Danfoss

Danfoss is a large company from Denmark that helps improve many of the things we use every day. It was started in 1933 by an engineer named Mads Clausen. Today, Danfoss has many people working around the world.

The company makes important parts for many different industries. This includes technology for climate and energy, motion, and water control. These parts help things run smoothly in homes, cars, and factories.

Because Danfoss works on many useful products, it helps make our world more efficient and sustainable. Their inventions help save energy and improve how machines work.

History

Beginning (1933–1966)

In 1933, an engineer named Mads Clausen started a company in Denmark called Dansk Køleautomatik-og Apparatfabrik. In 1946, the company changed its name to Danfoss. Their first product was a special valve for cooling units.

In 1941, the company began making products for heating systems. Mads Clausen invented a device for controlling heat in radiators in 1943. By 1945, about 224 people worked at the first factory.

In 1962, Danfoss started making electronic parts for power. In 1968, they made the world's first device for controlling electricity frequency, called a VLT Frequency converter. They also made parts for controlling liquid flow, with the first one made in Nordborg in 1964.

Mads Clausen passed away in 1966. His wife, Bitten Clausen, became the head of the board. At that time, the company sold 500 million Danish kroner worth of products each year.

Since 1966

Danfoss began growing outside Denmark in 1956 by building a factory in Flensburg, Germany, which was finished in 1958.

In 2010, Danfoss sold a part of their business that made compressors, and it became a new company called Secop.

China is very important to Danfoss. In 2013, they opened two new factories there. In 2014, Danfoss bought Vacon, a company that makes devices for controlling electricity.

In December 2025, Danfoss finished buying Hydro Holding SpA, an Italian company. After getting approval, Hydro Holding became part of Danfoss Power Solutions.

Activities

The Danfoss Group makes products and offers services for cooling food, air conditioning, heating buildings, variable-frequency drives, gas compressors, and powering mobile machinery. Danfoss has many employees around the world, with its main office in Nordborg, Denmark. In 2002, Danfoss joined the United Nations Global Compact, which has principles about being good to people and the environment.

Bitten og Mads Clausens Fond was created as an independent group in 1971 by Bitten Clausen. Today, this group is the largest owner of the company.

Controversy

During World War II, some reports said that Danfoss sold products to Germany. The company said they did not trade directly with the Germans.

In 2011, Danfoss was fined for working with other companies to set prices unfairly. This hurt consumers. It happened with some parts from 2004 to 2007. The fine came from both European and American authorities.