Secop

Secop is a German compressor manufacturer whose business is rooted in the former compressor operations of Danfoss. The company designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes hermetic compressors for refrigeration and cooling systems. Its principal markets are light commercial refrigeration and mobile cooling, including applications powered by 12-, 24-, and 48-volt direct-current systems. Secop also serves medical-cooling applications, where compact size, energy efficiency, reliability, and compatibility with temperature-sensitive equipment are important purchasing criteria. The modern Secop organization emerged from the separation of Danfoss’s compressor business in 2010. Before the separation, the business operated as Danfoss Compressors GmbH and, for a period, Danfoss Household Compressors GmbH, within Danfoss’s Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Division. Aurelius acquired the compressor operations in November 2010, after which the business was renamed Secop. The separation included operations in Germany, China, Slovenia, and Slovakia and created a standalone company with a substantial industrial heritage extending back more than six decades. The company’s history has been shaped by major production and portfolio changes. During the Danfoss period, declining household-compressor demand and operating losses led to workforce reductions and the relocation of production from Flensburg to Slovakia and China. After the 2010 ownership change, Secop continued to face weak demand, short-time working, workforce reductions, and labor disputes. In 2013 it acquired the insolvent Austrian compressor producer ACC Austria GmbH, adding production and development capabilities in Fürstenfeld. That site later became the subject of another major restructuring, with production transferred primarily to China and Slovakia and a new research and development center established in Gleisdorf. Aurelius agreed to sell Secop to Japan’s Nidec in 2017. The acquisition was completed in August of that year, and the German company was subsequently renamed Nidec Global Appliance Germany GmbH. Competition concerns surrounding Nidec’s wider expansion in the refrigeration-compressor sector contributed to a later divestment. Secop returned to independent ownership under the ESSVP IV fund, advised by Orlando Management, in September 2019. Following the 2019 ownership change, the company undertook a substantial restructuring and narrowed its strategic focus. By 2020, Secop described three principal business areas: Light Commercial, Mobile Cooling, and Medical Cooling. The company exited household-compressor production through the sale of the Delta production line and the closure or restructuring of the Fürstenfeld operation. In Flensburg, the company retained research and development, sales, product support, and corporate functions. A new main building in Flensburg, completed in 2021, brought previously dispersed departments together. Secop positions its technology around low energy consumption, low acoustic emissions, compact construction, and refrigerants that avoid chlorofluorocarbons. Its products are used by equipment manufacturers and system integrators rather than being marketed primarily as consumer-facing appliances. Product development has included variable-capacity and compact compressors, including the XV series and the BD-Nano. The latter was recognized in connection with innovations for vaccine transport and other mobile medical-cooling applications during the coronavirus period. In 2023, Secop was named a Top 100 Innovator in Germany. The company’s Flensburg headquarters remains a center for research and development, sales, and customer support, while manufacturing and engineering activities are distributed across Europe and China.

Secop’s present-day business developed from the compressor division of Danfoss, the Danish industrial group. The operation was known as Danfoss Compressors GmbH and, for a period, Danfoss Household Compressors GmbH. It formed part of Danfoss’s Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Division and had a long manufacturing history before becoming an independent company. The business experienced significant pressure during the 2000s. Household-compressor production was affected by declining sales and years of losses, leading Danfoss to announce workforce reductions and production changes. Employment at the Flensburg site fell sharply between 2005 and 2010, while manufacturing was moved increasingly to Slovakia and China. The Flensburg operation retained research and development, sales, and product-support responsibilities rather than remaining a major production center. On 29 November 2010, Danfoss completed the separation of its compressor operations. Aurelius, a Munich-based industrial holding company, acquired the business, including operations in Germany, China, Slovenia, and Slovakia. The acquired company was renamed Secop. Although legally separated from Danfoss, Secop continued to have a commercial relationship with the former parent through the use of Danfoss’s sales network in some markets. The new company continued to face difficult trading conditions. In 2011, weaker order levels resulted in short-time working at the German operation. The termination of a social-plan arrangement originally negotiated for Danfoss production employees generated criticism from employee representatives and unions. In early 2012, Secop announced additional workforce reductions at Flensburg, and affected employees protested. These events reflected the continuing transition from a large household-compressor manufacturing operation toward a more specialized and geographically distributed business. Secop expanded its product and technology portfolio during the following years. At the 2013 China Refrigeration Exhibition, it presented the X Series for systems using R600a refrigerant. The XV variable-capacity compressor received an innovation award for its compact dimensions and low weight. Secop promoted the platform’s efficiency, low noise, reduced material use, and small installation height as differentiating features. In April 2013, Secop acquired the insolvent ACC Austria GmbH in Fürstenfeld. ACC had entered insolvency after difficulties affecting its Italian parent and a German subsidiary. Secop stated that it intended to preserve the Austrian location as far as possible. European regulatory review was completed in December 2013. The acquisition added an important manufacturing and engineering site, although the location later became part of another major restructuring. Aurelius agreed to sell Secop to Nidec in 2017. The acquisition was completed on 1 August 2017, and the German entity later operated under the name Nidec Global Appliance Germany GmbH. Nidec’s broader acquisition activity in the refrigeration-compressor sector attracted competition scrutiny. In 2019, Nidec agreed to divest Secop, and the transaction to ESSVP IV, advised by Orlando Management AG, was completed in September of that year. Secop consequently returned to independent ownership and resumed use of the Secop identity. The post-2019 strategy involved a significant restructuring of manufacturing and product scope. In late 2019, the company announced that production at Fürstenfeld would be closed or substantially reduced, with manufacturing transferred to China and Slovakia. The plan affected several hundred employees, although later arrangements preserved some jobs and involved the sale of the Delta production line to Nidec. Secop also opened a new research and development center in Gleisdorf in 2020. During 2020, Secop described its future around three core areas: Light Commercial, Mobile Cooling, and Medical Cooling. The company ended its former household-compressor activities through the disposal of the Delta line and the restructuring of the Fürstenfeld site. Its remaining strategy emphasized specialized compressor platforms, direct-current mobile systems, energy efficiency, low noise, compact packaging, and refrigerants that do not contain chlorofluorocarbons. Secop celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Secop brand in 2020, while also emphasizing that the business inherited a much older history from Danfoss. In 2021, it consolidated its Flensburg departments in a new main building. By 2023, the company was recognized as a Top 100 Innovator in Germany. The BD-Nano, a compact hermetic compressor associated with vaccine transport and medical cooling during the coronavirus crisis, was cited among the innovations supporting that recognition. Secop continues to operate from Germany with manufacturing, research, sales, and support activities distributed internationally.

• 2023

  Top 100 Innovator recognition

  [1]Secopen.wikipedia.org

  Secop received Top 100 Innovator recognition, associated with product-development work including the BD-Nano compressor.

• 2021

  New Flensburg headquarters opened

  [1]Secopen.wikipedia.org

  Secop consolidated its Flensburg departments in a new main building.

• 2020

  Portfolio refocused on three business areas

  [1]Secopen.wikipedia.org

  Secop emphasized Light Commercial, Mobile Cooling, and Medical Cooling and ended its household-compressor activities.

• 2019

  Secop returns to independent ownership

  [1]Secopen.wikipedia.org

  ESSVP IV acquired Secop from Nidec, with Orlando Management advising the fund.

• 2017

  Nidec acquisition completed

  [1]Secopen.wikipedia.org

  Nidec acquired the Secop group from Aurelius.

• 2013

  ACC Austria acquired

  [1]Secopen.wikipedia.org

  Secop acquired insolvent ACC Austria GmbH in Fürstenfeld, expanding its Austrian manufacturing and engineering presence.

• 2010

  Danfoss compressor business separated

  [1]Secopen.wikipedia.org

  Danfoss completed the separation of its compressor operations, which were acquired by Aurelius and renamed Secop.

A specialist, engineering-led compressor brand focused on efficient, quiet, compact, and environmentally oriented cooling solutions for light-commercial, mobile, and medical applications.

• Medical and mobile cooling compressor

  BD-Nano

  The BD-Nano is a compact hermetic compressor designed for space-constrained cooling systems. Secop associated the platform with medical and mobile applications, including transport cooling for temperature-sensitive materials such as vaccines. Its small form factor supports portable equipment where conventional refrigeration compressors would be too large or energy-intensive.

• Variable-capacity refrigeration compressor · 2013

  XV Series

  The XV Series is a variable-capacity compressor platform developed for refrigeration systems requiring flexible output. Secop highlighted its compact construction, low acoustic emissions, reduced weight, and efficiency advantages compared with conventional fixed-capacity compressors. The platform was presented for light-commercial applications and systems using modern refrigerants such as R600a.

• Light-commercial refrigeration compressor · 2013

  X Series

  The X Series comprises hermetic compressors for light-commercial refrigeration equipment. The range was presented for applications using R600a and reflects Secop’s emphasis on energy efficiency, compact installation, quiet operation, and refrigerant solutions designed to avoid chlorofluorocarbons.

• Mobile cooling compressor

  DC compressors

  Secop’s direct-current compressor portfolio serves mobile and off-grid cooling systems operating on 12-, 24-, or 48-volt power supplies. These compressors are intended for equipment such as transport refrigeration, portable cooling, and specialized mobile systems where efficient electrical operation, compact packaging, and reliable starting performance are important.

• 2020

  Refocus on specialized cooling marketsStrategy

  Background

  Secop underwent restructuring after changes to its ownership and manufacturing footprint.

  Action taken

  The company concentrated on Light Commercial, Mobile Cooling, and Medical Cooling and exited household-compressor production.

  Aftermath

  Manufacturing was more heavily concentrated in China and Slovakia, while engineering and support activities remained in Europe.

  Source

• 2019

  Sale to ESSVP IVM&A

  Background

  Competition concerns regarding Nidec’s additional acquisitions in the refrigeration-compressor sector contributed to the decision to divest Secop.

  Action taken

  Nidec sold Secop to ESSVP IV, advised by Orlando Management AG.

  Aftermath

  Secop again operated as an independent company from September 2019.

  Source

• 2017

  Nidec acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Aurelius agreed to sell Secop after the company had operated as an independent compressor business since 2010.

  Action taken

  Nidec acquired the Secop group, with completion reported on 1 August 2017.

  Aftermath

  The German entity was renamed Nidec Global Appliance Germany GmbH before being divested in 2019.

  Reported purchase price. EUR 185 million (2017 acquisition)

  Source

• 2013

  Acquisition of ACC AustriaM&A

  Background

  ACC Austria became insolvent following financial problems affecting its wider corporate group.

  Action taken

  Secop acquired ACC Austria GmbH, subject to European regulatory review.

  Aftermath

  Secop sought to preserve the Fürstenfeld site and incorporated it into its international operations.

  Reported acquisition price. More than EUR 25 million (2013 acquisition)

  Source

• 2010

  Aurelius acquisition and Secop rebrandingM&A

  Background

  Danfoss separated its compressor business after years of pressure in household compressors and major production restructuring.

  Action taken

  Aurelius acquired the operations and renamed the business Secop.

  Aftermath

  Secop became an independent compressor company while retaining some commercial links with Danfoss.

  Source

• 2023

  Secop receives Top 100 Innovator recognition[1]Secopen.wikipedia.org

  Other · Product launch

  Secop was recognized as a Top 100 Innovator, with attention given to its compact BD-Nano compressor and medical-cooling applications.

• 2021

  Secop opens consolidated Flensburg headquarters[1]Secopen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The company moved departments previously distributed across several locations into a new main building in Flensburg.

• 2020

  Secop establishes a new Gleisdorf research center[1]Secopen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  A new research and development center opened in Gleisdorf, Austria, as part of the company’s post-restructuring industrial footprint.

• 2019

  Secop returns to independent ownership[1]Secopen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Regulation

  Nidec sold the compressor business to the ESSVP IV fund, advised by Orlando Management, after competition concerns related to Nidec’s compressor-industry acquisitions.

• 2019

  Fürstenfeld production restructuring announced[1]Secopen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Secop announced plans to close or substantially restructure the Fürstenfeld plant and move production to China and Slovakia, affecting hundreds of jobs.

• 2018

  Secop becomes part of Nidec Global Appliance[1]Secopen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  The German company changed its legal name to Nidec Global Appliance Germany GmbH after the Nidec acquisition.

• 2017

  Nidec agrees to acquire Secop[1]Secopen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Nidec signed an agreement to acquire Secop from Aurelius; the transaction was completed later in 2017.

• 2013

  Secop acquires ACC Austria[1]Secopen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Secop acquired the insolvent Austrian compressor manufacturer ACC Austria GmbH and sought to preserve activity at its Fürstenfeld site.

• 2012

  Secop announces further Flensburg job cuts[1]Secopen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The company announced another reduction in the workforce at Flensburg, leading to employee protests.

• 2011

  Secop announces short-time working amid weaker demand[1]Secopen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  A decline in compressor orders led the company to introduce short-time working and end an older social-plan arrangement, prompting concern among employees, unions, and the works council.

Showing the 10 most recent.

1. 1Secopen.wikipedia.org