FEATURE
Ejectors on CO 2 systems are also a
technology to watch, according to
Hatfield. “The ejectors are great for high
ambient temperatures,” explains Hadfield.
“It’s vital for reducing power intake.”
Not keeping up with new technology
is a big challenge, explains Naidoo. Not
taking quick enough action towards any
incident or failure in the system could be
solved by having the right monitoring tools
in place to anticipate such incidents. “The
digitalisation and IoT is revolutionising the
way people live and work, and nowhere is
that more apparent than in supermarkets
around the country,” says Naidoo. “Retail
owners should use the IoT in order to monitor
the performance of their refrigeration
equipment, so they can take immediate
action should a problem arise.” Having that
capability to head off potential problems is
extremely important because unplanned
downtime can be very costly for end users.
“With the IoT, they have the knowledge
to make quick repairs and prevent future
errors, which means less lost revenue, less
lost inventory, and ultimately helps ensure
food safety.”
COMMON DESIGN MISTAKES
A big challenge is the fact that retailers
often focus most of their energy on the
trading floor, mostly because that is the part
of the store they believe generates the sales
with their customers, explains Smith. This
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means plant rooms or suitable plant areas
are often forgotten of and are seemingly
squeezed into some location that would
not have been selected had consideration
been given to it from the get-go.
“The planning of the store is always an
issue,” agrees Hanssen. “From the plant
perspective, we’re usually the last ones
to know and to give input.” This can be
an issue if not managed properly. The
deadlines are also very tight and there
is often a rush to the end. “This is not
conducive to a successful, well-installed,
and well-commissioned project.”
“The store design is the most important
thing I see that’s going wrong,” says Breckle.
Retail psychology is always changing
and the stores don’t always keep up and
understand the equipment that is available.
“You have to keep educating the client
about the technology.” You need to know
things like, for example, how many cartons
of milk fit onto a shelf and what is the
correct size shelf to install for their needs.
Optimising space is important. “Once the
store layout is optimised, you can start
looking at the product you’re bringing in
and the economies of scale to try and bring
down the cost.”
“Price is always an issue,” says Hanssen.
“It’s an understanding thing. A lot of retailers
don’t know what they’re buying when it
comes to refrigeration equipment.” It’s
important to spend time with the installer
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
Supermarkets are among the greatest commercial energy consumers and it’s important that
they are designed as efficient as possible.
www.coldlinkafrica.co.za
COLD LINK AFRICA • March/April 2019