Ray Mariott, left, operations director of Rivacold, UK, and Graham Barley, managing director, pose outside the company’s headquarters at the time of the Frigiline acquisition.

Refrigeration equipment manufacturer Rivacold Group has acquired Frigiline, an Italian manufacturer of transport refrigeration systems.

Based near Milan, in Parma, the previously family-owned Frigiline business began as a distributor of Petter brand products before moving into the manufacture of specialist truck refrigeration systems.

Rivacold, which was formed in December 2006 when Rivacold SRL in Italy purchased the Russell UK Co. from the P&M Group, makes both open and housed condensing units as well as evaporators.

The purchase of Frigiline “adds a significant new product line to Tewkesbury-based Rivacold UK, which will now target the transport refrigeration sector in this country for the first time,” said Graham Barley, managing director of Rivacold UK. “We see great potential in the UK for the battery-based and direct drive refrigeration units, as these are extremely popular here.”

The Frigiline range includes refrigeration systems for both medium and low temperature applications, and for small and large insulated commercial vehicles.

“The Frigiline range is pretty comprehensive and enables us to offer well designed, highly competitive solutions for a wide range of applications, vehicle types, and sizes. It is an exciting addition to the line-up,” said Barley.

“Frigiline has a reputation for innovation and quality in the transport sector. Its battery-powered units and Frigiday system, with built-in condenser, are established as premium technology products in the market.”

Rivacold has an interest in the vehicle cooling sector through group company Vitrifrigo, which makes compact refrigerators and freezers for driver’s cabins and air conditioners for cars.

Publication date:10/04/2010