Refrigerated Frozen Foods logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Refrigerated Frozen Foods logo
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
  • COLD STORAGE
    • Cold Storage Trends
    • Farm to Frozen
    • Supply Chain & Logistics
  • PACKAGING
  • TOPICS
    • Food Safety
    • Product Development & Manufacturing
    • Sustainable Solutions for Cold Foods
  • MEDIA HUB
    • Play Our Word Game
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Polls
    • Webinars
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Cold Storage Construction Guide
    • Warehouse Guide
    • Food Master
  • MORE
    • Cold Chain Perspectives
    • Case Studies
    • C-Suite Q&A
    • Top 150 Processors
    • Awards >
      • Best New Retail Products
      • Cold Storage Facility of the Year
      • Processor of the Year
    • Directory of Associations
    • R&FF Store
    • Calendar of Events
    • FA&M Conference & Expo
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Cold Foods Industry News

Polar King International Celebrates 40 Years

polarking.jpg
April 8, 2022

The year was 1978 when brothers Joe and Vince Tippmann, who were already producing fiberglass hockey boards, took notice of small oil rigs encased in fiberglass and set off on what would be a four-year mission to perfect the adaptation of this seamless technology for walk-in refrigeration and freezer units.  

Polar King International debuted at the 1982 National Restaurant Association trade show with great fanfare, and the success story began. 

The Tippmanns initially manufactured and shipped their state-of-the-art outdoor fiberglass commercial walk-in coolers and freezers from a modest 12,000-square-foot facility in New Haven, Indiana. With escalating demand, Polar King scaled up operation and relocated production to its current 204,000-square-foot facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In the past two years, the company has added additional manufacturing and warehouse space to keep up with accelerated sales.

For 40 years, Polar King has been revolutionizing the industry while maintaining its family roots and unwavering commitment to customer service and its community. The company has provided thousands of one-piece walk-in outdoor refrigeration and freezer units to single unit operators, chain restaurants, schools, health care facilities, government agencies and many others.

Polar King President Dave Schenkel said while the company is constantly evolving, its core values remain unchanged. 

“Though we are perpetually moving forward, we sustain the principles and standards upon which Polar King was founded,” Schenkel said. “We answer every phone call with a real person and never use automated email responses. The people of Polar King really make the difference. Many have served our customers for 30 years or more. They know what customers need and ensure that quality products are delivered where and when they are needed.”

In recent years, Polar King added two complementary business units: Polar Leasing Company and Polar King Mobile. Polar Leasing offers standard refrigerated walk-in rentals. Polar King Mobile was created to meet North America’s needs for a commercial-grade, affordable solution to refrigerated transport. These operations are making a positive impact during the global COVID-19 pandemic by providing storage for vaccines and test samples, as well as fulfilling requirements for emergency refrigeration/freezer storage in response to disasters. 

About Polar King 
Polar King’s 100% seamless fiberglass design utilized for all walk-in refrigeration and freezer units provides a continuous surface with rounded insulated corners to promote a sanitary environment. The durable, NSF-approved non-slip flooring system greatly reduces the risk of slips and falls. Operators can use a hose to quickly clean units and restore an as-new look without damaging insulation. Polar King uses fiberglass to reduce the potential for rusting, denting or corroding. The many innovative design features of these units cut operating costs, lower power bills, decrease maintenance/repair expenses and eliminate construction and replacement costs. Polar King structures offer the industry’s lowest lifetime cost of ownership. In doing its part to reduce food waste, by way of temperature controlled preservation, Polar King is positively impacting the global food chain.

 

 

KEYWORDS: coolers freezer refrigerated cold storage

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Best New Retail Products of 2026 badge with grocery store refrigerators in the background.

    Top of the Freezer: R&FF’s Best New Retail Products

    From BFY proteins to globally inspired treats, these...
    Product Development & Manufacturing
    By: Kelley Rodriguez
  • Pasco Exterior

    Reser’s Fine Foods: From Farmhouse Kitchen to ‘Good Times’ Everywhere

    A home-based potato salad company started 75 years ago...
    Product Development & Manufacturing
    By: Kelley Rodriguez
  • FromtheColdCorner-Anchor_1170x658.jpg

    EPR, Plastic Packaging for Cold Foods & More

    As consumer and regulatory pressure put plastic in the...
    Cold Foods Packaging
    By: Kelley Rodriguez
Manage My Account
  • eMagazine
  • What’s Hot in Cold Newsletter
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Online Registration
  • Customer Service

More Videos

Popular Stories

Containerized Cold Rooms outside.

Containerized Cold Rooms Gain Traction as Flexible Cold Storage Demand Grows

New Brunswick, Canada port location

Americold, DP World & CPKC Open New Cold Chain Gateway

1170x658 of Cold Storage Podcast with Jennifer Jewers Bowlin and Craig Handy

ASRS, AI & Adaptability: What's Shaping the Future of Cold Storage

2026 Processor of the Year

 

Does your facility lead the industry? Nominate your cold storage facility today!

Events

January 1, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Water Activity in Foods: Fundamentals and Applications, 2nd Edition

Water Activity in Foods: Fundamentals and Applications, 2nd Edition

See More Products
New Retail Products

Explore the newest flavors, textures, and innovations in the frozen food aisle!


SEE WHAT'S NEW!
Play Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ Cool Word of the Week! There's a new word every Wednesday.

Related Articles

  • Wheat Foods Council Celebrates 40 Years

    See More
  • 40th anniversary logo for KM Packaging

    KM Packaging Celebrates 40 Years

    See More
  • IIAR Bruce Nelson Colmac Coil Retiring 40 Years

    Bruce Nelson Retiring from Colmac Coil after 40 Years

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • food book.jpg

    Validating Preventive Food Safety and Quality Controls 1st Edition

  • small-occ.jpg

    Occupational Health and Safety in the Food and Beverage Industry

  • handbookfoodscience.jpg

    Handbook of Food Science and Technology 2: Food Process Engineering and Packaging

See More Products

Related Directories

  • Polar Box - Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico

×

Elevate your expertise in refrigerated and frozen foods with unparalleled insights and connections.

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • Newsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Service
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBLITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing