Industrial Cooling Equipment

Industrial Cooling Equipment Ltd (ICE) is founded in North West England. Established initially in the Manchester area, the company began as a specialist in industrial refrigeration during a time when mechanical cooling was still emerging

Opened Liverpool Branch in Duke Street in the City Centre

Moved to 97 Park Road Liverpool

ICE demonstrates technological innovation in refrigerated transport. The company installed a custom mobile milk refrigeration unit on a delivery lorry for a dairy in Hazel Grove, Manchester – one of the earliest examples of a refrigerated milk delivery truck in the UK. The system used a Yorkshire Refrigeration Co. unit (from Shipley) that ICE engineers integrated onto a Karrier Bantam truck, allowing milk to be cooled overnight and kept cold during daily deliveries archive.commercialmotor.com. This practical innovation highlighted ICE’s engineering expertise in adapting industrial cooling equipment to new uses.

A major corporate development: Fisons Ltd, a British pharmaceutical firm, acquires Industrial Cooling Equipment Ltd through its subsidiary Medlock Holdings. Fisons had formed Medlock Holdings in mid-1962 to manage technical and service companies, and it purchased 100% of ICE’s share capital, bringing the refrigeration engineering company into Fisons’ corporate portfolio archive.org. (Medlock Holdings also managed other engineering units like Gland Supplies Ltd and A.J. Ross for Fisons.) Under Fisons’ ownership, ICE continued to operate as a specialist contractor, benefiting from the backing of a large industrial group while still led by its original management.

During this decade, ICE expanded its geographic footprint beyond its Manchester Castlefield Head Office and Park Road Liverpool. The company opened a branch office in Leeds – Millshaw Park Close, extending its sales and service reach across the North West and into Yorkshire.

Industrial Cooling Equipment Ltd is acquired by York International. York International, a U.S.-based HVAC manufacturer, purchased ICE in 1986 as part of its strategy to expand in the UK market. ICE became the UK contracting arm of the American Company which at the time was one of the largest HVAC companies in the world.

Moved to Prestigious Premises Tower Road, Brunswick Dock with a £40k refit, located close to the Albert Dock near Liverpool city centre. By the end of 1988 the company had over 100 employees.

In 1992 Adrian Wontner (Manchester Technical Director), Frank Greenough (Manchester Sales Director) and Eric Griffiths (Liverpool Sales Director)  purchased the Industrial Cooling Equipment name and key assets, restoring the company’s independence. Capitalising on ICE’s strong reputation and decades of expertise, the team re-established the business in its traditional contracting role. The post-buyout company consolidated operations into a single headquarters in Warrington, Cheshire.

Moved into Clarendon Court Warrington

Moved to Larger Premises in Tanning Court Warrington

Nick Griffiths started as Apprentice Refrigeration/Air Conditioning Engineer

Industrial Cooling Equipment relocated its base from Warrington to a larger headquarters in Runcorn, Cheshire in the mid-2000s. The current Runcorn facility, 3,200 sq ft on Astmoor Industrial Estate, has been the company’s home since.

Nick Griffiths Prompted to Service Manager

Nick Griffiths who had risen through the ranks since his apprenticeship, took over as Managing Director in 2011.

The company secured key contracts in its specialty sectors such as pharmaceutical cold-chain storage facilities, food processing and distribution centres, and manufacturing plants – leveraging its rapid-response service as a competitive edge. ICE’s reputation for flexibility and 24/7 emergency support helped win clients who rely on mission-critical cooling (where downtime can mean costly product.

ICE win BID Business of the Year at the Halton Business Awards a first award under Nick Griffiths.  Internally, ICE continued to invest in training; by the late 2010s over half its engineering team were graduates of its apprenticeship program.

Win Midea New Installer of the Year

Now marking 90 years since its founding, Industrial Cooling Equipment Ltd remains based in Runcorn and is recognized as one of the UK’s most respected refrigeration and air-conditioning specialists. The company operates nationwide, serving clients in pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, healthcare, manufacturing and more with cutting-edge cooling solutions.

2025- Nick Griffiths win Entrepeneur of the Year at the Halton Business Awards. Learn more