FEATURE
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
Cabinets and islands –
technology saves SA many megawatt-hours
By Benjamin Brits
As the market’s needs change, so do the products – from system improvements to aesthetics. Bigger
is better but trends are indicating a shift towards smaller footprints in future.
As the world generally seeks out
better efficiencies, and the drive for
energy-savings becomes more
pressing – particularly for South Africa
through continually rising costs – refrigerated
cabinets and islands can play a major role
in cost-reduction, even more so with the
latest advancements.
Any competitors in this space may
state that their products are better,
colder or more efficient than others, but
these days there is much more to it than
that. Factors that play a role in a store or
supply chain successfully implementing
energy-saving solutions include things like
geographical area, facility layouts, type
of clientele and LSM, product offering
and refrigeration setup.
Standalone and multiplex systems
are different solutions and fulfil different
needs. There are a number of standard
geometric sizes available in different lengths
and depths, as well as custom products
available too. Generally speaking, cabinets
Colcab
One of the latest glass-top Island freezers.
and islands are divided into categories:
freezers, uprights and service cabinets,
terms of use of environmentally-friendly
and most food retail stores split this mix
materials and construction methods,
depending on their particular needs.
but also from an energy-consumption
Remote cabinets may offer a better
point of view, a major challenge for the
visual display area, where self-contained
sector is the persistent mentality of ‘give
units cannot accommodate glass
me your best price’. It may be easier to
[visual area] all the way down the sides
make things cheaper, but most often this
of the unit due to the nature of their
means less efficiency.
construction. Remotes typically also have
“The mentality on price relates purely
a bigger volumetric capacity but are
to the capital costs but then what is
not suitable for all products. Islands can
not considered are operational costs
accommodate more customers at a
like electricity consumption. The return
time where uprights have a much smaller
on investment (ROI) calculations that
footprint for smaller stores.
companies perform, don’t necessarily
In some instances, closed top island
look at these factors in their research.
freezers are ideal and sometimes it is still
So, for the team responsible for capex
better to install an open top volumetric with
- ROI projections look great up front but
better display area for certain items such as
unfortunately what we then see is that the
crustaceans for example – strategy really
minimum (cheapest) capex is approved
depends on retailer to retailer as they have
and operational costs are not factored
their own ideas and vision in catering to
their own market, which too is vast.
The many variables in cabinets and
islands can make for quite a complex
in because this forms part of a different
category in the company’s budget”,
says Sebastian Hills, sales and marketing
manager at Staycold International.
Frigrite Africa
solution in the end for the customer, and
The refrigeration sector is subject
Island fridges with slide-close glass tops from Frigrite - when you have to make the rite choice.
what their particular configurations should
to many ‘invisible costs’. Capex is just
be. Many customers also want a unique
one element and what is subsequently
every year, there must be consideration of
offer different temperature tolerances
solution and so suppliers have to be very
purchased may have some simple
the whole deal, long term,” adds Hills.
based on the requirements.
flexible to ensure that their mix of product
functions or some more complicated
Efficiency also translates by the
David Kotsiros, managing director at
ranges are available and that their
setups, all of which contribute to the overall
changeover to the ‘green elements’
Frigrite Africa says, “The world is obviously
product’s ‘look and feel’ also caters to the
operation of a refrigeration system. Each
of refrigeration, including the type of
looking at greener products that include
customer’s requirements.
type of fridge is also different and can
refrigerant used (is it a hydrocarbon (natural
refrigerants like CO 2
and R290 within self-
CHALLENGES FOR THE SOUTH
AFRICAN MARKET
either save in the long terms or cost in the
long term. As a simple example, you could
save R3 000 on capex but then lose R3 000
refrigerants) or hydrofluorocarbon?), and
the type of insulation material also links to
overall efficiency. The insulation materials
contained units, so although componentefficiency
is under the spotlight, the green
aspects are also very important. Now, a
While there is currently a focus on
a year on operation inefficiencies. “Unless
could come with different properties, for
challenge in South Africa in this regard is
energy efficiency of products, not just in
you are planning to replace your fridges
example water- or chemical-based, and
that there are not many companies that
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www.coldlinkafrica.co.za COLD LINK AFRICA • September 2020