SECON

What SECON does

SECON GmbH is a German manufacturer of custom industrial refrigeration systems and heat pumps, founded in 2010 and headquartered in Gondelsheim, Baden-Württemberg. The company operates exclusively with natural refrigerants (R290 propane, R1270 propene, R600a isobutane, R744 CO2, and R729 air) and claims to be the only manufacturer with over a decade of serial production of liquid chillers using pure hydrocarbons. Its product portfolio spans air-cooled and water-cooled liquid chillers (HELIOS, EOS, STRATOS VP, STRATOS VSP, KRONOS WDP, FXP), industrial heat pumps (HERAS LWP/WDP/HT-WDP) reaching outlet temperatures up to +115°C, CO2 deep-freezing units (Carbon DX, Smart Freeze Easy), air cooling machines for ultra-low temperatures down to -110°C, and complementary dry/adiabatic coolers.

The business operates a project-specific, engineering-led model: every unit is designed to the customer's operating conditions and manufactured in-house including enclosures, control cabinets, and PLC programming, with high vertical integration that the company says insulates quality from supplier dependencies. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales with regional representatives across Germany (Northwest and East Germany via Frigoteam) plus an exclusive Swiss channel partnership with CTA AG. Revenue derives from one-time equipment sales supplemented by an after-sales service organization with remote access options, targeting industrial process cooling, building HVAC, data centers, cold logistics, industrial heat generation, and special applications such as freeze drying, cryotherapy, and environmental simulation. SECON has deployed over 2,100 systems representing 270,000 kW of installed cooling capacity and reports 2,930,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent customer savings since 2021. Named enterprise customers include PENTA INFRA, REWE Dortmund, Hermann Hauff, C1 Central One Midtown Offices, Migros, and Müller Transporte.

The company is privately held and founder-controlled, with an executive team comprising CEO Joachim Schadt, CTO Marco Funes, CFO Tina Polk, and COO Lennart Siems, plus a dedicated technical and sales organization of 11-50 employees. It holds the ATMOApproved "Best in Class" certification for five consecutive years (2022-2026) and was recognized by Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena) as a 2025 Good Practice Project. No revenue, funding rounds, or external institutional investors are publicly disclosed.

Name

SECON

Legal name

Secon GmbH

Website

https://secon-gmbh.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SECON GmbH is a German manufacturer of custom industrial refrigeration systems and heat pumps using exclusively natural refrigerants (R290, R1270, R600a, R744, R729), serving industrial process cooling, data centers, building HVAC, cold logistics, and industrial heat generation customers across Germany and Switzerland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Refrigeration and Heat Pump Equipment

NAICS

Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (333415), Heating Equipment (except Warm Air Furnaces) Manufacturing (333414), Industrial and Commercial Fan and Blower and Air Purification Equipment Manufacturing (333413), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)

SIC

Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Heating Equipment, Except Electric & Warm Air Furnaces (3433), Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580)

akta.pro primary industry

Chillers & Cooling Plant Equipment (IMAHAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refrigeration Components & Controls (Compressors, Valves, Sensors) (IMAHAKAH), Cooling Systems & Thermal Management (CRAC/CRAH, Chillers, Liquid Cooling) (HDABAKAD)

Keywords

• Industrial refrigeration systems
• Natural refrigerant chillers
• Industrial heat pumps
• Process cooling equipment
• Building air conditioning

Headquarters

HQ city

Gondelsheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Sales: Sale of custom-designed chillers, liquid coolers, and refrigeration systems for industrial and commercial applications. Equipment includes air-cooled and water-cooled chillers (STRATOS VP/VSP, EOS, HELIOS, KRONOS WDP, FXP), heat pumps (HERAS LWP/WDP/HT-WDP), cooling towers, and air cooling systems. Each unit is project-specifically designed.
2. Industrial Heat Pump Sales: Sale of large-scale heat pumps for industrial decarbonization including air-water, water-water, and high-temperature heat pumps reaching up to +115°C for waste heat recovery applications
3. After-Sales Service and Support: Factory customer service, remote access options, maintenance and support services for installed systems

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SECON GmbH develops, manufactures and sells customized industrial refrigeration systems and heat pumps using exclusively natural refrigerants (R290, R1270, R600a, R744, R729). The portfolio includes air-cooled and water-cooled liquid chillers, air-to-water and water-to-water heat pumps reaching up to +115°C, CO2 deep-freezing units, and air cooling machines for ultra-low temperatures down to -110°C. Equipment is project-specifically designed and manufactured at the company's headquarters in Gondelsheim, Germany, with in-house development, enclosure construction, control cabinet assembly, and PLC programming.

Product overview

SECON GmbH is a German manufacturer of industrial refrigeration systems and heat pumps with a modular portfolio of chillers, heat pumps, air cooling machines, and dry coolers. The company operates exclusively with natural refrigerants (R290, R1270, R600a, R744, R729, R170) since its founding in 2010. The product range is organized around three main product families: (1) Industrial chillers — encompassing air-cooled chillers (HELIOS, EOS, STRATOS VP, STRATOS VSP), water-cooled chillers (KRONOS WDP, FXP compact chillers), CO₂ deep-freezing units (Carbon DX, Smart Freeze Easy), and dry coolers (Trockenrückkühler, Hochtemperatur Rückkühler, Adiabate Rückkühler); (2) Industrial heat pumps — including air-to-water (HERAS LWP), water-to-water (HERAS WDP, HERAS HT-WDP booster), compact water-to-water (FXP compact heat pump), and compact high-temperature booster (HT-FXP); (3) Air cooling machines (MC Series) — available in open-circuit and closed-circuit configurations using R729 (air) as refrigerant for ultra-low temperature applications down to -110°C. All products are project-specifically designed, manufactured at the company's headquarters in Gondelsheim, Germany, and feature a consistent safety concept for flammable refrigerants. The products are complemented by a round-the-clock service organization, remote monitoring (SRMS), and BAFA-subsidized financing options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• STRATOS VP Air-cooled liquid chiller covering a very wide capacity range with 2 to 12 EC fans, V-shaped condenser coils, semi-hermetic piston compressors, and optional integrated or separate free-cooling registers. Designed for nearly all industrial and commercial cooling applications, configurable with one to four independent refrigerant circuits using R290.
• STRATOS VSP Air-cooled liquid chiller in the upper capacity range (200-1200 kW) featuring V-shaped condenser registers, 6 to 16 EC fans, and semi-hermetic screw compressors with ECO function. Uses R290 (propane) exclusively; designed for process cooling and air conditioning with maximum energy efficiency.
• EOS Compact, air-cooled liquid chiller for the mid-capacity range, designed for industrial and commercial applications. Standard with two separate refrigerant circuits; optionally available single-circuit. Features microchannel condenser coils, EC fans, dual-plate evaporators, and semi-hermetic piston compressors with inverter or step control.
• HELIOS Air-cooled liquid chiller for smaller capacity ranges, designed for outdoor installation. Standard single-circuit design with optional second circuit on larger models. Features semi-hermetic piston compressors with inverter control, very low refrigerant charge below 4.9 kg (no gas sensor required), and comprehensive standard equipment.
• KRONOS WDP Water-cooled liquid chiller with closed machine housing, designed for indoor installation with optional weather-protection housing for outdoor use. Covers commercial and industrial process cooling; can optionally operate as a hydraulically reversible heat pump. Equipped with two semi-hermetic piston compressors, dual-plate heat exchangers, and True-Dual principle for full efficiency in part-load conditions.
• FXP Compact Chiller Space-saving, water-cooled compact chiller for indoor installation, suitable as single unit or in hydraulic cascade. Ideal for retrofit applications in existing buildings with limited space. Features semi-hermetic piston compressors, inverter-based stepless capacity control, and very low refrigerant charge (0.7-3.2 kg per circuit). Available in models FXP-60, FXP-80, FXP-100, and FXP-120.
• Carbon DX Subcritical CO2 (R744) deep-freezing aggregate for industrial and commercial freezing applications. Represents the ideal complement to SECON's brine chillers, available in configurations from base units to combined systems with up to 5 compressors.
• Smart Freeze Easy Subcritical CO2 (R744) deep-freezing aggregate designed for simple and efficient operation, complementing SECON's brine chiller portfolio.
• MC Series Closed-Circuit Air Coolers Air cooling machines with closed-circuit design where cold air circulates only within the machine. Equipped with additional heat exchanger for secondary medium and integrated compressed air unit. Designed for ultra-low temperatures using silicone oil; suitable for freeze-drying, shock freezing, solvent recovery, and process cooling. Available as plug-and-play solution.
• MC Series Open-Circuit Air Coolers Air cooling machines with open-circuit design that supply cold air directly to the cooling room, eliminating the need for separate evaporators and fans. Features the unique HED (Humidity Extraction Device / Snowcatcher) system for continuous operation without defrost cycles. Applications include pharmaceutical storage, mRNA vaccine long-term storage, material hardening, medical cryotherapy, and extreme environmental simulation testing.
• Dry Coolers (Trockenrückkühler) Industrial dry coolers serving as the optimal complement to SECON's water-cooled chillers and brine chillers, ensuring a complete, operationally safe total solution.
• High-Temperature Dry Coolers High-temperature dry coolers for applications requiring elevated cooling temperatures, complementing SECON's product portfolio.
• Adiabatic Coolers Adiabatic coolers for industrial applications, complementing SECON's water-cooled cooling systems.
• HERAS LWP Air-to-water heat pump covering a very wide capacity range, adaptable to nearly all project-specific requirements through numerous options. Features semi-hermetic piston compressors with inverter-based stepless capacity control. Available in reversible configuration for both heating and cooling.
• HERAS WDP Water-to-water heat pump capable of operating at water temperatures up to 60°C (with higher temperatures possible depending on size). Features closed machine housing for indoor installation with optional weather-protection housing for outdoor use. Equipped with two semi-hermetic piston compressors, dual-plate heat exchangers, and True-Dual principle. Also available as a booster heat pump for high-temperature operation up to +115°C.
• HERAS HT-WDP Water-to-water booster heat pump for the mid-capacity range, covering heating capacities from 70 to 600 kW. Reaches outlet temperatures from +75°C to +115°C using R600a (isobutane). Features two independent refrigerant circuits with semi-hermetic piston compressors and inverter control. Available in five housing sizes for indoor installation.
• FXP Compact Heat Pump Space-saving water-to-water compact heat pump for indoor installation, operable as single unit or in hydraulic cascade. Ideal for retrofit applications with limited space. Also available as a booster heat pump for high-temperature operation up to 95°C. Features very low refrigerant charge (0.7-2.9 kg per circuit).
• HT-FXP Compact Booster Heat Pump Compact water-to-water booster heat pump for smaller capacity ranges, covering heating capacities of 15 to 100 kW. Reaches outlet temperatures from +75°C to +115°C using R600a (isobutane). Designed exclusively for indoor installation; ideal for retrofit with limited space constraints.
• After-Sales Service and Support Factory customer service, remote access options (SRMS), maintenance and support services for installed SECON cooling and heat pump systems. Includes commissioning, regulation, and ongoing technical support from a dedicated team.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2930000 tonnes CO2e saved since 2021
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MIRAI IntexcoreTechnology or IntegrationSECON is the first partner of MIRAI Intex, having introduced their innovative air cooling technology for pharmaceutical freeze drying, solvent recovery, and other special applications. This partnership provides access to ultra-low temperature air cooling systems (down to -110°C) as a complement to SECON's liquid cooling solutions.
• CTA AGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive partner for the Swiss market. CTA AG distributes and installs SECON cooling and heat pump systems in Switzerland, including projects such as the Migros Bern building air conditioning installation.
• Frank Schlittenhardt GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with SECON to develop an energy-efficient cooling concept for Hermann Hauff GmbH plastic injection molding operations. This partnership resulted in a Good Practice Award project achieving ~11% energy cost reduction.
• GfKK KölnminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPlanning and installation partner for REWE Dortmund logistics center project, responsible for system integration and installation of SECON cooling equipment.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Trane Technologies: Global HVAC and refrigeration incumbent. Increasingly launching natural refrigerant chiller lines that compete with SECON in European commercial and industrial markets, with significant advantages in distribution scale, service network, and project financing capacity.
• Johnson Controls / York: Global HVAC and building automation incumbent with York brand industrial chiller portfolio. Competes with SECON in European commercial and industrial cooling markets with significantly greater scale, service network, and financial capacity.
• Daikin: Global HVAC leader and compressor manufacturer. Expanding natural refrigerant product portfolio across commercial and industrial segments, leveraging global scale to challenge smaller natural refrigerant specialists like SECON in European markets.
• GEA Refrigeration Technologies: Division of GEA Group, one of the largest global suppliers of industrial refrigeration systems with strong natural refrigerant (CO2/ammonia) portfolio. Overlaps with SECON in industrial process cooling and cold logistics but at much greater scale and broader product breadth.
• Carrier: Global HVAC and refrigeration incumbent with broad commercial/industrial chiller portfolio. Introducing natural refrigerant options and competing in European data center and industrial heat pump markets where SECON also operates.

Direct peers

• ENGIE Refrigeration (formerly Friwo): German manufacturer of industrial refrigeration and heat pump systems. Direct competitor to SECON in custom industrial chillers and heat pumps serving European industrial, commercial, and data center customers with comparable engineering-led project model.
• MTA: Italian manufacturer of industrial and commercial refrigeration equipment including chillers and heat pumps. Comparable size and product positioning to SECON, serving European industrial process cooling and building climate control markets with custom-engineered solutions.
• Mayekawa (MYCOM): Japanese industrial refrigeration specialist with deep expertise in natural refrigerants (CO2, ammonia, hydrocarbons) for industrial, food processing, and cold storage applications. Comparable niche specialization in hydrocarbon-based industrial cooling systems.

Emerging players

• Green & Cool: Swedish manufacturer specializing in CO2 (R744) commercial refrigeration systems. Comparable niche natural refrigerant focus, particularly relevant for SECON's subcritical CO2 deep-freezing units (Carbon DX, Smart Freeze Easy).

Others

• Bitzer: German manufacturer of refrigeration compressors widely used in industrial and commercial refrigeration. Both a potential supplier of compressor technology to SECON and a broader ecosystem participant with service network across European industrial refrigeration markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/secongmbh
• Facebookfacebook.com/Secon.GmbH

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 SECON