Make sure you keep your cool this Christmas with the chill factor

Counter attack With a choice of seven storage capacities accommodating either 1/1 or 2/1 Gastronorm trays, Foster's Premier range of refrigerated counters offers four temperature options, a choice of castor, leg or plinth mounting and several door and drawer combinations to suit specific storage needs. Like upright Premier cabinets, counters have Circulair forced air Systems and Foster's patent-pending new thermal break which is designed to maintain temperature and also improve service access by positioning the heater wires inside a channel with removable cover, which cancels out the need for a heater kit when servicing. A simple slide-out refrigeration system ensures ready access to all components. Counters also feature an exclusive floating lock keep which ensures that, even if the door is pushed shut when the keys are left in the locked position, the door will simply shut and lock without any damage to the lock.
www.fosterrefrigerator.co.uk
Foster Refrigerator

Cabinets for rent For applications where commercial display or storage refrigeration is needed for a limited period, Rawlings Refrigeration offers a total rental package on a daily, weekly, monthly or annual basis including delivery and collection of the equipment within the UK, all routine servicing and 24 hour back-up support.Equipment can typically be obtained at short notice if required. Chiller and freezer cabinets available include multi-deck display units, serve-over counters and circular display units as well as stand-alone storage cabinets.
Rawlings Refrigeration
Even chill Forced air circulation is a feature of the new Lec Light Commercial range of fridges and freezers, helping ensure even temperature distribution. Internal air temperature is monitored by a digital temperature display. Other features include lockable doors, auto-defrost and CFC-free refrigeration. Three models are currently made: CL-150, CL-350 and CL350S (designating stainless steel).
www.lec.co.uk
Lec Refrigeration
Undercounter answers For caterers who want economical but safe product storage in space-restricted areas, Levin Libra undercounter refrigerators and freezers are available in a choice of 304 stainless steel or white exterior. Standard features of the 850mm high cabinets include door-operated internal fan, automatic defrost replaceable door gaskets and lockable doors. Refrigerator versions provide a temperature range of +1+4C at 32°C ambient and are priced from £427 (£495 for stainless steel). Freezer versions operate at -18-24°C and are priced from £605.
Interlevin Refrigeration
Casing the joint Claiming a "high concentration of coldroom expertise", Total Refrigeration now offers a free preparatory specification service including site survey and outline suggestions covering basics such as draft designs, capacities and service connections. The company also attempts to alert prospective users to planning permission, health and safety and other potentially significant background issues. The Total team also undertakes to analyse likely material handling requirements, cold chain needs and siting issues relative to likely legislation changes.
www.totalrefrigeration.co.uk
Total Refrigeration

Energy-saving pointers Refrigeration accounts for 60-70 per cent of energy consumption at many catering and retailing outlets, and savings from reducing its usage are usually easier to achieve than increased profit through extra sales turnover, says David Harris, managing director of ACS Group Services. Harris provides the following practical tips for lowering running costs on refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment.
* Don't exceed legal minimum storage temperatures beyond the practical margins.n Make sure that night blinds fitted to chilled display units are fully operational and put into use without delay whenever appropriate .
\ Rather than using the electric defrost routines possible on the chilled display cabinets, it may be best to allow defrosting to occur naturally relying on the ambient temperature of the forced air. (This first needs trialling to ensure optimum results).
* If electricity contracts provide lower rate energy in evenings, try to carry out as much defrosting during that period as is practical.
* If refrigeration plant employs conventional self-acting thermostatic expansion valves, get these replaced with electronic expansion valves; these optimise expansion of refrigerant relative to fluctuating evaporator and condenser temperatures.
* Fit power optimisers to any free-standing display cabinets and refrigerators to improve operational efficiency under low load conditions.
* Fit a seven-day timer to stand-alone chilled drinks display units so they turn off when the outlet is closed.
* Make sure equipment is fully maintained; a unit with a blocked condenser can add 30 per cent or more to daily energy usage.
* Minor maintenance eg attention to lubrication, replenishment of refrigerants and small soldering operations, can save time, effort and money in the long term.n ensure plant rooms are properly ventilated with air volumes matched to those of the condenser fans.
\ Record meter readings monthly to make consumption monitoring more effective and as an aid in cross checking invoices.

The simple technique of "rolling trends" involves calculating average consumption by dividing the the last 12 months by 12 . Increases or decreases in consumption can then be readily tracked.
www.acs-group.co.ukACS Group Services