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Greencold goes large with CO2 mobile refrigeration

UK: Wellingborough-based refrigeration and air conditioning contractor, Greencold, has taken its mobile CO2 refrigeration unit to a larger specification to accommodate the needs of a multi-national UK food manufacturer. 

The project for Cranswick Convenience Foods MK followed on from the success of Greencold’s Quickfreeze rental trailer, created last year as an innovative mobile refrigeration test trailer.

In the original version, Greencold had employed a Panasonic CO2 condenser unit to create a cold room test facility at its premises to allow product testing for its customers for both chill and freeze temperatures.

“We originally worked with Panasonic on a solution for our smaller QuickFreeze trailer in 2019 where we were impressed with the support and output of the units,” explained Greencold director Simon Andrew. “We use the trailer as a cold-room test facility and mobile refrigeration unit. The trailer allows us to easily conduct onsite tests for customer products to show chill and freeze temperatures, in addition to also allowing more capacity at our own site that doesn’t take up workshop space at HQ. 

It was because of the original trailer and the natural refrigerant CO2 being used on the Panasonic cold chain units, that our client, Cranswick Convenience Foods MK, a multi-national food manufacturer, asked if they could purchase a larger trailer that could be fitted with the same Panasonic cold chain units.”

The Panasonic CO2 2kW units were tested on the larger trailer and proved to bethe ideal freezing and chilled capacities that the customer was looking for.  

Measuring 5860mm x 2030mm wide and 2000mm high, the larger trailer can accommodate five standard UK sized pallets end to end with a total static payload of 2500kg and a capacity to reach -20ºC. The inside is equipped with an 100mm joint free insulated panels and 100mm insulated floors with sanded surface.

The Panasonic Cold Chain CO2 units used on both the large and small trailer have low noise levels, ranging from 35.5dB(A) to 36dB(A)). They measure 930mm high x 800mm wide x 350mm deep and weigh just 67kg. The units are installed with a compatible ceiling mounted cooler and electronic controller and expansion valve. 

Based on Panasonic monitored data, the units provide 16% energy savings for chilled refrigeration and 25% energy savings for lower temperature freezer applications achieved in comparison to R404A.

Simon Andrew further added, “The Panasonic CO2 cold chain units offer a practical and straightforward method of installation with complete design support available. The units are compact, lightweight and have very low noise levels – we are more than happy with the collaboration of working with an eco-friendly manufacturer such as Panasonic. From our facility in the UK we are able to supply CO2 refrigerated trailers for sale built to the customers requirements; size, shelving or dual compartment function for example.

The client’s feedback is said to have been “very positive” and has assisted in its objective of eliminating the need for their larger under-used cold store on site and HFC cooling systems dependency in general.

Related stories:

Panasonic’s CO2 condenser takes to the road – 2 October 2019
UK: Panasonic’s CO2 condensing unit is contributing to an innovative mobile refrigeration test trailer for a pioneering UK contractor. Read more…

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