AHT Cooling Systems

In 1983, a new company called Austria Haustechnik, or AHT, was founded in Rottenmann, Austria, rising from the succession of the Bauknecht Austria appliance company. The new entity shifted its focus to commercial refrigeration, a move that would define its future. In its early years, AHT pioneered refrigerators and freezers with glass lids, a novelty at the time that became an industry standard. The company's trajectory significantly shifted when Almut Graefe joined the management team in 1988, leading to a period of major expansion. A key moment came in 1998 when AHT went public. Under the leadership of Hans Aage Jörgensen starting in 2000, the company embraced sustainability, introducing its first CFC-free products using the environmentally friendly refrigerant R290 (propane). This commitment to green technology became a core part of its identity. The company focused on producing plug-in refrigeration and freezer systems, becoming a world leader in this specific market segment, supplying major supermarket and discount chains. After a period of private ownership and global expansion with new production sites in China, Brazil, and the US, a transformative event occurred. In 2019, the Japanese air conditioning giant Daikin Industries acquired AHT Cooling Systems for approximately €881 million. This acquisition integrated AHT into a global powerhouse, aiming to create a one-stop shop for both air conditioning and a full range of refrigeration products, from production to the point of sale.