Van Kempen Koudetechniek

What Van Kempen Koudetechniek does

Van Kempen Koudetechniek BV is a Dutch specialist in industrial refrigeration and climate control, founded in 1947 and headquartered in Tiel, Netherlands. The company designs, engineers, and installs custom cooling and freezing systems using natural refrigerants (ammonia and CO2), with claimed ~25% energy savings versus HFC systems. Core offerings span industrial refrigeration (ULO fruit cells, freezing tunnels, ripening chambers, vacuum cooling), cold-room construction, climate control (VRV/VRF, chillers, heat pumps, ventilation), and 24/7 service and maintenance.

A defining element of the offering is the proprietary software stack — VK-Dynamics (central process control), VK-EPEX (energy-price-based optimization), VK-Visual, ICE-Star (modular PLC), VK-CCM (fruit storage), VK-Rapport Generator, and the VK Live Centre 24/7 monitoring control room — which together automate refrigeration dispatch, enable remote operations, and target ~20% structural energy savings. The company has 3D in-house design and workshop capabilities and complies with PED, HACCP, BRC, IFS, and NVKL standards.

Van Kempen operates a project-based B2B enterprise sales motion targeting food processing, logistics and cold chain, agriculture/horticulture, floriculture, and commercial-building customers in the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium. Revenue comes from one-time installation projects (typically €1M-plus), professional services for automation and controls, and recurring multi-year service contracts. Named customers include Maersk Coldstore, HelloFresh, Lineage Logistics, Royal Flora Holland, Nature's Pride, De Groot, Bieze Food Group, Amsterdam Marriott Hotel, and HelloFresh. Since 2020 the company has operated as a core subsidiary of Unica Industry Solutions, alongside sister firms PCT Koudetechniek, Brainpact, and Pro-Fa Automation, and is led by Managing Director Arjen de Jong (appointed 2023) and Director Raimond Lubbers (appointed 2024).

Name

Van Kempen Koudetechniek

Legal name

Van Kempen Koudetechniek BV

Website

https://vkkt.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Van Kempen Koudetechniek is a Dutch industrial refrigeration specialist designing, installing, and servicing natural-refrigerant (CO2/ammonia) cooling systems for enterprise customers in food processing, cold-chain logistics, and agriculture across the Netherlands and Western Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Refrigeration

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 (33341), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512), Computer Systems Design Services (541512)

SIC

Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580), Auto Controls For Regulating Residential & Comml Environments (3822), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Chillers & Cooling Plant Equipment (IMAHAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refrigerants & F-Gas Accounting and Verification (HFCs, Kigali/EU F-gas) (EUAHADAK), Refrigeration & Cold Storage (Commercial/Industrial) (EDAOACAD), Auxiliary Systems EPC (Station Service, HVAC, Fire Protection, Security) (EUAEADAK)

Keywords

• Industrial refrigeration systems
• Cold room construction
• Commercial climate control
• Process automation controls
• Natural refrigerant cooling

Headquarters

HQ city

Tiel

HQ country

Netherlands

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. Industrial Refrigeration Projects: Design, engineering, and installation of custom industrial cooling and freezing systems. Projects range from small cold rooms to large-scale cold storage facilities. Revenue recognized project-based with long sales cycles.
2. Service and Maintenance Contracts: 24/7 professional service organization with preventive maintenance programs. Customers receive dedicated service coordinators and regular technical support. Includes remote monitoring via VK Live Centre.
3. Process Automation and Controls: Supply and implementation of proprietary control systems (VK-Dynamics, ICE-Star) for new and existing refrigeration installations. Includes software upgrades and replacements.
4. Cold Room Construction: Design and construction of insulated cold, freezer, and climate rooms using sandwich panels. Includes related infrastructure like doors, curtains, and ventilation.
5. Climate Control Systems: Installation of VRV/VRF systems, chillers, ventilation systems, and floor heating for commercial and industrial buildings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Van Kempen Koudetechniek designs, engineers, installs, and services industrial refrigeration and freezing systems, cold and climate rooms, and commercial climate control installations for enterprise customers. The offering is built on natural refrigerants (CO2, ammonia), proprietary in-house control software (VK-Dynamics, ICE-Star, VK-EPEX), and 24/7 remote monitoring via the VK Live Centre, delivered as turnkey projects and recurring service contracts primarily across the Netherlands and Western Europe.

Product overview

Van Kempen Koudetechniek is a specialist in industrial refrigeration and climate control, offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services. The core offering consists of industrial refrigeration systems (Koudetechniek), cold room construction (Cellenbouw), climate control (Klimaattechniek), and 24/7 service/maintenance. The company differentiates through proprietary software: VK-Dynamics serves as the central process control platform, enhanced by specialized modules including VK-EPEX (energy price-based optimization), VK-Visual (visualization), ICE-Star (modular PLC software), VK-CCM (fruit storage optimization), and VK-Rapport Generator (reporting). Supporting services include VK Live Centre (24/7 remote monitoring) and Koude Academy (training). The company specializes in natural refrigerants (ammonia/CO2) with cascade systems, achieving approximately 25% energy savings versus HFC systems. All installations comply with PED, HACCP, BRC, and IFS standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VK Live Centre: Control room from which specialists monitor cooling and freezing installations 24/7.
• VK-Dynamics
• VK-EPEX
• VK-Visual
• VK-CCM
• VK-Rapport Generator
• Koude Academy

Products and services

• Koudetechniek (Industrial Refrigeration) Design, engineering, and installation of custom industrial cooling and freezing systems for enterprise customers in food processing, logistics, agriculture, and horticulture. Specializes in natural refrigerants (ammonia/CO2) with approximately 25% energy savings compared to HFC refrigerants, complying with PED, HACCP, BRC, and IFS standards.
• Service & Onderhoud (Service & Maintenance) Customized 24/7 service and preventive maintenance contracts for refrigeration and freezing installations serving enterprise customers across the Netherlands. Includes fixed service coordinator per customer, preventive inspections, and remote monitoring via the VK Live Centre.
• Cellenbouw (Cold Room Construction) Design and construction of insulated cold, freezer, and climate rooms using sandwich panels for enterprise customers. Includes related infrastructure (insulated doors, high-speed rolling doors, overhead doors, strip/air curtains) and complies with HACCP, BRC, and IFS standards.
• Klimaattechniek (Climate Control) Installation of VRV/VRF systems, chillers, ventilation systems, and floor heating combined with heat pumps for commercial and industrial buildings (offices, hotels, floriculture halls, institutional facilities). Delivered as an F-gassen certified installer with 25+ years of experience; affiliated with NVKL.
• Procesautomatisering (Process Automation) Supply, implementation, and upgrading of proprietary control systems and modular PLC software (VK-Dynamics, ICE-Star, VK-EPEX, VK-Visual, VK-CCM, VK-Rapport Generator) for refrigeration and freezing installations, enabling approximately 20% energy savings through optimized automation and remote monitoring.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~25% energy savings compared to HFC refrigerants when using natural refrigerants
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Unica Industry SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Van Kempen Koudetechniek is part of Unica Industry Solutions, which provides turn-key total solutions for food, chemical, pharmaceutical, logistics industries and mechanical engineering. Unica bundles expertise including software and industrial automation (Brainpact, Pro-Fa), process technology, mechanical engineering, and refrigeration (PCT and Van Kempen) to deliver end-to-end solutions.
• PCT KoudetechniekcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company within Unica Industry Solutions specializing in refrigeration technology. Together with Van Kempen, PCT provides comprehensive knowledge of refrigeration 'in the broadest sense of the word, from regular cold rooms to complex industrial refrigeration installations.' Both companies participate in the Koude Academy training program.
• Fruit Tech CampusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational and innovation partner in the horticultural sector. Van Kempen provides technical expertise and participates in campus activities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Daikin: Global HVAC and refrigeration OEM that supplies VRV/VRF systems and chillers used by Van Kempen in climate projects. Comparable in adjacent product categories and shares some customers, but is a manufacturer rather than an installer/service provider.
• Mayekawa: Global Japanese industrial refrigeration specialist (Mycom brand) with strong NH3/CO2 expertise serving food processing and cold storage. Comparable in technology focus and customer verticals, but operates at significantly larger global scale.
• Johnson Controls: Global HVAC and industrial refrigeration incumbent with extensive service network and building automation software. Overlaps with Van Kempen on commercial HVAC and industrial refrigeration, though Van Kempen is more specialized in natural-refrigerant industrial installations.
• GEA Group: Global industrial equipment supplier with a large refrigeration and cold-chain division serving food processing and logistics. Comparable product portfolio but operates at vastly larger scale and broader scope.
• Engie Refrigeration (Cofely): Benelux-focused industrial refrigeration and HVAC service provider within the larger Engie Group. Comparable in industrial refrigeration service model and customer base, with broader geographic and service reach.

Direct peers

• Star Refrigeration: UK-based industrial refrigeration specialist with strong focus on natural refrigerants (CO2, NH3) and full turnkey project delivery across food, cold storage, and industrial customers. Highly comparable in service mix, customer profile, and natural-refrigerant specialization.
• Frigo Group: Netherlands-based industrial refrigeration installation and service company serving food, logistics, and horticultural customers. Directly comparable along product offering, geography, and customer verticals.
• PCT Koudetechniek: Sister company within Unica Industry Solutions specializing in industrial refrigeration and cold-chain installations. Directly comparable in terms of service offering, customer base, and natural-refrigerant expertise, and shares the Koude Academy training program with Van Kempen.

Emerging players

• ICS Cool Energy: European industrial cooling and heating solutions provider with rental and permanent installation offerings. Comparable in industrial cooling focus but emphasizes a rental/temporary-cooling model different from Van Kempen's bespoke installations.

Others

• Bitzer: Global compressor manufacturer and current Van Kempen supplier (collaborated on Maersk Coldstore project). Comparable ecosystem position but acts as a technology supplier rather than direct installer competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/vankempenkoudetechniek
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/van-kempen-koudetechniek-b-v-

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Van Kempen Koudetechniek