ITT’s Svanehøj Expands into Compressor Market with KOHO Acquisition

A subsidiary of ITT Inc., Svanehøj, recently acquired Köhler & Hörter GmbH (KOHO), a small family-owned business in Hagen, Germany, that specializes in compressors across a wide range of industries such as shipbuilding. Svanehøj will integrate KOHO’s reciprocating compressor systems with its cryogenic pump and tank control technologies, offering a broader range of solutions for liquefied gas applications like handling hydrogen, hydrocarbons, and other demanding gases.

“This is a logical expansion for Svanehøj in the gas tanker segment, where we have delivered cargo pump systems and integrated services to LPG and LNG carriers for many years,” said Søren Kringelholt, CEO of Svanehøj. “By acquiring KOHO, we can now include high-quality compressors and related spare parts in offerings to our customers. KOHO adds specialist know-how and an attractive product portfolio. When combined with Svanehøj’s and ITT’s strengths in supply chain and sales, we believe we can unlock new opportunities that will strengthen and expand the company in the future.”

With this acquisition, ITT is positioned as a differentiated provider of mission-critical components for the energy transition and enables customers to manage liquid and gaseous fuels with a single partner. Also, ITT may capture additional growth with fleet conversions to future fuels, including LNG, ammonia, hydrogen, and CO₂, where demand for integrated pump and compressor systems is growing. The global marine fleet is rapidly transitioning toward green fuels, with its share expected to rise 8% from today to 90% by 2050.

Svanehøj and KOHO previously collaborated on numerous high-profile shipbuilding projects, such as the Northern Lights LCO₂ carriers in Norway and Höegh Autoliners’ Aurora-class design: a pure car and truck carrier with ammonia-ready classification and capable of using green ammonia in the future. This acquisition marks Svanehøj’s second in 2025, following the purchase of European Pump Services B.V. in January. Now Svanehøj EPS, the subsidiary specializes in pump integration and service for industrial, offshore, and maritime sectors.

Saudi Arabian Investment

Last month, ITT Inc. successfully completed Phase Two of its approximately $25 million project to expand the Industrial Process (IP) manufacturing facility in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, doubling the company’s capacity and bolstering its position as a preferred supplier to Middle Eastern customers. In 2024, the site secured $160 million in orders, and, with the new expansion, ITT is targeting over $300 million in annual orders by 2030.

The first phase of ITT’s investment in Saudi Arabia, announced in 2024, increased power and the testing capacity for larger, more complex pump packages. The current expansion work increased the site’s total land area to approximately 30,000 m² in anticipation of future growth. ITT is expected to begin the third phase in 2027, which will establish additional manufacturing capacity.

Saudi Arabia is among the fastest growing markets for ITT’s flow business, accelerated by higher market demand and the IP facility’s positive performance track record for large-scale projects. This includes an average of 96% on-time delivery since 2019. The company’s IP business specializes in flow technology for the chemical, energy, mining, marine, and industrial markets, with approximately $1.4 billion in revenue in 2024.