Danfoss

Danfoss' journey began in 1933, when Mads Clausen, driven by an insatiable curiosity and entrepreneurial spirit, founded 'Dansk Køleautomatik og Apparatfabrik' in his parents' farmhouse in Nordborg, Denmark. What started as a solo enterprise focused on crafting expansion valves for refrigeration units, a technology he meticulously studied and improved upon from American imports, soon blossomed into a testament to Danish innovation. The early years were marked by a relentless pursuit of quality; Mads Clausen himself would submerge valves in water to ensure their absolute tightness, understanding that customer trust was paramount for a fledgling company during the challenging times of the Great Depression. This foundational commitment to excellence and customer-centricity became deeply embedded in the company's DNA.

The 1940s saw Danfoss, a name officially adopted in 1946, expand its horizons beyond refrigeration. Responding to new needs, the company ventured into heating products. A pivotal moment came in 1943 with Mads Clausen's invention of the thermostatic radiator valve, a groundbreaking device patented and later promoted in 1952 for its energy-saving capabilities. This innovation underscored Danfoss's early commitment to energy efficiency, a principle that continues to define the company. By 1945, the workforce had grown to 224 employees, and the company's international ambitions took root with its first sales company established in Argentina in 1949. The decades that followed were characterized by continuous growth, technological advancements, and global expansion. Danfoss embraced computer-aided design (CAD) in the 1980s and saw electronics become a significant part of its sales. The company's dedication to sustainability was also evident early on, with initiatives like a wastewater neutralization plant opening in Nordborg. Today, Danfoss stands as a global leader, engineering solutions that increase machine productivity, reduce emissions, lower energy consumption, and enable electrification across a vast array of industries, a legacy built on Mads Clausen's initial spark of innovation in a small Danish farmhouse.