About Leer
We're with you every degree of the way
Proud, American-made, and 100% employee-owned — Leer has shaped temperature-controlled storage for decades, one degree at a time.
Who We Are
Built Around Long-Term Value
Leer is an employee-owned manufacturer of temperature-controlled products built for long-term performance. We serve industries where reliability matters, and that responsibility shapes how we build: with stronger construction, cleaner fit and finish, and the kind of details that help products keep doing their job well over time.
That mindset shapes how we design, manufacture, and support our products. From fit and finish to construction details customers may never notice at first glance, Leer is built around the belief that long-term value comes from doing things the right way, even when the easier way would be enough.
The Standards Behind Every Leer Product
How we build
Craftsmanship in Engineering & Manufacturing
Every product starts with an understanding of how it will be used, where it will live, what it needs to protect, and what customers will expect from it years down the road. That is why details matter: stronger construction, cleaner fit, dependable performance, and products designed to support the work behind them.
Leer products are built to do more than meet a specification. They are built with the discipline to get the details right, the consistency to repeat that quality, and the long-term mindset to earn trust over time.
How we support
Support That Stays With the Product
Customer service is not just about answering questions after a sale. It is part of the product experience.
From helping customers find the right solution to supporting installation, documentation, parts, and long-term operation, Leer works to make the process easier before, during, and after the product is in the field. That support matters because the equipment matters. The application matters. The customer’s operation matters.
We want customers to know they are not just buying a product. They are working with a team committed to standing behind it.
How we’re invested
Employee-Owned. Personally Invested.
As an employee-owned company, Leer is built on shared responsibility. Our employee-owners have a stake in the company’s future, and that creates a culture where quality, service, and long-term value matter.
That ownership mindset supports sustainable growth. It encourages people to take pride in the work, support each other, care about the customer experience, and help build a stronger company for the future.
When employee-owners stand behind the products they build, ownership becomes more than a business structure. It becomes part of how the work gets done.
A Pioneer in Packaged Ice, Still Building What’s Next
From our seven-plus decades producing Ice Merchandisers to our broader lineup of temperature-controlled solutions, Leer has always followed the same standard: build products that protect what matters, support the people who rely on them, and keep improving as customer needs change.
Our history shows where that standard began. Our future is built on carrying it forward.
Leer Founded
Lee Roth opens for business in New Lisbon, Wisconsin, establishing Leer as the world’s first manufacturer of commercial, cork-insulated ice storage equipment.
Walk-Ins Added
Leer expands into custom Walk-In Coolers and Freezers, adding reliable refrigerated and frozen storage solutions to its growing product lineup.
Employee Ownership Begins
Dexter Apache Holdings, now Employee Owned Brands, purchases Leer and adds the company to its 100% employee-owned group of American-based manufacturers.
Carroll Coolers Added
Leer purchases Carroll Coolers in Carroll, Iowa, expanding its Walk-In manufacturing capabilities with the Wood Rail Walk-In line, still made in Carroll today.
Ice Vending Launched
Leer begins manufacturing Ice Breakers, now known as Ice Vending Machines, giving packaged ice operators another way to serve customers around the clock.
Reach-Ins Introduced
Leer begins manufacturing Refrigerated Reach-In Storage, adding flexible, all-weather cooler and freezer capacity for operators who need more cold storage without a major remodel.
R290 Transition Begins
Leer manufactures its first Ice Merchandisers with R290 refrigerant, supporting modern refrigeration performance with a lower-GWP refrigerant platform.
Trailers Relaunched
Leer relaunches its Refrigerated Reach-In Trailer line, bringing mobile refrigerated and frozen storage solutions back into the product offering.
High-Density Rail Walk-Ins Launch
Leer begins manufacturing High-Density Rail Walk-Ins, built for applications that require strong structural performance and reliable low-temperature storage.
Leer Celebrates 75 Years
Leer marks 75 years in business, celebrating decades of American manufacturing, employee ownership, and refrigeration solutions built for real-world needs.
We Want to Be Your Next Partner
Since 1952, Leer has served customers who depend on reliable cold storage to keep their operations moving.
If you’re looking for a partner who can help you plan, build, and move forward with confidence, let’s talk.
