Nordic Climate Group announced the acquisition of Lightfoot International, a UK specialist in cooling systems for defence and industrial applications, expanding its position in defence-related cooling and industrial maritime work. The deal adds a business with long-standing activity in high-reliability environments and extends the group’s reach in specialist applications where technical performance and operational continuity are critical.
Founded in 1885 and based in Fareham in southern England, Lightfoot designs, assembles and services custom-built cooling equipment for demanding operating conditions. The company employs 24 people and works across defence and industrial maritime segments, serving UK and international government defence organisations as well as defence contractors and maritime ship operators.
Lightfoot has developed a customer base across the UK, the Middle East and Europe. Its work is centred on markets with recurring project activity and strict reliability requirements, supported by long-term customer relationships and application-specific engineering knowledge built over many years.
The acquisition also brings a company with a visible role in technical education within the refrigeration sector. Lightfoot sponsors the Kenneth Lightfoot Medal, awarded each year at the Institute of Refrigeration Dinner for the best technical paper submitted to the institute, linking the business to wider industry knowledge development and engineering recognition.
Within Nordic Climate Group, Lightfoot will continue to operate under its existing local brand and leadership. Ronnie Coutts, CEO of Nordic Climate Group UK, said the company adds “a unique combination of specialist expertise, strong customer relationships and a long history of delivering solutions in highly demanding environments,” strengthening the group in “an attractive and growing segment” while adding capabilities that complement its UK and European operations.
