REFRIGERATION SPOTLIGHT
Teamwork spreads the load at jam factory
Multiple teams from wholesale group Beijer Ref UK & Ireland joined
installation for historic jam manufacturer Wilkin & Sons in Essex.
W
ilkin & Sons has been producing quality jams and marmalades since 1885 and is perhaps best known for the Tiptree
range of fruit preserves named after its Essex home. The existing HFC-based screw pack system at the factory was showing its age, with persistent leaks resulting in excessive service and repair expenses. Urgently needing to build reliability into its freezer rooms, a temporary glycol-based system had been installed until a permanent solution was found. Four existing systems, screw packs each delivering 30kW of capacity at -31°C SST, required replacement. Given the limited space available, the new plant had to be installed outdoors. As the system required a large low-temperature (LT) duty, the equipment design process considered several options for splitting the load between smaller units and larger packs, ultimately focusing on a refrigerant that would future-proof the site. It was essential to create a resilient system by while also accounting for a high-temperature (HT) tempering facility in a planned second phase of the project.
systems, including integrated gas coolers. This eliminates the need for separate gas cooler installations, thereby reducing both installation costs and downtime. Selecting the 60kW LT solution, to utilising four smaller units while maintaining resilience, also ensured stability amid varying load conditions.
during installation and commissioning from its
who said the support received gave them the natural refrigerant with minimal environmental
30 August 2025 •
www.acr-news.com
while the equipment was being manufactured. was a big plus point for us when deciding where to certainly added value to the project.”
provides 28-100% capacity control. This, and the use of two identical packs, means the site can also manage any future low-load conditions that may be required. The LT compressors (with an inverter on the lead) cascade to the HT compressors (with an inverter on the lead), where heat is rejected with an onboard gas cooler.
heat exchanger for the future tempering room, eliminating the need for subsequent additional infrastructure. This solution maximised the available
against evolving client needs. The inclusion of
extending the lifecycle of the equipment, making it a robust choice for the client. their quality and reliability. They feature double- skinned drain pans and additional periphery heaters for the fans. The overall access provided by the design of the Vario coolers means that servicing the units, even at a high height (as these are), is easier
presented a lower initial capital cost, they also came with the potential for higher operating costs and regulatory restrictions. A2L options were also examined, but limitations on charge sizes and pipe Finally, ammonia was considered but dismissed due
projected to be 5% higher than that of traditional systems, the integration of a plate heat exchanger for future tempering rooms ensured long-term
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