It is important to Angel Refrigeration that we help you choose the right product to do the right job!
Please contact our Sales Team for further information, help and advice.
As good quality refrigeration is so important in the food and beverage industry and should be in service for many years, it is essential to make the right choice when purchasing new or second hand equipment. Not only is your refrigeration likely to be one of the most expensive pieces of equipment in your business, it will also need to be reliable, long-lasting, energy efficient and easy to maintain.
When selecting new refrigeration, we are faced with a wide range of manufacturers boasting a host of competitive features and benefits, where should we begin?
You could take advice from a professional who will visit your premises and accurately assess your needs based on the products you are storing, the way you use your refrigeration, storage location and of course your budget. However, for those who don’t have time during the working day or don’t like the feeling of being sold to, here are some key factors to think about when making your decision.
Remember that size and positioning is important. It may seem obvious, but do check that you will be able to get the cabinet into position without major construction work.
On the other hand, it may be worthwhile removing door frames and windows to ensure you are selecting the most suitable product to meet your immediate needs and allow you to expand your customer offer going forward.
The ambient temperature of the area where the refrigeration is to be sited will also have bearing on the equipment being selected.
Some refrigeration units, such as Saladettes, Serve Over Counters and Multi-Deck Display units are normally designed to be used in ambient working temperatures of +32ºC whilst other Storage Cabinets and specialist equipment such as Blast Chillers are designed to operate at +38ºC or even up to +43ºC.
Consideration also needs to be given to the air flow around refrigeration systems. Door drafts and air conditioning can significantly affect the performance of some products.
Most reputable refrigeration manufacturers will offer an equipment range with integral refrigeration systems and also with remote systems. The advantage of remote refrigeration systems is that noise and heat output from the cabinets are keep to a minimum, whilst display and storage space is keep to a maximum. The disadvantage is that further installation costs need to be considered.
Putting the initial product cost to one side, the most pressing consideration facing food and beverage producers investing in new refrigeration is most likely to be energy efficiency. With this aspect in mind, it is worth assessing the green credentials of any potential refrigeration system.
Look out for energy efficient features that will help to reduce your bills as well as helping the environment.
Buyers should look for refrigeration systems with intelligent controllers. These save energy by running the refrigeration system only when it’s required. Consideration should be given to refrigeration with fan assisted air circulation to maintain temperatures throughout the cabinet. Also, look for refrigeration with an automatic defrost function. This saves energy and prolongs the life cycle of the evaporator coil reducing ongoing service and maintenance costs.
Simple features such as LED lighting, night blinds for display equipment and self-closing doors with a ‘door open’ alarm helping to prevent cold air loss through doors being left open. Heavy duty, magnetic door gaskets can also help.
Look for low emissivity glass which transfers significantly less heat over a standard double glazed glass door. When looking at counter refrigeration options it could pay to think about equipment with drawers instead of doors.
Drawer units are normally slightly more expensive but can save energy since less cold air is lost when a drawer is opened compared to a door. High density polyurethane foam insulation should now be a standard feature on most cabinets and cold rooms.
These energy saving features can often mean that the initial outlay for the product is more expensive than basic equipment, but the buyer can satisfy themselves with the knowledge that this will be outweighed by energy cost savings accumulated over many years.
For the ultimate energy conscious buyer, check the Carbon Trust’s Energy Technology List (ETL) for food service refrigeration.
Buyers should look for machines that are on the Enhanced Capital Allowance list (ECA) as they will not only reduce running costs by using less energy but they may also qualify for tax incentives from the government. For more information go to www.carbontrust.com
For the buyer who is particularly concerned about ‘sustainability’ and minimising the negative impact of refrigeration on the environment, then be careful to look for manufacturers who have been awarded the ISO 14001 Environmental Management accreditation.
The overall size and storage capacity of the fridge, freezer or cold room in question will also play a part in how much energy it uses and how efficiently it runs.
Considering the size of the refrigeration brings us back to more fundamental questions.
Visible temperature displays are essential not only to satisfy the operator and your local Environmental Health Officer that the refrigerant is working correctly but also to assist with the recordings that are necessary for compliance within current regulations. Remembering that refrigeration purchases are a long term investment, then it worthwhile looking for equipment that is supplied with a good parts and labour guarantee or invest in a comprehensive aftercare package to run alongside your regular service and maintenance contracts.
Most manufacturers should be able to demonstrate the features that ensure that the equipment is easy to access for routine cleaning and maintenance.
The sales and service team at Angel Refrigeration understand that buying refrigeration is a big investment. An experienced team are on hand to help you through your selection process. So don’t be tempted to cut corners now as it could be costly in the long run.
Please contact our Sales Team for further information, help and advice.
