Food Industry Partner - Client Case Study
Design, specify and install new refrigeration system.
Client:
Food Industry Partner
Location:
Stoke-on-Trent
Project type:
Design, specify and install new refrigeration system.
Background:
Our client is a family-owned business that was founded in 2012 to meet the needs of small to medium (SME) food, drink and pharmaceutical manufacturers in the UK looking to move, expand and future-proof their production facilities.
Requirements:
Our client was tasked with taking a vacated warehouse facility which adjoined their client’s premises, and turning it into a extended medium temperature and low temperature storage facility. Enabling their clients to cater for an expanding business.
Having worked alongside our client on a previous project, they approached Pitkin & Ruddock to work with them, designing, specifying and installing the required refrigeration systems.
Activity:
Working alongside our client, the Pitkin & Ruddock team undertook an initial assessment of the existing client premises and the proposed new facility.
Assessing their client’s existing equipment, processes and expectations, we worked from site dimensions and client-issued drawings, to design the system.
Required loads were calculated based on the client’s working practices, product types and quantities. From this, Pitkin & Ruddock proposed suitable equipment with relevant capacities.
The proposed equipment:
- 265m2 Holding Freezer
- 78m2 Holding Freezer
- 78m2 Milk/Cream fridge
- 291m2 additional Chilled Area
- 88m2 Dispatch Fridge
- 277m2 Picking Area.
Challenges & Solutions:
The main project included the installation of a new mezzanine floor covering the majority of the existing ground floor. This meant that a majority of our installation was carried out following installation of the mezzanine steels and before the installation of the coldroom ceiling panels and walls.
All pipework supports, pipework, evaporator fixings and cabling was installed in a first-fix fashion with very careful planning, setting out and co-ordination with other trades.
Prior to the coldroom panels and walls being installed, all of our pipework services were pressure tested and electrical cabling tested to ensure all was satisfactory before being concealed in
inaccessible locations.
Additional system pipework, cabling and evaporator supports were also installed and tested in readiness for a future expansion already in the planning by the client.
Benefits of the approach:
Concealing our services allowed for a much more hygienic facility, with exposed services minimised. This meant the client’s ongoing cleaning regime was simplified and reduced.
Equipment installed:
- J&E Halls condensing units were selected for all of the new systems.
- Gunther evaporators were also selected, partly to ensure exceptional quality, but also to match equipment already in use and trusted by the customer.
- Each location was controlled by its own bespoke electronic control panel.
- We also installed a Danfoss Prosa system so temperatures could be monitored remotely, 24/7.
