Danfoss

Danfoss is a big company from Denmark that helps make many of the things we use every day work better. It was started in 1933 by an engineer named Mads Clausen. Today, Danfoss has over 41,000 people working around the world.

The company focuses on making important parts for many industries. This includes technology for climate and energy, motion, and water control. These parts help keep things running smoothly in homes, cars, and factories.

Because Danfoss works on so many useful products, it plays a big role in making our world more efficient and sustainable. Their inventions help save energy and improve how machines operate.

History

Beginning (1933–1966)

In 1933, an engineer named Mads Clausen started a company in Denmark called Dansk Køleautomatik-og Apparatfabrik. Later in 1946, the company changed its name to Danfoss. The first product they made was a special valve for cooling units, created after studying valves from the United States.

In 1941, the company began making products for heating systems. Mads Clausen invented a device for controlling heat in radiators in 1943, which saved energy and was patented later. By 1945, about 224 people worked at the first factory near his family farm. As the company grew, they needed a bigger space.

In 1962, Danfoss started making electronic parts for power, beginning with special devices called rectifiers. In 1968, they made the world's first device for controlling electricity frequency, known as a VLT Frequency converter. The company also began making parts for controlling liquid flow, with the first one made in Nordborg in 1964.

Mads Clausen passed away in 1966 at the age of 60. Since his sons were too young to lead the company, 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, and the factory covered 10,000 square meters.

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, making a total of seven. The Chinese market became the third biggest for the company.

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 that makes parts for connecting hoses. 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 about 41,928 employees around the world, with its main office in Nordborg, Denmark. In 2002, Danfoss became part of the United Nations Global Compact, which includes nine principles about social and environmental responsibility.

Bitten og Mads Clausens Fond was created as an independent institution in 1971 by Bitten Clausen. Today, this foundation is the largest shareholder in the company.

Controversy

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

In 2011, Danfoss was fined for working together with other companies to fix prices, which is not allowed and hurts consumers. This happened with certain parts from 2004 to 2007. The fine was given by both European and American authorities.