Aug 19, 2010 7:00 AM

Refrigeration specialist 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.

The acquisition broadens Rivacold’s business into a new sector of the cold chain, in the process boosting combined group revenue to about 150 million Euros.

The purchase adds a new product line to Tewkesbury, United Kingdom-based Rivacold UK, which will now target the transport refrigeration sector in the United Kingdom for the first time.

Frigiline’s product line includes refrigeration systems for both medium- and low-temperature applications, and for small and large insulated commercial vehicles.

Graham Barley, managing director of Rivacold UK, said, “We see great potential in the UK for the battery-based and direct-drive refrigeration units, as these are extremely popular here.”

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

The company will launch its new Frigiline range at the ChillVenta exhibition set for October 13-15, 2010, in Nuremberg, Germany.