Last week, Innovative Refrigeration Systems, a manufacturer of advanced industrial refrigeration, cold chain, and temperature-controlled infrastructure solutions for complex and mission-critical facilities, announced a $19 million investment to expand its main campus to 50 acres and 430,000 square feet of manufacturing space in Lyndhurst, Virginia.
Through the acquisition and renovation of an adjacent facility, Innovative will expand production and engineering capabilities, creating more than 200 new high-wage, skilled jobs.
This investment is a response to growing demand for natural refrigerant cooling solutions across life sciences, data centers, cold chain storage, food processing, and other mission-critical industries. The company makes refrigerant technologies built around ammonia and CO₂ systems.
Since 1993, Innovative has expanded to support increasingly complex industrial refrigeration projects. The growth has enabled the delivery and long-term support of natural refrigeration systems using ammonia and CO₂ across a range of industries throughout North America.
As industries increasingly transition away from high-global-warming-potential refrigerants, natural refrigerants such as ammonia and CO₂ continue to serve as new standards in industrial cooling.
Innovative will continue supporting workforce development through registered apprenticeship and hands-on training programs. The company has maintained apprenticeship programs since 2005 and currently offers welding and electrical apprenticeships in Virginia, along with a national refrigeration technician apprenticeship.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger said the expansion will support recent biopharma manufacturing investments in the state and make it easier for medication to reach hospitals, pharmacies, and other healthcare providers nationwide.
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Augusta County to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Spanberger approved a $250,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Augusta County with the project.
The new investment will also be supported by the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program. The program, created by VEDP in collaboration with higher education partners, provides world-class training and recruitment solutions tailored to a company’s unique operations, equipment, standards, and culture. All program services are provided at no cost to qualified new and expanding companies as an incentive for job creation.
