By Eamonn Ryan
On 17 February, Buhler, a global leader in industrial solutions, delivered its financial results for 2024 by webcast, showcasing solid growth across multiple sectors, with particular focus on the refrigeration and cold chain industries. This is Part 1 of a two-part series.
The company’s annual results revealed a robust performance, driven by a diversified global presence and a solid portfolio of services and equipment. The company’s total turnover for 2024 showed considerable growth, with a third of this revenue coming from its service business. This marks a significant shift as Buhler increasingly transforms into a service-oriented company, catering to the ongoing needs of its clients for maintenance, digitisation and upgrading of installed assets.
The refrigeration and cold chain sectors remain a core focus of Buhler’s strategic development, particularly as global demand for cold storage, transportation and processing capabilities continues to rise. Cold chain management, critical for the safe transportation and storage of perishable goods such as food and pharmaceuticals, is poised for continued expansion in 2025 and beyond.
Buhler offers a range of solutions aimed at improving energy efficiency, reducing operational costs and increasing sustainability across the cold chain. This includes advanced refrigeration systems for both food and pharmaceutical sectors, two industries that depend heavily on reliable and efficient cold chain infrastructure.
Its investments in refrigeration technology align with the growing global demand for better food safety standards, stricter regulatory frameworks and an ever-expanding global population, all of which place increasing pressure on the cold chain. As consumer behavior shifts towards more temperature-sensitive products, particularly in markets like Southeast Asia, Buhler’s ability to adapt to these changes positions it for future growth in refrigeration solutions.
The food industry, a major consumer of cold chain technologies, saw significant advancements this year. Buhler’s solutions have supported major strides in food processing, preservation and distribution, enabling companies to meet rising consumer demand for fresh and perishable goods.
Across emerging markets, particularly in Southeast Asia, Buhler has played a vital role in bolstering the refrigeration infrastructure needed to support growing populations and changing dietary preferences. The company’s facilities in Indonesia, for instance, are benefiting from increased investments in food processing technologies, including refrigeration for meat, dairy, and perishable produce.
Buhler’s expansion in India is another example of the company’s growing role in the food sector. As India continues to invest in infrastructure and strengthen its food industries, Buhler’s refrigeration solutions are well-positioned to support the nation’s rapidly evolving food supply chain. The company’s solutions are particularly vital in India’s burgeoning chocolate and baked goods industries, where refrigeration technologies are used for both processing and packaging.
The company has also made strides in the Middle East and Africa, regions where consumer behaviour is evolving rapidly and where there is a marked increase in the demand for refrigerated and frozen goods. These regions, while diverse in terms of economic development, share a common need for reliable refrigeration solutions as they expand their food processing and distribution networks.