Our History
For more than six decades, Kuhlman Incorporated has been a trusted leader in industrial refrigeration, ammonia refrigeration systems, and mechanical refrigeration solutions, built on hard work, integrity, and relationships that stand the test of time. Founded in 1957 in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, Kuhlman began as a family business with a simple but powerful mission, to do the right thing for customers, employees, and partners, every time.
From our earliest days, our focus has been on delivering reliable, well-engineered industrial refrigeration systems, including ammonia refrigeration design, installation, and long-term service, that support our customers’ operations and livelihoods. That commitment has guided our growth from a small local operation into a nationally respected industrial refrigeration contractor, while never losing sight of where we came from.
Roots in Menomonee Falls
Historic view of Kuhlman Incorporated’s original Menomonee Falls facility, where the company began serving industrial refrigeration customers in 1957. Not pictured is the back of Harvey Kuhlman’s garage, the true birthplace of Kuhlman Incorporated, where the company’s earliest work first began.
Kuhlman Incorporated was founded by Harvey Kuhlman, whose vision and work ethic laid the foundation for the company we are today. Operating out of our first offices in Menomonee Falls, just down the road from where we are currently located, the company quickly earned a reputation for knowledge-driven design, mechanical excellence, and uncompromising integrity.
As a family-owned business, Kuhlman grew through generations, with family members working side by side to serve customers and build lasting relationships.
A Family Business at Our Core
From left to right: Ronald Kuhlman, Wanda Kuhlman, Harvey Kuhlman (founder), and Dale Kuhlman, representing the generations that built and carried forward the Kuhlman name.
Today, Kuhlman Incorporated remains a fourth-generation, family-owned company. While our capabilities, geographic reach, and project scale have expanded significantly, our values have not changed.
We believe strong relationships are built on trust, honesty, and follow-through. We treat our customers like family because that is how we believe business should be done. Our clients rely on us not only for technical expertise, but for straightforward communication, dependable service, and long-term partnership.
Built on Values That Endure
Everything we do reflects the principles that have guided Kuhlman since the beginning:
Knowledge-driven design grounded in experience and sound engineering. Uncompromising integrity in every decision we make. Hardworking teams committed to performance, safety, and quality. Lasting relationships built on trust and transparency. Mechanical excellence in every system we design, install, and service. Authentic service rooted in family values. Nationwide refrigeration solutions that deliver.
These values are not marketing statements, they are expectations we hold ourselves to every day.
Our Work in Action
Growing With Purpose
Over the years, Kuhlman has expanded to serve customers across the United States as a full-service industrial refrigeration contractor, with additional offices in New London, Wisconsin, and Louisville, Kentucky. Our services have grown to include full design-build capabilities, installations, service, parts, and long-term system support.
Through industry changes, evolving technology, and continued growth, we have remained committed to continuous improvement while honoring the standards that built our reputation.
Side-by-side view of the original Kuhlman Incorporated logo and today’s logo, reflecting the evolution of our brand while honoring the legacy, values, and family roots that have remained unchanged since 1957.
Looking Ahead
As we look to the future, Kuhlman Incorporated remains focused on the same principles that started it all in 1957, doing honest work, building strong relationships, and delivering industrial refrigeration solutions our customers can trust.
Our history is not just a timeline of years, it is a legacy of people, values, and partnerships that continue to define who we are and how we serve.