Refolution Industriekalte Gmbh

What Refolution Industriekalte Gmbh does

Refolution Industriekälte GmbH is a Karlsruhe-based engineering office founded in 2019 that designs, engineers, and delivers bespoke industrial refrigeration and heat pump systems with a strict focus on natural refrigerants (air/R729, CO2/R744, propane/R290, NH3). The company's core technology is cold air refrigeration based on the Joule process, built around oil-free air-bearing turbo compressor-expander units produced by its core technology partner Mirai Intex in the Czech Republic. This architecture enables operating pressures below 1 bar, temperatures from -30°C down to -160°C, ±0.5 K regulation accuracy, and continuous cooling without defrost cycles in open-circuit configurations.

The product portfolio spans industrial refrigeration (NH3/CO2 and cold air chillers), cold-heat coupling with energy recovery, pharmaceutical freezing and ULT storage systems (CryoStorageCustom modular warehouses, ULT 25 mobile containers, CryoCargo110 trailers, BioArc Ultra biobank storage, RefoBlast plasma blast freezer), cryotherapy chambers under the COOLINN sub-brand, cryogenic exhaust air purification (HOF-CryoProPhase), freeze-dryer cooling (HOF-CryoBlizzard), gas liquefaction/purification systems, cryogenic steel treatment (Refosteel), and material processing solutions. Service offerings include end-to-end planning, product development, consulting and training, custom plant construction (Sonderanlagenbau), energy analyses, and the KälteCheck 360° F-Gas compliance assessment program.

Refolution operates a consultative, enterprise-direct sales motion through named account management (Torsten Hänsel, Sales Manager), targeting pharmaceutical and biotech (primary), chemical and process, cryotherapy/wellness, and industrial manufacturing customers. Revenue is generated via custom turnkey project delivery (professional services plus integrated equipment sales from partner OEMs), standalone compliance consulting (KälteCheck 360°), and equipment supply tied to projects. All solutions are bespoke with no public pricing; no e-commerce or self-serve channel exists. Demand generation relies on trade fair presence (Chillventa, ACHEMA, CPHI, IFAT, Hardening Congress), multilingual technical content marketing (DE/EN/FR), partner referrals, and LinkedIn advertising. Reference customers include Frigotehnica Bulgaria (Sofia cryogenic warehouse, 2023), Recipharm Wasserburg (ULT, 2021), CSL Behring (freeze dryer cooling), HOF Sonderanlagenbau, Azenta, and an Antarctic ice core drilling transport project. The company received the BMUV Federal Innovation Award in 2023 for air-cycle cooling in steel production.

Name

Refolution Industriekalte Gmbh

Legal name

Refolution Industriekälte GmbH

Website

https://refolution.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Refolution Industriekälte is a Karlsruhe-based engineering office (est. 2019) that designs and delivers bespoke industrial refrigeration and heat pump systems using natural refrigerants, primarily cold air (R729) technology, serving pharmaceutical, chemical, cryotherapy, and industrial manufacturing customers across Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Refrigeration and Cryogenic Engineering

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)

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), Waste Heat Recovery & Heat Integration (HRSG/ORC, Pinch Analysis, Heat Exchangers) (EUABAJAF), Heat Transfer Equipment (Heat Exchangers, Boilers, Condensers) (IMAHAEAC)

Keywords

• Industrial refrigeration systems
• Natural refrigerant solutions
• Cryogenic cooling technology
• Pharmaceutical cold storage
• Heat pump engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Karlsruhe-hagsfeld

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom turnkey plant construction and engineering services: Refolution generates revenue primarily through bespoke engineering and turnkey industrial refrigeration installations. Projects range from concept development through commissioning, encompassing custom equipment design, process integration, and validation for GMP/pharmaceutical environments. Services include planning, product development, consulting/training, and energy analyses as part of the project lifecycle.
2. KälteCheck 360° assessment and advisory services: Comprehensive inventory and action plan service for existing refrigeration and process plants, assessing F-Gas compliance, GWP values, and providing regulatory-conformity roadmaps with retrofit recommendations. Provided as a standalone consulting engagement.
3. Cold air cooling equipment sales and integration: Sale and integration of cold air refrigeration equipment from Mirai Intex (as exclusive/lead partner) and complementary products including COOLINN cryotherapy chambers, ULT storage containers, and cryogenic cargo trailers. Revenue generated through equipment supply as part of turnkey projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Refolution Industriekälte GmbH is a Karlsruhe-based engineering office that designs, engineers, and delivers custom turnkey industrial refrigeration and cryogenic systems using natural refrigerants (air/R729, CO2/R744, propane/R290, ammonia/NH3). Its portfolio spans industrial process cooling, ultra-low temperature (ULT) storage and transport, pharmaceutical cold-chain and freeze-drying systems, cryogenic gas liquefaction, cryocondensation-based exhaust air purification, and whole-body cryotherapy chambers, complemented by consulting, KälteCheck 360° compliance assessments, and energy recovery services.

Product overview

Refolution Industriekälte GmbH is an engineering office specializing in sustainable industrial refrigeration and cryogenic technology based in Karlsruhe, Germany. The company offers a portfolio of cooling solutions centered around cold air refrigeration technology using natural refrigerants (primarily air/R729, CO2/R744, propane/R290, and ammonia/NH₃). The core product lines include the COOLINN whole-body cryogenic cold chamber series (reaching -115°C to -130°C), ULT storage and transport solutions (ULT 25 containers, CRYOCARGO110 trailers, CryoStorageCustom modular warehouses), and specialized pharmaceutical systems (freeze dryer cooling via HOF-CryoBlizzard, pharmaceutical freezers, pharma logistics). These are complemented by cryogenic applications for gas liquefaction, exhaust air purification, material processing, and cryotherapy. The company also provides comprehensive engineering services including planning, consulting & training, product development, custom plant construction (Sonderanlagenbau), KälteCheck 360° assessments, and energy analyses. The product ecosystem emphasizes F-Gas regulation compliance and future-proof solutions using natural refrigerants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• COOLINN: Whole-body cold chamber product line for cryotherapy applications, reaching temperatures from -40°C to -130°C using air (R729) as refrigerant.
• CryoCargo110
• RefoBlast
• Refosteel
• BioArc Ultra
• KälteCheck 360°
• CryoStorageCustom

Products and services

• COOLINN Whole-Body Cryotherapy Chamber (COOLINN Ganzkörperkältekammer)

Quantifiable outcome

• Temperature regulation accuracy: ±0.5 K with temperature homogeneity of 2 K in empty ULT storage rooms
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mirai IntexcoreTechnology or IntegrationMirai Intex is the leading manufacturer of oil-free turbo compressors for the refrigeration industry, producing cold air chillers in the Czech Republic. Refolution has jointly developed many low-temperature solutions and realised multiple projects with Mirai Intex. Refolution acts as the primary integration and engineering partner for Mirai Intex products in German-speaking markets and beyond. They distribute and engineer Mirai Intex MC10 O/W, MX, and other models into custom refrigeration solutions.
• SeconcoreTechnology or IntegrationSecon is a leading manufacturer of propane (R290) refrigeration systems and a distributor for Mirai Intex cold air chillers. Used in the Frigotehnica Sofia project for redundant HELIOS R290 chillers providing cooling water to the cryogenic storage installation. Strong partner for sustainable refrigeration with natural refrigerants.
• Teledoor Melle Isoliertechnik GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationTeledoor is a leading manufacturer of industrial panels and a key partner for cryogenic storage rooms, insulation cells, and housings for steel hardening systems and freezers. Used polyurethane foam panels with vacuum integrated panels for the Frigotehnica Sofia project. Also supplies COOLINN whole-body cold chamber insulation.
• HOF Sonderanlagenbau GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHOF is a leading specialist in customised freeze-drying systems, loading/unloading systems, and freezing/thawing equipment based in Lohra, Germany. Refolution and HOF have co-developed the HOF CryoBlizzard (central refrigeration for freeze-drying using air as refrigerant), HOF CryoProPhase (cryocondensation for solvent recovery), and Freeze-Thaw Units. HOF's Oliver Fleischer provided a testimonial for Refolution.
• Frigotehnica Bulgaria EOODminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrigotehnica is an expert in complex solutions for commercial and industrial refrigeration, climate and ventilation systems based in Sofia, Bulgaria. Partnered with Refolution and Teledoor on the October 2023 cryogenic storage warehouse project in Sofia. Represents Refolution technology in the Bulgarian market.
• PHARMA CONCEPT GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering company based in Bad Endbach, Hesse, Germany specialising in pharmaceutical, biotech, medical technology, and food industry plant and process projects. Provides planning, optimisation and implementation services for demanding projects.
• Thomaidis GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational forwarding company founded in 1992, based in Frankfurt. Managed by entrepreneur Mr Thomaidis. Strong partner for low temperature logistics.
• Azenta Life SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAzenta Life Sciences offers sample exploration and management solutions to help customers accelerate discovery, development and delivery. Referenced in Refolution's company references for a central chilled water plant with dynamic free cooling project in Griesheim.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bitzer: Global manufacturer of refrigeration and HVAC compressors and condensing units, including natural-refrigerant-compatible models. A broad industrial-refrigeration incumbent whose compressor-and-component scale dwarfs Refolution's specialist positioning.
• GEA Refrigeration Technologies: Large industrial refrigeration portfolio within GEA Group, supplying ammonia, CO2, and hydrocarbon systems for cold storage, food, and process industries. A broad incumbent in the natural-refrigerant industrial refrigeration space where Refolution competes for specialist projects.
• Linde Engineering: Engineering arm of Linde providing large-scale cryogenic gas processing, liquefaction, and air-separation plants with strong overlap in the gas-liquefaction and Power-to-X applications Refolution targets. A broad incumbent competing for cryogenic industrial gas and gas-upgrading projects.
• Viessmann Industrial Refrigeration: Industrial refrigeration and heat pump business within the Viessmann Group, offering natural-refrigerant systems and energy-recovery solutions across commercial and industrial customers. A broad European incumbent with comparable German engineering roots and growing natural-refrigerant offering.
• Johnson Controls Industrial Refrigeration (Sabroe / Frick): Johnson Controls' industrial refrigeration business, encompassing Sabroe compressors and Frick systems, delivering large-scale ammonia and CO2 refrigeration for cold storage, food processing, and pharma customers. A broad incumbent directly competing for industrial refrigeration tender work.

Direct peers

• Mayekawa: Japanese pioneer of NH3 and CO2 industrial refrigeration systems serving cold storage, food processing, and pharma customers globally. Highly comparable natural-refrigerant industrial refrigeration peer with overlapping ULT and process-cooling capabilities.
• Secon Gruppe: German manufacturer of propane (R290) refrigeration systems and Mirai Intex distributor, providing redundant HELIOS R290 chillers alongside cold-air installations (e.g., Frigotehnica Sofia). Directly comparable as a natural-refrigerant industrial refrigeration partner serving pharma and industrial customers.
• HOF Sonderanlagenbau: German specialist in customized freeze-drying systems and freeze/thaw equipment, co-developing HOF-CryoBlizzard and HOF-CryoProPhase cold-air platforms with Refolution. Closely comparable as a co-development partner serving the same pharma lyophilization and cryocondensation use cases.
• Stirling Cryogenics: Netherlands-based specialist in cryogenic cooling using Stirling-cycle technology, serving pharmaceutical, biotech, and industrial-gas customers with ultra-low temperature systems. Overlaps directly with Refolution's cold-air cryogenic approach for ULT storage, gas liquefaction, and freeze-drying applications.
• Mirai Intex: Czech manufacturer of oil-free air-bearing turbo compressor-expander chillers used as the core cold-air platform in Refolution's systems. Mirai Intex produces the underlying Joule-cycle cold-air machinery that Refolution integrates into pharmaceutical and industrial installations, making them the closest technical and commercial counterpart.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/refolution

Compliance1 record

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 Refolution Industriekalte Gmbh