Finding the balance between shopper convenience , energy efficiency , sustainability , and business stability is a store owner ’ s greatest challenge .
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Finding the balance between shopper convenience , energy efficiency , sustainability , and business stability is a store owner ’ s greatest challenge .
There is a heavy reliance on local manufacturers for equipment and components in South Africa . While
CO 2 technology has gained traction domestically , challenges have persisted in ensuring consistent supply and accessibility of parts .
South African companies are at the forefront of innovation for rugged conditions , developing solutions tailored to local market needs and attracting swelling global interest , says Mark Howitt , group sales director : HC Group . There is a heavy reliance on local manufacturers for equipment and components in South Africa . While CO 2 technology has gained traction domestically , challenges have persisted in ensuring consistent supply and accessibility of parts .
BENEFITS OF RETROFITTING OPEN REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CASES WITH DOORS
Supermarket shoppers have over the decades become accustomed to picking meat and dairy products direct from open refrigerated cases . But it is not really the most efficient and effective way for retailers to display these products for sale .
There are five reasons why retrofitting open refrigerated display cases with transparent doors makes economic sense for grocery stores , convenience stores , and supermarkets :
1 . Save on energy costs A closed display case uses much less energy to keep food refrigerated , so adding doors to an open case will significantly cut a store ’ s utility bills .
Energy cost savings are at the top of our list because it is the most impactful benefit . Supermarkets are the highest energy users among commercial buildings , primarily due to their refrigeration needs that typically account for more than half of their energy usage . Energy is such a significant operating expense that any reduction in energy costs for food retailers can help increase their tight profit margins . In fact , if a supermarket operates on a 2 % margin , then any one rand saved on a supermarket ’ s energy bill is equal to a R50 increase in sales .
The energy savings result from the fact that an open case ’ s refrigeration equipment is operating primarily to battle the infiltration of warm air from the store . One US Department of Energy guide on retrofitting open cases estimates that these so-called ‘ infiltration ’ loads comprise 70 % to 80 % of the total case heat load , compared to only 10 % for display cases with doors . In other words , about twothirds of the heat that needs to be removed by an open case ’ s refrigeration equipment could just as easily be kept out by installing doors .
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Some like it open .
But that ’ s not the only way that display case doors save energy . If you look at this situation in reverse , it stands to reason that all of the chilled air that an open display case throws into the surrounding area makes the store ’ s heating system work that much harder . This is particularly significant for the heating costs of supermarkets located in colder climates . Customer comfort is also a factor when it comes to the cold air escaping into the store : No one wants to stand in a chilly blast as they search for their favourite flavour of ice-cream .
2 . Food stays fresh longer Adding doors to an open display case helps keep the temperature at a constant , optimal level , meaning that food products last longer and reduces waste due to spoilage . Food freshness and safety is of paramount importance to supermarket owners , especially when dealing with perishable items like dairy and meat products . Maintaining a steady temperature that ’ s right for the products in the case will allow them to stay fresher for a longer period of time , extending their shelf-life . That helps cut the costs associated with disposing of products that can no longer be sold due to spoilage . Since it takes more refrigeration to keep products in open cases at their optimal temperature , there is often a tendency to ‘ overcool ’ these cases in order to protect against spoilage . This can lead to even higher energy use and increased operating costs . Adding doors to open cases has been proven to maintain steadier temperatures . Temperature variations are significantly minimised in open cases that had been retrofitted with doors . In addition , display cases with doors allow food products to stay safe in the event of load shedding , since the refrigerated air is kept inside rather than dissipating into the store .
3 . More economical than replacement Retrofitting an open display case with transparent doors can achieve the same
Compiled by Eamonn Ryan
result as buying a new refrigerated case at a much lower cost .
One of the advantages of retrofits over replacements is the cost . Retrofitting existing open cases with doors can be done at half the cost of purchasing new doored cases , even when installation and labour are factored in . The lower cost of retrofitting means that store owners will not only avoid the capital expenditure required for new equipment , they will also see a much faster return on their investment through immediate energy cost savings . Retrofits can also help bring older open cabinets back to life . The added doors can give cabinets the fresh look of brandnew equipment without the extra cost of actually buying it .
4 . Lower maintenance costs Since the addition of doors reduces the amount of time that condensers and fan motors need to run , those components will last longer and require less frequent maintenance .
Maintenance costs can be lowered for the refrigeration equipment in open cases that are retrofitted with doors . Compressors and fan motors need to operate less often and for shorter intervals when doors are in place to keep cool air in and warm , humid air out . These reduced run times translate into longer lifespans for these components and needing routine maintenance less frequently , letting you save on both equipment and labour costs .
5 . Make additional upgrades While one ’ s adding doors to open cases , one can take the opportunity to add other energy-saving measures like LED lighting .
Retrofitting open cases shouldn ’ t be viewed as a one-off proposition . It ’ s an opportunity for store owners to take stock of all their refrigeration equipment to identify other energy-efficiency measures that can be implemented quickly and
Staycold easily . For example , a case door retrofit may present the chance to upgrade the unit ’ s lighting to energy-saving LEDs . Not only do LEDs use up to 70 % less energy than standard lighting , they also emit very little heat . That means that the case ’ s refrigeration equipment isn ’ t using power to fight the heat produced by its lighting .
While adding doors to open cases can provide all of the above benefits , there are several important factors to keep in mind before moving forward with a retrofit project :
• Aisle width : Stores with narrow aisles , like small grocery or convenience stores , need to be aware of the size and type of doors they install so that opening a door doesn ’ t block customer traffic .
• System modifications : Cutting the heat load up to 80 % by adding doors means that modifications may be needed to the refrigeration system to correct the imbalance between the newly reduced heat load and the system ’ s capacity .
• Fan power : The configuration of the fan motor may need adjustment to ensure proper airflow in a case that will now be enclosed instead of open .
• Anti-sweat heaters : Depending on the type of door installed , antisweat heaters may be needed to keep condensation from forming on products in the case .
REFERENCE : https :// tapersolutions . com / article / refrigeration / 5-benefits-of-retrofittingopen-refrigerated-display-cases-with-doors
A classic Staycold drinks cabinet .
12 www . coldlinkafrica . co . za COLD LINK AFRICA • July / August 2024