The company which supplies refrigeration, air-conditioning, management and control technology is exhibiting a revised and upgraded range at drinktec with products that are energy saving and environmentally friendly.
Low energy consumption
“Strong attention is paid to beverage cooler refrigeration units, both Glass Door and Open Front. These units must guarantee a perfect temperature for sales and it may happen that in favor to this, negative or largely upgradable impacts on the environment are generated,” said Alessandro Greggio, group head of marketing, Retail & Refrigeration, Carel.
“It is the volume and spread of these coolers that have forced important actions by government and beverage companies with specific regulations or company initiatives to reduce the effects on the environment.
“These initiatives reduce the direct impact of natural refrigerants and the indirect impact of efficient coolers with low energy consumption.”
According to Greggio, Carel has been investing significantly in R&D and now in the industrial availability of ‘Heez’, a breakthrough technology for beverage coolers.
Heez combines technological innovations, such as wireless connectivity, for a new user experience and uses propane, a natural refrigerant, for a low environmental impact.
“When adopted by beverage cooler manufacturers, Heez is enabling the development of refrigerated merchandisers with top energy efficiency results compared to present industry standard while keeping incredible temperature and performance results with regard to market and sales requirements,” added Greggio.
“Heez is providing the simultaneous adoption of innovative modulating devices such as DC rotary inverter compressor, variable speed EC fans, electronic and modulating expansion valve, working also with natural refrigerant, such as R290/propane.
“Laboratory and OEMs tests are confirming improvements up to 50% less in energy consumption and pull down performance compared to traditional coolers.”
IoT demands
Greggio believes energy efficiency is the main trend hitting the beverage coolers market from social, environmental and governmental sources. However, the beverage cooler industry wants a higher customer engagement, a lower cost of ownership and the consequent strong connectivity/IoT demands.
“Boosted by new energy labelling regulations, smarter and higher adaptive technology, like capacity modulation technology, will be more present in the market to ensure the top energetic class to the cooler manufacturers and the best performance to the beverage companies with higher satisfaction for the end user,” he said.
“Over the last decade, Carel investments have been focused on faster time to market by means of anticipated investments and strong technology synergy among the different sectors it is operating in, from HVAC to Refrigeration.
“For example, DC inverter technology has a range of compressor capacity modulation that ensures top efficiency, thanks to the modulation at the very low cooling demands, and top performance with very high refrigeration capacity when needed.”
He added digital marketing and IoT topics are also evident trends: improved demands of new user experiences suggested by the interaction with the beverage coolers will become industrially available.
“Business partners and suppliers need to be ready to enable different business models having solid and scalable connectivity options in addition to full turnkey services,” said Greggio.
“One example where Carel has invested is the inverter and compressor qualification where the coupling is compliant with existing regulation (EN60335-2-34, annex AA included). Beverage coolers manufacturers can integrate this documentation with their test reports.”
Greggio said for several years its systems have been exhibited at drinktec as technology integrated into the beverage coolers displayed at its clients’ stands but this year it has decided to take part in the tradeshow independently, presenting a comprehensive offering of its products for refrigerated merchandisers, providing added value for beverage companies.
The company has 20 fully-owned subsidiaries and seven production sites, as well as partners and distributors in a further 75 countries.
Carel will be exhibiting at drinktec, in Munich, Germany, from September 11-15, in Hall A1, Stand 139.