Danfoss

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The Danfoss Group is a global producer of components and solutions for Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, Heating & Water, and Motion Controls. Danfoss has net sales of 2,600 million EUR (3,400 million US$) and employs approx. 22,000 people worldwide with headquarters in Nordborg, Denmark.

Danfoss was founded in 1933 by Mads Clausen, and is today almost entirely owned by The Bitten and Mads Clausen Foundation. In 2002, Danfoss joined the UN Global Compact, consisting of nine principles within social and environmental responsibility.

Danfoss' production is approximately 250,000 items daily in more than 50 factories located in 20 countries, and Danfoss' sales network consists of more than 110 sales companies and 100 agents and distributors.

Danfoss first automatic valves

[edit] Company history

Danfoss founder Mads Clausen was born in 1905 on a farm in the southern part of Denmark near the German border. In 1933, after graduating in engineering, Mads Clausen returned to his birthplace and started up a company in the attic of his parent’s farm house.

Helped, in the 1930’s, by high customs barriers and import bans towards certain products, Mads Clausen was successful in producing and selling a long list of automatic valves for refrigeration plants, which had previously been imported from the US.

In the 1940’s, an expansion of the factory was completed and Danfoss agents were set up in Belgium, Norway, Finland, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and England.

In the 1950’s, piecework was introduced at the factory and the number of employees rose above 2.000.

In 1966, Mads Clausen died of a heart attack at the age of 60. His widow, Bitten Clausen, continued to lead the company as Chairman of the Board with Andreas Jepsen as President and CEO.

In 1983, Danfoss celebrates its 50th anniversary and the 1,000th employee to reach 25 years of service.

In 1996, Jørgen M. Clausen, son of Mads Clausen, is appointed President and CEO for the Danfoss Group.

In 1997, sales exceed 2,200 million Euro and the number of employees reaches 18,200.

In 2000, Danfoss’ business segment Mobile Hydraulics merges with the German company Sauer Inc. to form Sauer-Danfoss. Jørgen M. Clausen is Chairman of this company, and Danfoss currently owns 38.5% of the stock, which is traded on New York’s Stock Exchange.

In 2005, 100 years after the birth of its founder, Danfoss headquarters is still located in the country-side village of Nordborg, and the Clausen family’s old farmhouse has been transformed to a sience theme park.