Directors at Northumberland chemicals company Kilfrost say the business is in a strong position for growth after seeing pre-tax profits double on the back of rising revenues.
The Haltwhistle firm started life as a de-icer in 1933, helping to get aircraft off the ground in icy conditions. Over the years it has expanded its scope and now provides fluid for ground and rail sectors as well as many other industries including food and drink manufacturing.
Latest accounts for the year ended March 2025 highlight “an average winter” in which it saw a lift in turnover, from £15.4m to £21.1m, while operating profit increased from £3.75m to £6.14m. Shareholder funds increased from £7.2m to £10.1m, and pre-tax profits rose from £2.99m to £6.2m. The overall profit for the year was £4.06m, up from £2.35m.
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Within a report signed off by the board, directors said: “Kilfrost has entered its 93rd year as a chemical company. Its legacy in Aircraft De-icing Fluids (ADF) is the foundation which all new products are based on. As such it continues to lead the way in product development. Its Speciality Fluids (SFD) continues to make inroads into the market.
“The past 12 months we noted for an average winter. This meant lower, than average, use of ADF. At the same time the cost of our major raw material (MPG) remained consistent. However, due our contractual pricing mechanisms we remained profitable.
“In SFD we continued to make further inroads into Scandinavia which is becoming a core market. For the USA we continue to move ahead but further work needs to be done on sales and marketing. In summary Kilfrost had a sound trading year and is in a strong position for the next phase of growth.”
A geographical breakdown of turnover shows the 海角视频 market accounted for £17.7m turnover, up from £11.24m, while sales in the rest of Europe dropped from £3.59m to £3.09m. The rest of the world, meanwhile, brought in £370,000, down from £538,000.
After inventing the first ever glycol based aircraft de-icing and anti-icing fluids – substances that remain the basis of today’s products – its scientists have made advances into geothermal activities, including refrigerants for the drinks industry.
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Its low-viscosity products can now be used in other applications, data centres and ice rinks to food and beverage manufacturing, beer brewing and renewable energy systems such as ground source heat pump systems. Kilfrost, which has 30 employees, has been involved in de-icing the football pitch at Newcastle United, protecting trains in wintry conditions in the rail industry, aiding Arctic convoys by keeping ships safe, and supplying products for Antarctic surveys.
The report continued: “The market for our ADF products is highly seasonal and significantly variable, depending on weather conditions. We aim to mitigate this risk going forward through further continuing development and growth in our Speciality Fluids Division.
“The company operates in a global market and services customers either directly or by way of licence agreements in more than 50 countries. These customers select suppliers and products based on a combination of factors including price, delivery, quality and reputation. The company has a wide range of customers with no individual customer accounting for a significant proportion of the entire business with many customers having dealt with the company for a number of decades.
“The Kilfrost brand is well respected in the global marketplace and viewed as a leader in its field. However, our main market is the 海角视频 where we account for a large percentage of that space.
“The business will continue to look at how to further diversify over the coming years. The R&D team continue to invest in research and development activities in respect of both SFD and ADF with patents currently being applied for.”