Sotera

What Sotera does

Sotera is the industrial refrigeration compliance division of Kelvin Group, formed in January 2026 through the merger of JS Compliance and HCG Associates. The company delivers Process Safety Management (PSM), Risk Management Program (RMP), and Ammonia Refrigeration Management (ARM) services to facilities operating industrial ammonia and chemical refrigeration systems. Headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts, Sotera is described as the nation's largest industrial refrigeration compliance platform, with national U.S. coverage spanning food and beverage manufacturing, cold storage, pharmaceutical, healthcare, and industrial process sectors. It operates as a subsidiary of Kelvin Group, which is itself a portfolio company of Southfield Capital, a private equity firm focused on lower middle market business services companies.

The company's service portfolio comprises six core lines: Process Safety & Risk Management (program development, Process Hazard Analyses, compliance audits, gap assessments, risk management programs, SOPs), Field Services (mechanical integrity inspections, non-destructive testing, IIAR-compliant pipe and valve identification), Engineering Services (P&ID development, relief system design, PSI documentation, management of change engineering), Environmental Health & Safety (audits, environmental reporting, outsourced EHS management), Regulatory Representation (OSHA/EPA/DOT inspection and enforcement support), and Training (PSM, SOPs, PPE, HAZWOPER, lockout/tagout). These services are supported by two software platforms: the eHCG client portal for compliance documentation and AutoPSM for automated PSM program tracking. Customer logos span enterprises including Unilever, Molson Coors, Ocean Spray, Trader Joe's, Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages, Lineage, Taylor Farms, Ben E. Keith, Kwik Trip, Brakebush, Great Lakes Cheese, and Massachusetts General Hospital.

Sotera runs an enterprise field-sales go-to-market, with direct engagement customized compliance agreements delivered through on-site field teams. Revenue is generated primarily through recurring annual compliance contracts — notably the TotalPSM program — supplemented by project-based professional services for mechanical integrity inspections and engineering work. The 2024 acquisition of JS Compliance by Kelvin Group, followed by the January 2026 merger with HCG Associates, created a roll-up platform that is positioned for further consolidation in industrial refrigeration compliance and adjacent mechanical-services niches.

Name

Sotera

Legal name

Sotera

Website

https://soteracompliance.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2026

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Sotera, the Kelvin Group compliance subsidiary formed in January 2026, is the nation's largest industrial refrigeration compliance platform, delivering PSM, RMP, and ammonia refrigeration management services to food and beverage, cold storage, and industrial operators across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Compliance and Process Safety Management

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Process Safety & Major Hazard Risk Management (PSM) (BPAHAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refrigeration Systems Maintenance (Commercial/Industrial) (BPABACAI), Security, Safety & Fire/Life Safety Management (BPABAAAE)

Keywords

• Process safety management
• Ammonia refrigeration compliance
• Mechanical integrity inspections
• EPA risk management programs
• Industrial EHS services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilmington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Compliance Services Contracts: Annual compliance agreements customized to each client's needs, including ongoing support, inspections, audits, and training services. The TotalPSM program provides recurring compliance services.
2. Mechanical Integrity Inspections: Hands-on inspection and testing services for ammonia and chemical systems, including non-destructive testing using ultrasonic thickness measurement.
3. Engineering Services: Technical engineering support including P&ID development, process hazard analysis, relief system design, and general engineering oversight for capital projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sotera provides industrial refrigeration compliance and process safety management services for facilities handling ammonia and highly hazardous chemicals. The company delivers on-site field services, engineering, EHS program development, regulatory representation, and training, supported by the eHCG and AutoPSM client portals for compliance documentation and tracking.

Product overview

Sotera is a compliance and safety services company offering a portfolio of professional services for industrial refrigeration and high-hazard operations. The company provides six core service lines: Process Safety & Risk Management, Field Services, Engineering Services, Environmental Health & Safety, Regulatory Representation, and Training. These services are delivered through a combination of on-site consulting teams and software platforms (eHCG portal and AutoPSM). Sotera was formed through the merger of JS Compliance and HCG Associates under Kelvin Group, positioning itself as the nation's largest industrial refrigeration compliance platform serving PSM, RMP, and Ammonia Refrigeration Management needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Process Safety & Risk Management Services Program development, implementation, and support for OSHA PSM and EPA RMP requirements, including Process Hazard Analyses, compliance audits, gap assessments, risk management programs, and standard operating procedures for industrial refrigeration and high-hazard chemical facilities.
• Field Services Hands-on mechanical integrity inspections, non-destructive testing (NDT) including ultrasonic thickness measurement, and IIAR-compliant pipe and valve identification services for ammonia and chemical systems at customer facilities.
• Engineering Services End-to-end engineering and PSM support including P&ID development, process hazard analysis, relief system design, PSI documentation, and management of change engineering for capital projects involving ammonia and hazardous chemical systems.
• Environmental Health & Safety Services EHS program development, regulatory compliance support, audits, environmental reporting, and ongoing EHS management including outsourced/part-time EHS managers for industrial facilities.
• Regulatory Representation Services Experienced support during inspections, investigations, enforcement actions, and litigation involving OSHA, EPA, DOT, and other regulatory bodies for industrial and refrigeration facility operators.
• Training Services Site-specific training programs covering PSM, SOPs, PPE, emergency response, confined space entry, HAZWOPER, lockout/tagout, and environmental compliance delivered to industrial facility operators.
• eHCG Portal Client portal platform providing access to compliance documentation and management tools for industrial refrigeration and PSM/RMP clients.
• AutoPSM Automated PSM management and tracking platform for compliance workflow support, helping industrial facilities manage process safety programs and documentation.

Named customers18 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kelvin GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company and national leader in industrial and commercial mission-critical mechanical services, process safety management, and environmental compliance. Kelvin Group brings together industry-leading service, engineering, and compliance specialists under one platform.
• MonogramGroupminorOthersCreative agency that created Sotera's brand and website.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Arcadis: Global design and consultancy firm with environmental and industrial compliance practices. Comparable in EHS scope but not specialized in industrial refrigeration PSM/RMP.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting firm with environmental services and industrial EHS capabilities. Competes for industrial compliance work but is a broad incumbent rather than a specialized refrigeration-compliance player.
• ICF International: Larger diversified consulting firm with a substantial environmental, regulatory, and energy compliance practice. Competes with Sotera for EHS and regulatory compliance work but at much broader portfolio scale.
• ERM (Environmental Resources Management): Global sustainability and EHS consulting powerhouse serving industrial clients with compliance, safety, and risk services. Provides similar but much broader scope than Sotera's focused industrial refrigeration niche.

Emerging players

• Trihydro Corporation: Environmental and engineering consulting firm with process safety and industrial compliance capabilities. Comparable in service mix but smaller and more regional than Sotera's national platform.

Direct peers

• ABS Group: Provides process safety management, risk management, asset integrity, and industrial compliance services — closely overlapping Sotera's PSM/RMP/Mechanical Integrity service lines for industrial and process industries.
• Trinity Consultants: EHS and regulatory compliance consulting firm with deep PSM/RMP and air-quality expertise. Overlaps directly with Sotera's environmental, health, safety, and regulatory compliance service lines.
• Risk Management Professionals: Direct PSM/RMP and process safety consulting peer. Stephanie Smith, Sotera's new Director of Compliance Services – West, previously worked at Risk Management Professionals as a Principal Engineer, indicating deep familiarity with this firm as a direct competitor.
• Jensen Hughes: Engineering and consulting firm with deep process safety, fire protection, and industrial risk practices. Overlaps with Sotera's PSM, RMP, and EHS services for industrial refrigeration and high-hazard chemicals.
• Exponent: Engineering and scientific consulting firm with a dedicated process safety and risk analysis practice. Comparable to Sotera's engineering and PSM offerings, especially for high-hazard industrial clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Sotera