Gif Activevent Gmbh

What Gif Activevent Gmbh does

GIF ActiveVent GmbH is a privately held German engineering company, founded in 1976 and headquartered in Freiburg, that designs, manufactures, and installs modular ventilated ceiling systems for commercial kitchens. Its core product is the patented GIF Küchenlüftungsdecke — a wall-to-wall active cassette ceiling with only 200 mm mounting height that uses the ceiling cavity as a pressure chamber per VDI 2052 standards, enabling large-area capture of cooking vapors and turbulence-free supply air introduction while remaining fully reversible for hygiene. The modular portfolio extends to supply-air flat cassette ceilings (standard and sound-absorbing), restaurant focus-point separators, jet steam extractors, integrated LED lighting, the ecoAZUR demand-controlled ventilation system (sensor-driven variable airflow for energy efficiency), the UV-C(LEAN) air-cleaning module, and custom-fabricated components.

The company operates a consultative, project-based B2B sales motion targeting specialist planners, architects, investors, and end-user operators of commercial kitchens across the warm-kitchen, dishwashing, servery, and preparation zones. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time sales of engineered ceiling systems with project-specific quotation-based pricing, complemented by an after-sales service offering the company describes as "industry-unique." Distribution is direct in Germany and channel-based internationally via ATC (Middle East) and Interflow Ltd (UK), with documented project references spanning Germany, Greece, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Poland, the UK, Oman, Kuwait, and Australia, including customers such as Hilton Athens, Ritz Carlton Oman, Siemens, Juwi AG, and the Weingut Franz Keller winery. Compliance with VDI 2052:2017 and DIN EN 16282 Parts 2-4 anchors the company's positioning with European specifiers.

Name

Gif Activevent Gmbh

Legal name

GIF ActiveVent GmbH

Website

https://gif-activevent.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GIF ActiveVent GmbH, founded 1976 in Freiburg, Germany, designs and installs patented modular ventilated ceiling systems for commercial kitchens. It serves specialist planners, architects, and operators across hospitality, healthcare, inflight catering, and industrial customers in Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Kitchen Ventilation Equipment

NAICS

Industrial and Commercial Fan and Blower and Air Purification Equipment Manufacturing (333413), Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341), Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (333415), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)

SIC

Industrial & Commercial Fans & Blowers & Air Purifing Equip (3564), Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Ventilation, Ducting & Air Distribution Equipment (IMAHAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dampers, Louvers & Ventilation Controls (IMADANAD), Louvers, Vents & Architectural Grilles (IMADAIAM), Controls, Thermostats, Sensors & Building Automation (HVAC Controls) (IMADANAH)

Keywords

• Commercial kitchen ventilation
• Ventilated ceiling systems
• Demand controlled ventilation
• Kitchen exhaust systems
• UV-C air cleaning

Headquarters

HQ city

Freiburg Im Breisgau

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Commercial Kitchen Ventilation Systems: Sale and installation of modular ventilated ceiling systems for commercial kitchens including active cassette ceilings, supply air flat cassette ceilings, restaurant systems, jet steam extractors, LED lighting, and UV-C air cleaning components.
2. After-Sales Service: Customer-oriented planning, continuous site supervision, and industry-unique after-sales service for installed systems.
3. Custom Components and Parts: Sale of custom parts and supplementary features for existing installations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GIF ActiveVent GmbH manufactures and installs modular ventilated ceiling systems for commercial kitchens. Its core product, the GIF Aktivkassetten-Decke (Active Cassette Ceiling), is a wall-to-wall complete solution that uses the ceiling cavity as a pressure chamber per VDI 2052, integrating exhaust and supply air fields, lighting, and the ecoAzur demand-controlled ventilation add-on. The company also provides customer-oriented planning, on-site supervision, and after-sales service for installations ranging from inflight catering to star restaurants.

Product overview

GIF ActiveVent offers a modular ventilated ceiling system as a comprehensive wall-to-wall solution for commercial kitchen ventilation. The core product is the GIF Aktivkassetten-Decke (Active Cassette Ceiling), which uses the ceiling cavity as a pressure chamber per VDI 2052 standards, enabling 'open' and 'closed' system configurations. The modular system comprises various interchangeable components including supply air flat cassette ceilings (with and without sound absorption), restaurant systems (focus-point separators in concave/convex designs), jet steam extractors, LED illumination (downlights, light boxes, profile lighting), UV-C air cleaning, and the ecoAzur energy-saving demand-controlled ventilation module. The system serves four application areas: warm kitchen, dishwashing zone, service/servery, and preparation areas. All components work together as an integrated ventilation solution with a construction height of just 200mm.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ecoAzur: Energy saving system for ventilated ceilings with variable airflows and demand controlled ventilation (DCV) for commercial kitchens.

Products and services

• GIF Aktivkassetten-Decke (Active Cassette Ceiling) The flagship modular ventilated ceiling system for commercial kitchen ventilation. Provides a wall-to-wall complete solution with large-area exhaust and supply air fields, integrated lighting, and compensation surfaces at a mounting height of only 200mm. Uses the ceiling cavity as a pressure chamber per VDI 2052, enabling both 'open' and 'closed' system configurations while maintaining maximum air-technically active surfaces.
• ecoAzur Energy Saving System A demand-controlled ventilation system that automatically adapts airflows to actual cooking operations via blue light and thermometer sensors. Reduces energy consumption in commercial kitchens by intelligently regulating ventilation intensity in real time.
• GIF Custom Parts Custom-manufactured components and special parts produced to meet individual project specifications for commercial kitchen ventilation installations.
• GIF UV-C(LEAN) Air Cleaning System UV-C air cleaning technology integrated into the ventilation ceiling for enhanced hygiene and air purification in commercial kitchen environments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Capture of fumes, cooking and other vapors with large-area, low-turbulence supply air introduction
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ELROcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKitchen equipment producer. Exhibited together with GIF at INTERNORGA 2017, presenting the Modular Ventilated Ceiling with different components. ELRO serves as booth partner for exhibitions.
• BARITminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlooring producer. Exhibited together with GIF at INTERNORGA 2017.
• Interflow LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK distribution partner for GIF ActiveVent. Exhibited GIF ventilated ceiling at Kitchen Show 2017 in Birmingham, NEC. ecoAZUR system nominated for innovation award of show edition 2017.
• ATC (Advanced Technology Company KSC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMiddle East distribution partner. Awarded 'Dealer of the year 2017' presented by Mr. V. Eckmann, Managing Director of GIF-ActiveVent. Sales region Middle East. Mr. Fares Sayah manages GIF Middle East.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Electrolux Professional: Electrolux Professional is a global incumbent supplying commercial kitchens with cooking, refrigeration, and ventilation equipment; it overlaps with GIF in kitchen exhaust/air handling within a much broader portfolio.
• Hobart (ITW): Hobart is a leading global manufacturer of commercial food equipment including ventilation and hoods, competing with GIF as a broad-line incumbent in commercial kitchen installations.
• Imperial (Middleby): Imperial is a US-based commercial cooking equipment manufacturer under Middleby, offering ranges, ventilation, and kitchen systems with comparable applicability to GIF's commercial kitchen ventilation solutions.
• Eloma (ITW): Eloma is a German manufacturer of professional combi-steamers and cooking systems, often bundled with kitchen ventilation projects where GIF competes, but as a broader foodservice equipment incumbent.
• MKN Küchenhelden: MKN is a German commercial kitchen systems supplier offering cooking technology, ventilation, and complete kitchen solutions, overlapping with GIF in kitchen ventilation within a broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• Riese GmbH: Riese is a German engineering firm specializing in kitchen ventilation and exhaust air systems for commercial kitchens, directly comparable to GIF's ventilated ceiling and exhaust offerings.
• Halton Group: Halton is a Finland-based specialist in indoor air solutions for commercial kitchens and demanding environments, offering ventilation hoods, ceiling systems, and demand-controlled airflow products comparable to GIF's modular ceiling and ecoAZUR offering.
• Wiesbach Group: Wiesbach is a German manufacturer of commercial kitchen ventilation hoods and exhaust systems, directly competing with GIF in the DACH commercial kitchen ventilation market.
• MAES Kitchen Hoods: MAES is a Belgian specialist in commercial kitchen extraction hoods and ventilation solutions, directly comparable to GIF's product portfolio for professional kitchens.

Emerging players

• Bartscher GmbH: Bartscher is a German commercial kitchen equipment supplier offering a wide catalog including ventilation components, relevant to GIF as an adjacent competitor for smaller-scale projects and refurbishments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxoUHERcip8FjPmCaMY9VYQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/GIFventilatedceiling
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gif-activevent-gmbh

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 Gif Activevent Gmbh