Lumikko renews battery thermal management – a new distributed system runs on natural refrigerants
Seinäjoki-based family company Lumikko began developing cooling systems for northern transportation conditions already in the 1970s. That core remains today: in 2025, Lumikko’s specialty is thermal management — now focused on reliable operation of batteries and electric machines in all conditions.
“Our customers build machines that must work in all weather. Our job is to ensure the battery temperature stays correct so that the machine doesn’t stop,” says Lumikko’s Head of Electrification, Mika Sorri.
Lumikko’s latest innovation, Lumikko BTMS (Battery Thermal Management System), is a thermal-management system designed for electric work machines. It is scalable, energy-efficient and easy to integrate.
According to Mika Sorri, its design draws on decades of experience from railway, defense, and industrial-special use cases.
Lumikko has long been part of electrification development: earlier delivering cooling solutions for hybrid container handlers of Kalmar and battery-powered mining machines for Sandvik in the early 2010s.
Scalable solution without oversizing
Operating conditions and usage of work machines vary greatly: a port container crane may face salty maritime climate, while a mining machine works in hot and dusty environments. Many existing systems suffer from unnecessary oversizing — wasting energy and shortening component life.
Lumikko BTMS offers a wide operating range that adapts to customer needs without wasteful oversizing. In cold climates it can use free-cooling, and the compressor is only used when needed.
Its distributed structure makes installation, placement and maintenance easier.
Built-in environmental friendliness
Lumikko BTMS uses the natural refrigerant propane (R290), whose global warming potential (GWP) is among the lowest in the market. This choice supports the regulations of the EU F‑gas Regulation and helps customers meet their sustainability goals.
“Propane is a natural and efficient refrigerant. We developed a solution that meets future refrigerant legislation requirements and reduces environmental impact, without compromising performance,” says Lumikko’s Technology and Product Development Director, Ville Saikkonen.
Best Partner in Thermal Management Solutions
All Lumikko’s equipment is designed and manufactured at their own factory in Seinäjoki, Finland.
“We operate on a partnership model: we transform our customers’ needs into a tailored solution that we design, build and deliver. We take responsibility for its performance throughout the entire lifecycle, providing technical support and spare parts,” says CEO and third-generation family entrepreneur, Lauri Latvala.
The strength of a long-standing family business and decades of experience are reflected in the way Lumikko combines technical expertise with the practical needs of its customers.
“Our customers’ success is also our success. That was Lumikko’s idea in 1970 and it will be for the coming decades as well,” Latvala summarizes.