Industrial Refrigeration
Hixson engineers ammonia and freon-based refrigeration systems for coolers, freezers, cold rooms, blast freezing, IQF systems, and cold chain infrastructure serving food, beverage, and pharma operations.
Design safer, more efficient ammonia refrigeration systems for California food, beverage, pharma, and cold chain facilities with Hixson. Our integrated architecture and engineering teams align NH3 system design with production demands, PSM documentation, energy goals, and California’s seismic and environmental expectations—helping your facility reduce risk while supporting reliable cooling performance.

Integrated refrigeration, safety, controls, and facility engineering for complex California industrial cooling environments.
Hixson engineers ammonia and freon-based refrigeration systems for coolers, freezers, cold rooms, blast freezing, IQF systems, and cold chain infrastructure serving food, beverage, and pharma operations.
Design services cover refrigerated warehouses, freezer storage, AS/RS cold environments, dock systems, racking coordination, and logistics infrastructure where reliable temperature control supports product quality.
Hixson supports OSHA 1910.119 PSM, EPA RMP planning, HAZOP studies, PHA reviews, What-If analyses, and ammonia documentation integrated directly with engineering deliverables.
Controls and automation teams help specify and integrate refrigeration controls, PLCs, HMIs, utility infrastructure monitoring, FAT/SAT activities, and startup support for efficient operation.
Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, structural, and civil disciplines coordinate utility infrastructure, electrical loads, process piping, drainage, ventilation, and facility support systems.
Environmental, health, and safety compliance services address permitting, hazardous materials, ammonia safety, workplace safety, and regulatory requirements early in design to reduce retrofit risk.

We begin by documenting production needs, storage temperatures, process cooling loads, utility constraints, expansion plans, and California site considerations such as seismic expectations, energy performance priorities, and environmental permitting triggers.
Hixson supports complex facilities for leading food, beverage, pharma, biotech, and cold chain organizations.
Hixson brings integrated engineering depth to ammonia refrigeration design for demanding industrial facilities.
Decades of facility engineering experience support high-stakes California refrigeration and production environments.
Twenty in-house disciplines coordinate refrigeration, utilities, controls, safety, architecture, and construction documentation.
PSM, hazard analysis, and compliance planning are built into design from the beginning.
Specialized food, beverage, pharma, and cold chain knowledge fits California’s regulated facility needs.
Experienced leaders guide complex refrigeration-related facility design.

Manager, Plumbing Systems & Fire Protection Engineering
John oversees the department responsible for the design and engineering of plumbing systems and fire protection engineering for a variety of project types, including new construction, building utility upgrades, utility capacity analyses, and process line additions. John and his team work with a range of systems, including domestic water, process water, hot water production, direct contact water heaters, high pressure/rinse water, compressed air, natural gas, sanitary drainage, process drainage, central sanitation systems, fire pumps, and fire sprinkler systems.

Manager, Controls & Automation Engineering
As the Manager of Hixson's Controls & Automation department, Craig guides the team responsible for designing, implementing, and commissioning advanced control systems and automation solutions. His responsibilities include overseeing the development of automation strategies that streamline manufacturing processes, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure seamless integration of new and existing systems.

Manager, Process Engineering
Warren leads the team providing processing design services, process optimization studies, and process commissioning and FAT, SAT, and IQ activities. He advises on waste, energy, and GHG emissions reductions, and conducts safety and dust evaluations, including PSM/HAZOP. His expertise spans all food and beverage sectors including fluid, dried and cultured dairy products, processed meat, flavors, and prepared foods. Warren is also on the IDFA Food Safety Committee and actively participates in the 3A, SSI steering committee, and work groups.

Manager, Civil Engineering
In his role as Manager of Civil Engineering, Steve leads the team responsible for the planning, design, and engineering of roads, stormwater hydraulics and modeling, and onsite utilities. On project work, Steve is responsible for civil site project design, specifications, technical design, and project coordination with the client, government regulatory bodies, outside consultants, and contractors. As a senior staff member with our firm, Steve also serves as a mentor to newer associates.

Vice President & Director, Project Management Services
Chris, a Hixson officer and member of the Board of Directors, oversees Hixson’s Project Management, Cost Estimating, and Construction Administration departments. Chris also serves in a project management role, leading teams consisting of representatives from the client, Hixson, contractors, and vendors to effective project completion. Chris assumes overall responsibility for development of project delivery strategies, coordination of all Hixson disciplines, and facilitating effective communication and management to focus resources on delivering high-quality projects on time and within budget.

Manager, Mechanical Engineering
Dave brings more than three decades of experience to his role as the Manager of Hixson’s Mechanical Engineering Department. His work has included the design and project management of new facilities, as well as modification of existing facilities for high technology and food processing industries. At a corporate level, Dave is a member of Hixson’s Dairy and Beverage Industry team, which works to continuously improve the value Hixson offers to the dairy industry through development of our knowledge base, services and capabilities.

Manager, Electrical Engineering
Kyle serves as the Manager of Hixson’s Electrical Engineering department. In this role, he oversees the team responsible for the creation and delivery of electrical designs. This includes the design of high, medium, and low voltage power distribution, lighting, telecommunications, and fire alarm systems. Kyle brings more than 15 years of experience in electrical consulting and design to his role. Areas in which Kyle specializes include electrically hazardous area classification, high- and medium-voltage power distribution, protective relaying, arc flash studies, harmonics analysis, cogeneration design, emergency systems design, and complex laboratory designs.

Senior Vice President, and Director, Mechanical & Electrical Engineering
Scott, an officer of the firm, leads the teams responsible for mechanical and electrical project tasks and design, specifications, technical content, consultation during equipment selection and installation and systems start-up assistance. In addition, Scott also serves as the Quality Assurance Manager, overseeing the firm’s commitment to quality. Over Scott’s more than three decades of experience, he has worked on greenfield, brownfield, and renovation projects for food & beverage plants in all sectors, labs, pharma & biotech facilities, and workplace projects.

Manager, Manufacturing Engineering
In his role as Manager of Hixson’s Manufacturing Engineering department, Scott leads the team responsible for project consulting and coordination between client, vendor, and internal disciplines within Hixson for overall manufacturing processes, functionality, equipment, and layouts. These team members develop process flow diagrams, equipment lists, and preliminary utility requirements, as well as develop equipment layouts that range from high level master planning to detailed construction documents. In addition to this role, Scott is a member of Hixson’s Meat Industry advisory team, focusing on technologies related to the meat and plant protein industry.

Director of Architecture
Derek is the Director of Hixson’s Architecture department. In this role, Derek leads the teams who design projects for our Food & Beverage, Pharma & Biotech, Laboratory, and Workplace clients. Previously, Derek served as the Manager of Hixson’s Process Layout department, where he directed the team that plays a critical coordination role in the overall development of process models and the 3D equipment model management process. Prior to these management roles, Derek, who began his career with Hixson in 2008, served as a Project Architect.
Ammonia refrigeration system design typically includes cooling load analysis, system architecture, equipment selection support, engine room planning, piping layouts, controls integration, utility coordination, safety documentation, and construction deliverables. Hixson also coordinates related building systems such as electrical power, ventilation, drainage, fire protection, structural support, and process requirements for industrial facilities.
Talk with Hixson’s engineering team about your facility goals.
Hixson supports California refrigeration projects as part of its broader North American service reach.
North America
Service Area
75+ Years
Experience
20 In-House
Disciplines
Ask Hixson about ammonia refrigeration design support.
Certified organization with strong workplace culture.
Ranked No. 178 by Interior Design.
Recognized across core industry sectors.
Share your facility goals, cooling requirements, and compliance considerations. Hixson will help identify the right design path for your ammonia refrigeration project.
For immediate assistance, feel free to give us a direct call at +1 513-241-1230. You can also send us a quick email at info@hixson-inc.com.
For immediate assistance, feel free to give us a direct call at +1 513-241-1230. You can also send us a quick email at info@hixson-inc.com.