonia/NH3, CO2/R744, propane/R290). The company provides turnkey solutions for production environments, logistics facilities, and industrial processes across Belgium, complemented by the proprietary Michel cloud-based 24/7 monitoring platform and ongoing service and maintenance contracts.

Product overview

VOS Technics is a Belgian industrial cooling company founded in 1986 that designs, builds, and maintains custom climate control solutions. The core offering consists of industrial cooling installations using natural refrigerants (ammonia, CO2, and propane), complemented by monitoring software (Michel), specialized applications (climate laboratories, mobile climate chambers, ULO storage, cooling containers), and sector-specific solutions for food production, logistics, and industrial processes. The company operates as part of Climate Pioneers group following its 2025 merger with Arco, serving customers across Belgium from four locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Michel: Cloud-based monitoring software for 24/7 surveillance of cooling installations and conditioned spaces. Named after one of the company founders.

Products and services

• Industrial Cooling Installations (Industriële Koelinstallaties)

Quantifiable outcome

• NPS score of 91 out of 100, reflecting exceptionally high customer satisfaction and loyalty
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

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

• SirrisflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Belgium's innovation center for technological industry (with a facility in Genk) collaborated with ZF Wind Power and VOS technics to develop the world's first mobile climate chamber capable of testing large machinery at -40°C to +60°C on-site. Sirris coordinated the overall project; VOS technics provided the heating and cooling generation technology. The €1.5 million project was co-funded by the Belgian government (FPS Economy).
• ZF Wind PowerflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Manufacturer of drive systems for wind turbines. First company to use the mobile climate chamber at its Lommel facility in Belgium, where new product prototypes are tested under extreme conditions. VOS technics contributed the heating/cooling technology for the chamber.
• Belgian Government (FPS Economy)minorOthers · 1 January 2026Federal public service for economy co-funded the €1.5 million mobile climate chamber project as part of a consortium with Sirris and ZF Wind Power.
• ArcocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025VOS technics merged with Arco under a new holding structure named Climate Pioneers, with Sofindev as majority shareholder. The combined group has over 150 employees across four Belgian locations. VOS technics and Arco maintain operational independence while sharing resources and national coverage. VOS technics contributes over 20 years of natural refrigerant expertise; Arco brings broad range of cooling techniques and geographic spread.
• VLAIO (Agentschap Innoveren & Ondernemen)minorOthersFlemish agency for innovation and entrepreneurship. VLAIO provides subsidies (ecologiepremie+) of 8-25% for investments in natural refrigerant cooling systems. VOS technics assists customers in preparing subsidy applications.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Johnson Controls: Global incumbent in building and industrial HVAC/refrigeration including YORK-branded chillers and industrial refrigeration. Competes in adjacent commercial/industrial cooling segments where VOS Technics operates, but as a broad portfolio incumbent rather than niche specialist.
• Carrier Global: Global HVAC and commercial/industrial refrigeration incumbent with deep presence in cold chain and food retail refrigeration. Overlaps with VOS Technics in commercial and industrial refrigeration but operates at much larger scale with broader product portfolio.
• GEA Group: Large German industrial engineering group with a substantial refrigeration and heat-pump division serving food, dairy, beverage, and chemical processors globally. Overlaps with VOS Technics in food-industry cooling installations but at much larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Trane Technologies: Global HVAC and refrigeration incumbent serving commercial and industrial customers. Trane's Thermo King and related commercial refrigeration lines overlap with VOS Technics' industrial cooling applications, though Trane operates at far greater scale and geographic breadth.

Direct peers

• KPS Process Cooling: UK-based specialist supplier and installer of industrial process cooling and refrigeration systems serving food, plastics, and chemical industries. Comparable to VOS Technics in being a focused, mid-sized process-cooling specialist with engineering-led direct sales.
• Mayekawa: Japanese-founded global industrial refrigeration manufacturer and contractor known for ammonia-based (Mycom) systems used in food processing, fisheries, and cold storage. Highly comparable to VOS Technics in natural-refrigerant specialisation, industrial scale, and engineering-led installation approach.
• Star Refrigeration: UK-based industrial refrigeration specialist and one of the largest independent industrial refrigeration contractors in Europe. Specialises in natural refrigerants (ammonia, CO2) and large-scale cooling installations for food processing, cold storage, and industrial applications — directly comparable to VOS Technics in product, customer base, and engineering-led model.
• ICS Cool Energy: European specialist in process cooling and heating solutions, offering design, hire, and installation of industrial cooling systems for food, beverage, plastics, and manufacturing. Comparable to VOS Technics in customer segments (food, beverage, industrial processes) and solution mix.

Others

• BITZER: Global manufacturer of refrigeration compressors (including screw and scroll types widely used in industrial cooling). Acts as a key equipment supplier to industrial refrigeration installers like VOS Technics rather than a direct competitor; adjacent enabling relationship.
• Danfoss: Danish manufacturer of refrigeration and air-conditioning components, controls, and compressors. Supplies valves, sensors, and electronic controls to industrial refrigeration installers including VOS Technics; adjacent enabling relationship rather than direct competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/VOStechnics/?fref=ts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vadik-herbs
• Instagraminstagram.com/vostechnics

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 VOS TECHNICS