COLD-SIDE TECHNOLOGY


also, customer needs are driving that. So we have to understand customer processes and pain points. Tat is why touchscreens have been a big issue, as some equipment was hard to use. It is a balancing act between environmental responsibility and commercial viability.”


A GLOBAL PHENOMENON Te US and Europe are certainly driving the cold-side regulatory agenda, but the trend is growing across the world. “Some countries are


also developing regulations focused on the entire lifecycle of refrigeration systems, from manufacturing, packaging, operation to decommissioning and recycling, aiming to minimize the environmental footprint,” explains Llewellyn. New Zealand has imposed


taxes through its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and has targeted the phaseout of higher GWP refrigerants. Te Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol – an international agreement adopted by New Zealand and many other countries – will phase out certain gases that damage the ozone layer.


“Te Montreal


Protocol is thought to be one of the most successful and effective international environmental treaties,” Llewellyn says. “Declining levels of these substances in the atmosphere means the ozone layer is expected to fully recover later this century. Te HFC phase-down has been a strong trigger for innovation, and it is expected that development of green technologies will continue to grow as a result of the tightening HFC refrigerant quota system.” Te regulatory changes


are clearly benefiting the environment, but for some there is a need to educate regulators in the specific needs of the commercial foodservice market. One clear example is the use of blast chillers – the last real step change in cold-side technology. “Blast chillers have a


big impact in terms of making preparation a lot easier, but implementation is tricky,” says Hartman. “Tey are very popular in Europe but less so in the US, as people have the idea that they are complicated, so we


have simplified them. Now, they need just a


single button press on the


touchscreen.” “But we need to explain


why blast chillers are different to walk-in refrigerators,” he continues. “Tey pull a lot of BTUs out of food very quickly, so need a very high- performance system, but regulators don’t understand that. Tey need to know how commercial kitchens differ from


“Some countries are developing regulations focused on the entire lifecycle of refrigeration systems from manufacturing to decommissioning”


domestic kitchens. Te rules have become very strict over the last ten years. We are now nearly at zero GWP in some US states, so how much further can we go?”


EFFICIENCY TWEAKS Although much of the focus has been on refrigerant gases, energy efficiency has remained high on the agenda, and this is where the needs of regulators and operators coincide. Operators are increasingly


seeking refrigeration solutions that not only save on energy costs but also minimize environmental impact. To meet this demand, forward-thinking manufacturers are incorporating


cutting-edge high Coefficient of Performance (COP) compressors, energy-saving fan motors, high-efficiency heat exchangers, and energy- efficient LED lighting within their products. “Te combined outcomes


of these technologies have provided significant benefits to customers for modern plug-in refrigeration,” says Llewellyn. “Tese benefits include significantly reduced energy consumption, lower noise, lower heat rejection and smaller unit compartments. Tis has resulted in a significant reduction in demand for remote refrigeration systems within food service venues, as plug-in cabinets offer a far lower total life cost.” Efficiency is not only


boosted by improving components, but also by changing operational parameters. For instance, setting high and low points on a walk-in refrigerator, with alarms triggered by temperature changes, and controllers that can detect and set temperatures take a load off the operator’s shoulders, while also achieving optimal performance. “Ease of use and automation


are also important for some customers,” says Hartman. “Chains or customers that own many operations are looking at energy efficiency, so connectivity and information are important for them. For a single unit operation, ease of use is the priority.” Another key area for


innovation is perfectly exemplified in the ice machine market, but applies to many types of cold-side equipment.


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