ACR Journal OctNov 2019

VOLUME 5 No6

1989-2019

ISSN 2058-4407

Essential Information for the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry

See pages 2 & 3 for details

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

CO2 AS A REFRIGERANT? ABSOLUTELY!

Learn more at www.bitzer.de

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BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

Sponsored by

16 Peter Street, Manchester, M6

For more information visit: www.acrheatpumpawards.co.uk or NACRHPA.indd 2

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THE MIDLAND MANCHESTER

23rd January

2020 The National ACR & Heat Pump Awards will be returning to the Midland Hotel, Manchester Presentations to winners of each category are made by sponsors and THE face of Soccer Saturday – Je� Stelling!

er, M60 2DS Tel: 0161 236 3333

uk or email Juliet Loiselle on Julietl@warnersgroup.co.uk NACRHPA.indd 3

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E D ITOR /C ON TE N T S

Three decades of telling your stories Of course we’re biased, but there are 1989-2019 a couple of notable milestones worth celebrating just now. This issue marks the 30th anniversary of the ACR Journal, or ACR Today as it was known for the first 20-odd years of its life. On pages 18-19 we take a look at the first magazine, from October 1989, and although many things have changed in the industry, plenty of others have remained the same. One thing that hasn’t changed is our determination to support the air conditioning, refrigeration and heat pump sector in any way that we can. We love telling your stories and will continue to do so, starting with the next issue when we will be asking people to share their memories from the last three decades. If you have a particular recollection from 1989, please get in touch via the contact details below.

Industry favourite The second cause for celebration comes on December 5, when the 10th ACR Trainee of the Year Awards will be staged at The Belfry. This industry favourite has hopefully played its part in encouraging and supporting the next generation of engineers and on pages 44-46 we catch up with some of the early winners. Refrigerants featured heavily in that first issue of ACR Today and remains a dominant topic. We explore some of the forthcoming changes and challenges in the Refrigerant Update included with this issue. The magazine itself also brings news of the UK's first VRF system using R32 from Mitsubishi Electric. Elsewhere, as the debate surrounding cabinet doors rumbles on, we take an in-depth look at shelf-edge technology with Aerofoil Energy, plus the usual mix of industry news and comment. Enjoy the magazine.

Editor

David Todd

T 01778 392094

E david.todd@

warnersgroup.co.uk

FEATURES 20

Air conditioning

First R32 VRF launched

Turning on the style

Focus on innovation

P rogress with partnership

The UK VRF and chiller markets

Refrigeration

dvanced aerodynamics in A retail refrigeration

38 Museum artefacts frozen in time 40

ow do we reduce our H carbon footprint?

42 Hands-on with

compressor training

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Training

elebrating the 10th TOTY lunch C with former winners

47 Investing in the future 48

Equipment

raig Peebles: it’s great to C be back

52 Solving leak detection early

HEAT PUMPS 61 The role of ground source in achieving Net Zero

62 Aquarea marching on 63 Kensa making room to grow 64 Residents feel the benefit

Volume 5 No.6

19/09/2019 10:36

VOLUME 5 No6

CO NTENTS

1989-2019

ISSN 2058-4407

Essential Information for the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry

See pages 2 & 3 for details

REGULARS 06 30

News

Projects, products and people

Mitsubishi Electric Column

The day my daughter came to school

Innovation Zone

Products and launches

51 58 65 66

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

CO2 AS A REFRIGERANT? ABSOLUTELY!

Learn more at www.bitzer.de

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Multi Media Sales Representative Jordan Paylor 01778 395029

Tools Talk

Stay safe with Safe Seal

jordan.paylor@warnersgroup.co.uk

Editorial Design Ady Braddock

Women in ACR

Catherine Murray of Dean & Wood

Changing Faces

Advertising Design Natalie Reynolds

Who’s new and who’s moved

Production

Chilly Chatter

01778 392405

Industry chat and updates

Sue Ward production@warnersgroup.co.uk

Subscriptions Single copy £3.00; Annual UK subscription £35.00 Overseas £65.00

Publishing Editor Juliet Loiselle CompCIPHE/MInstR 01778 391067 julietl@warnersgroup.co.uk

Published by: Warners Group Publications Plc The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincs, PE10 9PH 01778 391000

INDUSTRY FOCUS 16

Fridge Dinner plans revealed

Award for John Emm

30 years of ACR Journal

CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

PRINTED BY WARNERS 01778 395111 acrjournal.uk

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JOINING FORCES TO HELP HOSPICE Distributor TF Solutions joined forces with Fujitsu General Air Conditioning, along with Pump House, Conex Bänninger >B< MaxiPro and other partners, to supply and install a new VRF air conditioning system at The Donna Louise Children’s and Young People's Hospice in Staffordshire. TF Solutions has supported The Donna Louise as its nominated charity over the last 10 years and this project marks the second collaboration with long-term partner Fujitsu to supply and install air conditioning equipment, the first being in 2015. The new system was installed by The Air Conditioning & Ventilation Company and managing director Simon Dunkley said: “It’s such a pleasure to be able to give time and resource to assist with such a worthy cause.” Andy Cherrill, managing director at TF Solutions, said: “Each time we do something to support this fantastic hospice it makes

me extremely proud. As before we have called upon others to support TF in making this installation happen and I can’t thank enough Fujitsu, my team here at TF and the very generous group of customers who gave up their time to help.’’ Ian Carroll, chief operating officer at Fujitsu, said: “Being a not-forprofit organisation, operating costs are always a primary concern for The Donna Louise Children’s Hospice, so the highly efficient Airstage VR-II heat recovery system was ideal. This is much more cost effective than an alternative wet heating system. The added cooling benefits will create a perfect comfort level all year round.” TF Solutions also thanked 316 Building Services Ltd, Active AI, Bailey Air Conditioning, Castle Climate, Climate and Power.

HAMPSHIRE TRADE SHOW PLAN

Hampshire Refrigeration Society is planning to revive its regional trade exhibition in 2020. Businesses to have confirmed or expressed an interest include Pumps2Go/Siccom, Samsung Climate Solutions, ICS Cool Energy, Thermacom, TF Solutions, Petra, Ritchie Tools, LU-VE and Harp. Chairman John Emm said the event was expected be held in September, with two venues in Southampton under consideration. He added: “We used to do them every two years but for one reason or another they just petered out. We are convinced there is a market for them again. Our events are generally very well supported by the industry and we are hoping that will be the case.’’ Anyone who is interested in exhibiting or requires further information should contact john.emm@btinternet.com.

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CO2 technology making waves

GEA will supply its new transcritical CO2 refrigeration technology for the first cruise ships to be built in China. The first of two ships for Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) will be delivered in 2023 and will work for the new Chinese brand, CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping. The agreement between GEA and SWS involves the supply of energy-efficient refrigeration and freezing for all food and beverage refrigeration equipment on the two ships. GEA signed a contract last year with P&O Cruises, part of Carnival Corporation & PLC, the world's largest commercial cruise ship operator, for its transcritical CO2 technology and it has already been installed on board the 2,000-passenger vessel Arcadia.

Volume 5 No.6

19/09/2019 11:58

Ultima R32 • Cooling capacity 30-150kW • EER up to 3.07 • ESEER up to 4.29 • Compact footprint • Best in class noise levels • Integrated hydraulic options • EC fans as standard • Leak detection as standard

Introducing the Azure R32 range from Airedale International.

• High supply water temperature capability; up to 18°C

Azure is a range of air conditioning products, specifically developed for use with next generation R32 refrigerant. It is the result of several years' of research and development and is part of

DeltaChill R32

Airedale's on-going strategy to adapt its product portfolio for use

• Cooling capacity 110-1100kW

with more environmentally friendly refrigerants.

• EER up to 3.8 • ESEER up to 5.17

With both a lower GWP and zero ODP, R32 is a high

• Quiet and Extra Quiet models

performing refrigerant with a lower impact on the

• Integrated hydraulic options

environment than previous alternatives.

• EC fans as standard • Leak detection as standard

For more information visit airedale.com or call 0113 2391000

• FreeCooling and nonFreeCooling model options • Microchannel heat exchangers • High supply water temperature capability; up to 20°C

www.airedale.com

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Helping you to meet today’s environmental goals with our low GWP refrigerants

Speak to us about the new very low GWP A2L Refrigerants

Talk to us about leak detection solutions!

• Helping you meet the F-Gas phase down steps • HFC, HFO and industrial refrigerants • Refrigerant reclamation management service • Technical expertise

0117 980 2520 IDS Refrigeration Limited

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climalife.uk@climalife.dehon.com

www.climalife.co.uk

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Orlando’s WorldSkills excellence Daikin UK apprentice Orlando Rawlings, the Team UK competitor for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning at the 45th WorldSkills competition in Russia, was awarded a Medallion of Excellence in refrigeration. Russia’s Aleksandr Leushin and Korea’s Ju-Hwan Go won joint gold medals at the event in Kazan, with Patrick Brennan of Australia taking the bronze medal.

TRANE ADDS TO XSTREAM CHILLER RANGE

Trane has introduced new models to its XStream range of watercooled screw chillers. The XStream RTHF XSE units offer capacities of 3.0 to 3.6 MW and are said to provide a reliable and efficient alternative for building owners who require higher part load efficiency in comfort cooling applications. RTHF XSE features innovative Variable Vi (Volume index) technology, which increases the part load Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) by 10 percent compared to models with Fixed Vi, reaching up to 10.1 SEER and up to 10.24 Integrated Part Load Value (IPLV). This makes RTHF XSE the most efficient chiller in the Trane XStream portfolio. Erik van Oossanen, portfolio manager at Trane Europe, said: “Trane is the only manufacturer on the market today offering high capacity screw chillers with capacities up to 3.6 MW. With the new RTHF XSE units and their highest part load efficiency level, Trane offers building owners a unique mix of cost, energy and operational efficiency, high capacity and reliability to meet their comfort cooling requirements.”

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Alice Barker and John Barker of Humidity Solutions at the launch of The Parliamentary Review

Humidity Solutions in Parliamentary Review

Humidity control specialist Humidity Solutions has been recognised in the 2019 Parliamentary Review. The Parliamentary Review is a guide to industry best practice, which demonstrates how sector leaders have responded to challenges in the political and economic environment. John Barker, managing director of Humidity Solutions, said: "We are delighted to be involved in the Parliamentary Review and be able to share our expertise and knowledge of the benefits of humidity control in industrial and commercial processes as well as general health and wellbeing.” The best practice article from the review can be viewed at https://www.theparliamentaryreview.co.uk/organisations/ humidity-solutions

Samsung partners with Cars

Samsung has partnered with Cars Refrigeration in a new distribution agreement. Cars, which offers next-day nationwide delivery from its base in Stoke-on Trent, is a supplier of refrigeration components, tools and equipment and will now sell Samsung air conditioning and climate control solutions products. Qamar Khan, key account manager at Samsung Climate Solutions, said: “We approached Cars Refrigeration to become a distributor for us as they have a strong presence and client base in the industry. What’s more, the technical support and expertise Cars Refrigeration provide their customers is exemplary. We are excited to see the partnership grow.” Cars has exclusive UK distribution agreements with Frascold and Koxca for large condensing units and spares, and also offers 10 brands of compressors in its range of more than 4,000 refrigeration components.

Volume 5 No.6

19/09/2019 10:41

VRV IV

+15% more efficient + Certified Reclaimed Refrigerant Allocation

heat recovery More efficient + More sustainable. Tomorrow is here. With 15% higher seasonal efficiency and Certified Reclaimed Refrigerant Allocation, VRV IV+ heat recovery is the most sustainable VRV solution on the market. • Certified that reclaimed refrigerant is allocated 100% to the unit during production, so it has no impact on the F-gas quota, making it the most sustainable VRV ever. • Delivers 15% increased cooling efficiency and 13% increased heating efficiency compared with previous VRV heat recovery models. • Exceeds the 2021 ENER Lot 21 EcoDesign Directive standards. • Completely redesigned compressor, fully optimised to ensure high performance at part loads. • Improved refrigerant distribution delivers smoothest performance yet. • Fully compatible with all Daikin controllers.

Find out more at www.daikin.co.uk/vrv

Together we can be part of the climate solution

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SQUARE DEAL FOR TOSHIBA VRF Toshiba VRF air conditioning is delivering high-efficiency cooling and heating for part of a £50million regeneration scheme in the heart of Leicester. No.1 Great Central Square comprises 35,000 square feet of open-plan office space over five floors, air conditioned by a high performance, heat-pump-based Toshiba SMMS-e system, installed by Ambivent. Ten Toshiba outdoor units supply cooling and heating via 40 indoor cassettes installed across the building, with a heat recovery ventilation system in each wing further boosting efficiency and reducing end user running costs. A 12kW Toshiba split system running on R32 refrigerant installed in the reception area completes the total building system. High level control and monitoring is provided by a Black Pear system.

20 YEARS OF JS AIR CURTAINS JS Air Curtains is celebrating two decades of preventing doorway draughts in the UK. Founded in 1999 as a sister company to JS Humidifiers, the West Sussex-based business is still located at its original head office in Rustington, but has grown from having around 90 units in its catalogue to offering over 450 air curtains. Mike Verney, area sales manager and a founding member of the JS Air Curtains team, said: “Over the last 20 years we’ve seen a dramatic shift in the marketplace from cheap over-door heaters to much more effective air barrier solutions. Furthermore, we’ve worked continuously with designers and architects and have seen a definite trend of consultants wanting more than just plain box shaped units above doorways.” Major milestones include being the founding organisation of the Air Curtains Group at the Federation of Environmental Trade Associations (FETA), helping design solutions for some of the UK’s most prestigious buildings, like the Royal Albert Hall and the V&A Museum, and being acquired by the Condair Group in 2011.

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VOICE CONTROL FROM PANASONIC Panasonic has introduced Voice Control with the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa to its air conditioning portfolio. Homeowners who are used to controlling their lighting and audio with their voice can now also set preferences for their Panasonic air conditioning system to create the desired environment. Once paired with a Panasonic air conditioning unit via the Comfort Cloud app, homeowners can use Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa for simple tasks such as on/off, operating modes, temperature settings and checking operating status. Voice Control is also compatible with Panasonic PACi solutions for the commercial sector. Users can pre-determine working environments to provide the most suitable climate. For example, settings on the Comfort Cloud app such as temperature can be activated by voice command to pre-cool an office before employees arrive. This service can be administered by any worker via Amazon Alexa, or by inviting them to join via the Google Home app.

PWX FOR CROSSRAIL STATION PROJECT PWX fan coils and grilles from TROX UK will be used in the new office development at Farringdon East Crossrail station in central London. The development by Helical, known as Kaleidoscope, will be a six-storey office building of 88,600 sq ft with a restaurant unit on the ground floor. The fan coils were selected by MACE MEP Services to assist the achievement of ambitious sustainability goals, and to provide flexibility for layout of the office spaces. The PWX units feature new inlet attenuators, inlet plenums and discharge attenuators capable of achieving outstanding performance across a wide range of applications. SFPs across the range comply with and exceed Part L requirements, with typical values between 0.15 to 0.25 W/(l/s) at 30 Pa ESP. The range is said to be able to speed up the specification of projects, streamline installation and commissioning, and provide environmental and cost benefits whilst reducing levels of risk.

Volume 5 No.6

19/09/2019 10:48

Ask

about growing your business Tomorrow’s HVAC industry will look very different from today, so you need the confidence, knowledge, and skills to adapt to the challenges ahead. With an extensive range of advanced HVAC solutions that can help you expand into new markets, ask us about the tools and support we offer our partners. Find out more about Mitsubishi Electric’s Partner Programme at: solutions-me.co.uk/business

COOLING | HEATING | VENTILATION | CONTROLS

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LG's Neil Hopkinson and Ian Smith from Plumbase Renewables

PLUMBASE STOCKS LG HEAT PUMPS Plumbase has become the first major merchant group to stock LG’s range of air to water heat pumps. The Therma V line-up of R32 Monobloc, splits and high temperature splits will be available at the 150 Plumbase branches available across the UK. LG believes the new partnership will see it well placed to take advantage of the predicted surge in interest in renewable heating, following the recent announcement that heating based on fossil fuels will not be allowed in new-build developments after 2025

THE LRS NEEDS YOU!

The London Refrigeration Society is looking to increase membership and safeguard the future of the organisation through its upcoming programme of events. Meetings are held on the second Thursday of the month, September through to April (7.30-9.30pm) at the Greenwich Tavern, 1 King William Walk, Greenwich, SE10 9JH. Anyone interested can attend free of charge or become a member for an annual fee of £15, and receive monthly emailed reports on the previous month’s discussions. For more information, contact honorary treasurer Ron Filer (lrsociety@yahoo. co.uk, 020 8989 7815) or Brendan

O’Reilly (brendan@blygolduk.com), (01895 259346 / 07876 654319).

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News.indd 12

as part of Government moves to cut carbon emissions. LG’s Neil Hopkinson said: "As the pressure on fossil fuels increases, it’s inevitable that we’ll see increased take up of heat pumps in the years ahead. They represent an established and highly successful option for people in the UK climate. Now is the right time for air source heat pumps and Plumbase has taken a sensible step to ensure they will be at the forefront of air source heat pump distribution here in the UK.

TEMPORARY COOLING FOR SUPERMARKET Carrier Rental Systems has completed a chiller hire project which enabled a leading supermarket to extend its regional distribution centre in the north of England. The contract, via Leeds-based refrigeration contractor A1 Engineering Solutions, involved the supply and commissioning of five high performance CRS160 chillers and 11 low temperature fan coil evaporator units, connected by two km of temporary chilled water pipework. The six-week contract provided temporary cooling while existing onsite refrigeration systems were decommissioned and relocated to a new plant room, as part of the cold store extension. The chillers and rackmounted evaporators maintained a target temperature of between 2 and 4 degrees C in the centre’s loading bay and adjoining food produce cold stores.

TURBOCHILL ON ETL Air conditioning manufacturer Airedale International's TurboChill spray evaporator range of chillers, with R1234ze refrigerant, has been included on the Energy Technology List (ETL). The ETL (or Energy Technology Product List, ETPL) is a government-managed list of energy-efficient plant and machinery. The TurboChill spray evaporator incorporates the latest centrifugal TurboCor compressor technology, which offers 30-100% variable speed control for tighter setpoint management and substantial energy savings at part load. The implementation of spray flooded type evaporator technology means that the range reduces refrigerant evaporator charge by up to 70% and overall unit charge by up to 50%, whilst maintaining a level of efficiency close to a traditionally flooded system of the same capacity. Adam Yarrington, product development director at Airedale International, said: “We are delighted that the TurboChill Spray Evaporator range increases our portfolio of chillers available on the ETL. It is a significant achievement for manufacturers to achieve such levels of energy efficiency and we will continue to focus our efforts on developing energy efficient products.’’ • Responsibility, research and reinvention, page 24

Volume 5 No.6

19/09/2019 10:42

A C C U R AT E T E M P E R AT U R E C O N T R O L

www.lg.com/uk/business

Central Controllers

ACS IO Module

Power Distribution Indicator

Remote Controllers

LG Electronics are experts in HVAC control systems, for hotel, retail, medical, education, offices and residential applications.

ULTIMATE COMFORT | ULTIMATE ACCURACY Energy saving functions of a controller can make a significant difference to the overall running costs of a HVAC system. The energy navigation function on the LG AC Smart 5 central control with built in BACnet gateway enables the user to set target values for energy consumption over a certain period of time. To achieve that value, the administrator can set the energy saving logic in 7 steps and predict the expected usage relative to the target value. Active self-management enables energy savings throughout the building.

Control from anywhere

OUR AUTHORISED DISTRIBUTORS AND SUPPLIERS IN THE UK

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Planned pack rotation service

A planned rotation service has been launched to help contractors avoid the risk of uneven wear and potential burn-out on multicompressor packs. Green Point, the compressor remanufacturing and service support arm of BITZER, says the problem occurs on packs with relatively simple control systems whose default run sequence results in extended running hours for certain compressors, while other units remain underused or even idle for extended periods. It is also said to be an issue where secondary compressors are repeatedly brought into service for short periods to support the primary compressor when additional capacity is required. Such onoff off cycling over time causes stress to motors, which can result in overheating and, in extreme cases, complete burn-out. For more information, contact sales@greenpointuk.co.uk

COMPLYING WITH ECODESIGN

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is working to help stakeholders and manufacturers understand their requirements to comply with the Ecodesign regulations for refrigerated storage cabinets, blast cabinets, condensing units and process chillers. Part of the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, the OPSS is the market surveillance authority for the enforcement of Ecodesign regulations for these products. The combined effect of this regulation and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/1094 is expected to result in annual electricity savings of 6.3 TWh by 2020 and 15.6 TWh by 2030 in the EU. Failure to comply with the regulations can result in prosecutions or civil sanctions. For further information email OPSS. enquiries@beis.gov.uk or call 0121 345 1200.

October | November 2019

News.indd 14

Two in running for IOR presidency Head of REFCOM Graeme Fox and Mike Creamer of Business Edge are the candidates to become the next president of the Institute of Refrigeration. Prior to taking up his current role, Graeme Fox, above, spent 25 years as an air conditioning and refrigeration contractor. For more than 15 years he represented BESA at AREA – the European RAC contractors’ association - including 4 years as president. He is currently acting as the EU partner developing global minimum competency criteria for RACHP technicians in Article 5 countries on a UNEP project titled the Refrigerant Drivers’ Licence. He was elected to the IOR board last year. Mike Creamer, above right, founded Hampshire-based consultancy, training and certification company Business Edge

and has overseen thousands of engineers being trained and certified. He is heavily involved in design and R&D and still spends time in the field, working on water chillers, refrigeration systems, process cooling, sea-going equipment and large cooling systems in nuclear power stations. Three nominations have been received for the two board vacancies: Lisa-Jayne Cook, sales applications engineer at J&E Hall, Juliet Loiselle, publisher of the ACR Journal, and Damian Wiszniewski, business development manager at Samsung Climate Solutions. Voting for all positions opens on October 1 and closes on October 30, with the results announced at the IOR annual meeting on November 6. https://ior.org.uk

BACHARACH OPENS NEW DUBLIN OFFICE Gas instrumentation specialist Bacharach has opened a new office and training centre in Dublin which it says will support continued expansion and growth across Europe. The new site at Santry Business Park, close to Dublin Airport, is designed to expand customer support and product supply and service capabilities to European customers and channel partners. Barry Phillips, VP global sales, said: “This office demonstrates Bacharach’s European and global commitment and will support our continued growth in the region. We look forward to incorporating expanded product training with our industry-leading service and support team performance to exceed our customer’s expectations and support our channel partner’s growth in our focus HVAC and refrigeration markets.”

Volume 5 No.6

17/09/2019 16:42

Ask

about the UK’s first VRF system Available in both heat recovery and heat pump variants, the new R32 YNW system offers the complete design flexibility, high-efficiency and low noise that is only available from the City Multi range. The ongoing implications of the F-Gas phase down mean that businesses are under pressure to reduce their global warming impact as never before. The addition of this R32 VRF solution delivers the UK’s only complete range of R32 air conditioning so that one single refrigerant can now be used across a complete building or an entire estate. Find out more about the UK’s first R32 VRF system at: solutions-me.co.uk/RACRJ R32 has a global warming potential (GWP) of 675, compared with R410A, which has a GWP of 2,088.

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COOLING | HEATING | VENTILATION | CONTROLS

11/09/2019 19/09/2019 14:31 10:45

I N D U S TRY F OC U S

Fridge Dinner bookings open The Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) has opened bookings for its 120th Annual Dinner - the original Fridge Dinner – which will take place on February 27 at the Leonardo Royal Hotel, St Paul’s London. The IOR says that feedback from this year’s event was that the food, networking and focus on celebrating industry achievements were really welcomed by those who attended, making this the number one event to take guests, staff and clients along to. Many of the companies taking tables at the dinner and sponsoring have been attending for over 10 years to celebrate the industry’s achievements, support the IOR, make new contacts and catch up with clients, colleagues and old friends. Last year, IOR president Kevin Glass launched a Young Engineers Network and a Fantastic Fridges website for schools at the dinner. This year the IOR will give an update on the Cool For School video competition results and its plans for the next World Refrigeration Day. The date of this year’s event is slightly later in the month, avoiding the busy half term holiday week, but the venue will remain the same. Lisa Waters, events manager at the IOR, said: “We are looking forward to our ninth consecutive year at this hotel, it consistently gets good reviews for the meal and great location in central London. The name has changed

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IOR president Kevin Glass at this year’s dinner

from The Grange to the Leonardo Royal but we will still be getting the same great package and service, with no ticket price increase this year. So this event, which includes a drinks reception, wine, food and speeches, represents good value for the ticket price, and some of the proceeds go to the President’s Fund to support IOR education initiatives.’’ The IOR recognises some of the unique achievements of individuals in our sector, with presentations made on the night to people at various stages in their careers from students to lifetime achievement – including cash prizes of up to £5,000. The J&E Hall International Gold Medal for practical contribution to the development of RACHP is an internationally respected award which recognises the most noteworthy practical contribution to the science of refrigeration. The Service Engineers Lifetime Achievement Awards an individual's commitment to a lifelong career in service, maintenance or

installation engineering. Voted for by the IOR membership, the Kenneth Lightfoot Medal rewards the individual or team who has presented the best paper to the IOR during the year. The Ted Perry Award for Student Research is designed to encourage and promote research by students related to refrigeration and air conditioning and highlight future leading researchers. Nominations for these awards are now open and further information and forms is available at www.ior.org.uk/about/ IOR awards. Tickets for the dinner start at £176 and include welcome drinks, a three-course meal with wine, guest speaker. For further information on the event and bookings see www.ior.org.uk/ annualdinner For more details on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Lisa Waters at ior@ior.org.uk.

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° Bullet

John Emm with World Refrigeration Day founder Steve Gill, right, and IOR president Kevin Glass

WRD honour for John Emm New award presented to industry stalwart for contribution to RACHP.

John Emm’s 55-year career in the industry was recognised when he was named as the first winner of the Hampshire Refrigeration Society-World Refrigeration Day Award. The award was launched this year by the HRS and aims to recognise individuals who have shown exceptional skills, support or vision and furthered the advancement and recognition of the RACHP industry. It will be presented annually to coincide with World Refrigeration Day and founder Steve Gill was on hand to present the inaugural award, which followed nominations via publicity in the trade press and other HRS channels. John Emm began his working life at 16 with a 5-year refrigeration engineering apprenticeship at Carter and Finmore, a York and Kelvinator installer in Southampton. He later worked for J&E Hall (Hall Thermotank) and became the company’s youngest senior engineer, before joining Dean & Wood as southern area sales engineer and later Southampton branch manager.

Product consultant Nine years later he was recruited as general manager/CEO by Refrigeration House in Saudi Arabia before moving back to the UK and joining Dawmec, the Copeland distributer for the UK, as regional sales manager and became managing director. A decade later he set up Enetech Products, manufacturing bespoke refrigeration packs for the retail sector. In 2009 John suffered a major stroke which paralysed the lefthand side of his body. With the help of a brilliant rehabilitation team he fought his way back and worked as a product consultant, carrying out projects with companies such as Advanced Engineering, Kriwan in Germany, Rivacold in Italy and Siccom in France. Siccom offered him the distributorship of their complete product portfolio, which is how his Pumps2Go business was formed. John has also been very active in the IOR and during the 1980s reformed the HRS.

Our strength is our fast response Quality engineering products for NH3, CO2 and other refrigerants from leading European manufacturers • Open Refrigerant Pumps • Hermetic Pumps NH3/CO2 • Pressure Vessels • Surge Drums • Liquid Receivers • Economisers • Oil Recovery Systems • Chilled Water/Brine Chillers • Ammonia Spray Chillers • High Pressure Floats • Stop Valves NH3/CO2 • Ball Valves

• Electronic and Pneumatic Control Valves • Liquid Level Transducers • Flap Indicators • Oil Separators • Circular Welded Plate • Heat Exchangers • Shell & Tube Condensers • DX Chillers • Brazed Plate • Heat Exchangers • Capillary Hose • Leak Detection Equipment

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A N N IV E R S A RY

Three decades of telling your stories

1989-2019

October 1989 saw the arrival of a new publication covering the world of air conditioning and refrigeration... This issue marks the 30th anniversary of the ACR Journal (formerly ACR Today). We are proud to be have supported the air conditioning, refrigeration and heat pump industries for the past three decades and look forward to telling your stories for many years to come. For now, though, we’ll take a trip back through the archives for a glimpse of what life was like when Issue 1, Volume 1 of the new trade magazine rolled off the press. Launched as an independent publication, with Keith Sutton as editor, ACR Today styled itself as the news magazine of the industry and also aimed to help business improve their efficiency through advice and technical articles. Among the advertisers were Airedale, talking about its new range of split systems, Toshiba, Refco and Thermofrost Cryo. Carrier was promoting FloTronic chillers and a newly-launched commercial

refrigeration arm, while Trane, Trox, Hubbard, Mitsubishi Electric and Munters were also represented. There was a fullpage distributor ad for Daikin’s VRV air conditioning and Fujitsu announced the addition of two remote-controlled units to its existing wall-mounted range.

Refrigerant concerns Although much has changed in the years since, a brief look through that first publication reveals a good number of familiar names still around today. Others have disappeared, of course, while some have become part of other organisations. But that is the way of the business world and the news pages of the time were liberally sprinkled with reports of mergers and acquisitions, much as they are now. Also very much in the news, to the surprise of no one, was refrigerant. The Refrigeration Industry Board (later to

become ACRIB) expressed its concerns at the lack of ozone-friendly low-temperature refrigerants for commercial refrigeration. Chairman James Little said: “We must make every effort to maintain food chain refrigeration services at economic levels, while safeguarding the ozone layer. The only way that we can achieve this is to continue the industry’s excellent progress in changing to the highly efficient and less harmful refrigerants (eg R22 and R502. Ill-advised proposals to restrict the use of refrigerants R22 and R502 come at a time when, not only is there no suitable alternative, but also when increasingly difficult temperature requirements are being imposed on the food chain.’’ Fast-forward two decades and the November 2009 issue of ACR Today, which celebrated 20 years of publication, carried a full-page advertisement from IDS Climalife warning that, from the end of the year, the use of virgin HCFC was banned by law and reclaimed R22 was likely to be in short supply. Although the focus has switched from ozonedepletion to global warming, the messages are little different to those of today, with only the numbers changing.

Supporting industry Elsewhere was a warning from CRAG, the Copeland Refrigeration Advice Group, about the problems associated with using inadequately cleaned and reprocessed refrigerant. Jane Gartshore, a future president of the IOR and now a director at training provider Cool Concerns, said: “There can be

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ANNIVERSARY

THAT WAS THEN… How many names do you recognise

no doubt about the quality of refrigerant reclaimed by chemical manufacturers, but locally reclaimed refrigerant may not be of the same high standard. For environmental reasons we fully endorse the use of reclaimed refrigerants – but the reclaim process must be adequate.’’ Among the other topics highlighted in those early months was the need to attract more young people into the industry, along with calls to increase levels of training an expertise. So although the ACR landscape may have changed on some levels, other fundamental challenges remain. Perhaps as a reflection of how some sectors have been re-shaped, no less

from the list of advertisers from the

than six pages were devoted to refrigerated cabinets. There was also a comprehensive preview of the upcoming H&V Show, with almost 500 exhibitors confirmed for the Grand Hall at Olympia. In the classifieds, meanwhile, salaries for service engineers ranged from £13,500 to £20,000+, while a position as UK sales director was pitched at £35,000. Chilly Chatter and Changing Faces were in that first issue of ACR Today and remain part of the ACR Journal. Another thing that hasn’t changed is our commitment to supporting this industry, and we still want as many of you as possible to get in touch and let us know about what is happening in your business. The current ACR Journal team would like thank all the readers, advertisers and former colleagues who have supported the magazine since 1989. Here’s to the next 30 years.

first issue: • Air Conditioning Products • Airedale International • Airplan • APV Baker • BRD (Air Con) • Carrier Commercial Refrigeration • Carrier Distribution • Churchill Environmental • Climacool • Climate Equipment • Coggins Welch • Coolplan • Cooling Services • Compressor Rebuild Services • Dawmec • Drakes Refrigeration • EDC • F&R Cooling • Frimatec (UK) • Haydon Air Distribution • Heating & Cooling Coils • Hushon • HRP Sales • Ice Cool Services • Indoor Climate Control • Instant Cooling • Keeprite (UK) • Le Unite Hermetique

YOUR MEMORIES…

• Meridian Sales & service

Do you have any memories of what was happening in the industry in 1989? Or have there been significant events or developments in the intervening years that have left a lasting impression. We would love to hear your stories and share them in the next issue, so please get in touch.

• Metrico • Norpequip • NRS • Refrigerant Reclaim • Smiths Refrigeration • Steefane

T: 01778 392094

• SWM Air Conditioning

E: david.todd@warnersgroup.co.uk

• Refco • Refrigeration Services (Colchester) • Thermofrost Cryo • Toshiba (UK) • Trane (UK) • Trimco Coolair • VES Andover • Virginia Refrigeration • W F Refrigeration CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

• Willison • York International

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R32 breakthrough for VRF

Mitsubishi Electric claims UK first in sizes from 22-34kW.

R32 City Multi VRF heat recovery and heat pump variants

Mitsubishi Electric has unveiled the UK’s first R32 VRF air conditioning systems. The R32 City Multi YNW range is available in both heat recovery and heat pump guise. The manufacturer says that, for the first time in the UK, this will allow customers to use a single lower GWP refrigerant across an entire building or network. The new systems, described by deputy divisional manager John Kellett at the London launch as “the next generation of VRF’’ will join the R32 hybrid option introduced last year. Mitsubishi Electric will continue to offer its existing VRF products, using R410A, but points out that the R32 units are cheaper in both heat pump and heat recovery modes. The units are available in sizes from 2234kW as Mitsubishi Electric aims to drive the range towards applications including open-plan office spaces and large retail areas. Manufactured in Japan, they can be specified from October and will be shipped from January 2020. Mark Grayston, head of Mitsubishi Electric's product marketing department, said: “Under the growing pressure of the F-Gas phase down regulations, the market is demanding viable and positive solutions which are future proof for businesses and last the full lifecycle of the product.’’ At a customer conference to unveil the new products, partners were asked what the key factors in the adoption of R32 VRF were and the top three responses were: 1) cost; 2) proven VRF concept; and 3) end user CSR.

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“Customers need products that meet both current and future legislation and with the launch of the UK’s first R32 VRF systems, we are delighted to be able to offer the market a complete range of lower GWP solutions,’’ added Grayston. Mitsubishi Electric also announced a warranty extension for its top partners and will now offer 10-year warranties on all air conditioning equipment installed by it Diamond Quality Partners (DPQs).

Complete choice Grayston said: “With R32 comes an increased need for quality in both application and installation. Our DPQs are proven to meet the highest standards of installation, including subjecting themselves to an annual independent audit

Mark Grayston of Mitsubishi Electric

of their work, so we wanted to support their equipment with this extended warranty.’’ R32 has become increasingly popular in split systems, offering a lower GWP (675) than R410A (2088). Whilst the manufacturer's Hybrid VRF has provided a R32 solution for larger systems, no standard VRF range using R32 has been available until now. Utilising the City Multi YNW outdoor unit, with a number of new components including the compressor, Mitsubishi Electric says its breakthrough R32 solution offers design flexibility, high efficiency and low noise. R32 makes up 50% of the existing R410A refrigerant already found in many VRF systems, is energy efficient and easy to recycle. A GWP of one third of R410A, plus reduced overall system refrigerant volumes, means lower refrigerant total and lower global warming impact. With a range of ducted and 4-way blow ceiling cassette indoor units available, the manufacturer says that the new systems provide flexibility of installation for R32 VRF in many applications. They are also said to work with a range of advanced controllers to ensure effective and efficient operation. Grayston added: “This new range enables us to offer a complete choice for any building and any customer. Whether CSR is high on the agenda for customers, or whether lifecycle cost or capital cost are more important, there is now a complete R32 choice available from Mitsubishi Electric.”

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Turning on the style 360 Cassette proves to be the perfect fit for fashion store. High end London fashion retailer End Soho has been refurbished with a new heating and cooling system from Samsung. Air conditioning supplier Cool-Tec Services designed and installed the system after being asked to deliver a solution which provide a comfortable air temperature and also work well within the existing interior design. The Samsung 360 Cassette was selected by Cool-Tec after they saw it at the Mostra HVAC trade show. The Samsung 360 Cassette has the ability to change the direction of the air flow and can also distribute air to different sections of a room, eliminating dead zones. This gives an even air conditioning solution across 360 degrees, delivering comfort to all the customers visiting the store.

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The Samsung 360 Cassette is available in white and black. Cool-Tec chose the white unit, to fit with the existing interior at End Soho, making it the perfect fit for this project.

Obvious choice Lee Bryant, project manager at Cool-Tec, said: “We decided to install the Samsung 360 Cassette as this sleek and stylish unit fits into the overall interior and isn’t obtrusive for customers with its unique circular profile. “What’s more, the 360 Cassette offers directional air flow and low operating noise which outperforms other cassettes available in the market today, so Samsung was the obvious choice for us working on this project. The product was also

incredibly easy to install, and provides efficient heating for the clothing shop.’’ Andrew Faulkner, commercial manager at Samsung Climate Solutions, said: “It’s great to see that our Samsung 360 Cassette unit continues to be the first choice for a variety of heating and cooling projects. “At Samsung, we pride ourselves on creating the best quality systems, that are quick and easy to install and we are continuing to update our product portfolio in 2019 to offer the best products for our customers.”

For further information on Samsung’s product line-up, visit: www.samsung.com/climate

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Compressors Screws | Scrolls | Reciprocating and more...

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Responsibility, research and reinvention

Following the launch of the Azure R32 product range, Tony Cole, managing director of Airedale International Air Conditioning, explains the journey to more environmentally-aware cooling equipment and why it doesn’t end with the company’s latest innovations. Influence and responsibility Air conditioning as an industry rightfully comes under pressure due to the refrigerant gases we use in our products. The unique properties of these gases mean they can absorb and reject heat easily and therefore be used to provide thermal management solutions, not just for people, but for equipment that help the world function. There are life-saving and gamechanging technologies in our day-to-day lives that rely on refrigeration and air conditioning which come together to allow us to live longer and more comfortably than ever before. Air conditioning is an important industry to society but, as ever, with influence comes responsibility. It is well documented that the air conditioning and refrigeration industry has a part to play in global warming through its use of F-Gases and electricity consumption; yet air conditioning is considered a societal necessity because it does save lives and help grow economies. The conclusion of one recent report stated that whilst cooling is important, it should not come at the expense of the planet. It appears to come back to balance – a conclusion we reached a long time ago. At Airedale we take our environmental responsibilities seriously. For several years we have focused a large proportion our R&D resource on moving towards suitable replacements for refrigerants gases such as R410A and R134a. This development work started before the current F-gas regulations were introduced and started forcing the wider industry’s hand. This has helped create a level playing field in some respects but also helps us, as a proactive business, stay one step ahead. In 2014 we were one of the first companies to release a chiller with a R134a replacement (the TurboChill range with R1234ze) and now in 2019 we have launched our R410A replacement products under the Azure name. Products in the Azure range

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Tony Cole, managing director of Airedale International Air Conditioning

will use R32 refrigerant and we have also launched R32 versions of our Ultima and DeltaChill chillers, with plans for additional R32 products in the pipeline.

Developing Azure

having been optimised for use with R410A, wouldn’t work with R32 as a simple dropin replacement. Initially, we did start the R&D process by placing R32 in an R410A chiller to gauge what development work would be required. A number of issues were identified (such as compressor oil return) and we quickly learned that, due to differences in density, there was a lot of design work required to iron out these issues and optimise our products for R32. Work began to redesign all relevant components and our engineers spent a couple of years testing the refrigerant in various prototype units under extreme circumstances to fully understand how performance was affected. We had to work extensively to ensure that not only our own parts and systems were optimised to work with the new refrigerant, but also our key bought-in components such as compressors were too to ensure they performed well within our overall solution. The Azure range has been two years in the making and the result gives our customers a choice of products for many applications and includes the highest capacity, the most efficient, the most

R32 has been widely cited as an effective replacement for R410A due to it having similar properties, but the decision to develop a product range using R32 wasn’t a simple one. As a market leader we had to commit our R&D resource to undertake extensive research and vigorous testing of all refrigerant options to be sure we are delivering the best possible solution to our customers. Furthermore, our existing products,

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The R&D team at Airedale is working on the next generation of innovations

compact and the quietest R32 chillers available anywhere in the world which we’re proud to manufacture here in the UK.

Good things come to those who wait Of course development work of this magnitude does take some time but we weren’t afraid to wait, because it has to be right. These products have a lifespan of over 10 years so the investment in research and development at the beginning was crucial to allow us to give the Airedale International guarantee of quality and reliability, a reputation for which we have worked hard to build up over the years. The demand for R410A replacement products is out there. Consultants are increasingly specifying chillers with lower GWP from the outset of construction projects. We recently carried out a survey of our existing customers and 70% said that 0 GWP refrigerants were one of the top three priorities in terms of the future of air conditioning, and nearly 50% said F-Gas concerns were a top 3 influencing factor when purchasing air conditioning equipment.

conditioning is certainly going to play a larger part in our everyday lives…but it must not be at the cost of the planet. As with all things both in the natural and business environment, the key to survival is having the ability to adapt to your surroundings. At Airedale International, much of our success is built on the fact that we do more than just survive – we thrive on changes and we meet challenges proactively and head on. It is our belief that all HVAC manufacturers should be committed to limiting the environmental impact of their products by reducing their energy consumption and impact on global warming.

One thing for certain is that we won’t be standing still with either the Azure R32 range or other opportunities in refrigerants. This year we are spending around £1.4m on R&D which is a signal of our commitment and our state-of-art laboratories in our headquarters in Leeds are full of talented engineers working on the next generation of Airedale innovations. We have a timeline of innovation in our lab showing the products we have launched over the years which takes up most of the wall, but there is always room for more! For more information about Airedale International Air Conditioning and its range of Azure R32 products, visit www.airedale.com

What’s next? As in many industries, things are changing at pace in the HVAC world. Our R&D ethos allows us to react to economic, legislative, political and technological shifts but the future is becoming increasingly difficult to predict. Global megatrends such as urbanisation, digitisation and decarbonisation tell us that air

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The Ultima (facing page) and DeltaChill from the Azure R32 range

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Progress from partnership

ACR Journal travelled to Venice to learn more about the benefits of the partnership between Fujitsu General and GI Holding (GIH) Group. We were given the opportunity to visit the new GIH headquarters in Latisana, Northern Italy. The facility boasts a 1,500m2 showroom and training facility, plus a manufacturing plant for small and medium sized chillers. Emiliano Pellis, export area manager, gave a detailed presentation on the history of GIH and what the collaboration means for both parties. In 2017 Fujitsu General Ltd signed a strategic collaboration agreement with HVAC product manufacturer, GI Holding, to develop a range of both residential and commercial air conditioners. This partnership also unlocked the opportunity for Fujitsu General Air Conditioning UK to supply a full range of Clint liquid chillers and Montair close control systems - both Clint and Montair being historical brands from the GIH portfolio. As a result of the agreement, as well as their own dedicated academies, Fujitsu will now be able to use GIH’s training centre, The Cooling Academy, for the technical training of GIH products for UK customers.

Fuelling innovation A tour of the Rivignano Teor plant took us to the recent installation of a climatic chamber. This allows in-house testing of air-cooled chillers up to 1.6MW and water-cooled chillers up to 3.5MW, in a range of ambient temperatures from -20°c to 55°c. Marco Caretto, GIH group sales director, said: “The confidence that the market holds in both our products and

our organisation is key. This climatic chamber provides the ability to test products in-house and to work with external independent certification bodies, such as Eurovent, to confirm results. We strongly believe that investment to fuel innovation is key to the development of our organisation.” GIH offers an extensive range of liquid chillers, heat pumps and multifunctional 4-pipe units, with cooling capacities ranging between 50 kW and 3.8MW and a variety of refrigerant options. Bespoke design is a core strength and has seen GIH offer customised solutions to complex projects, such as the refurbishment of the Taby Centrum, one of Sweden’s largest shopping centres. Boasting 260 stores, restaurants and cafes along with a cinema complex, the aim of this project was to provide a cooling system with the lowest possible environmental impact; reducing the Total Equivalent Warming Impact of the installation. Focusing on long-term environmental impact during design stages has seen GIH develop products designed to use ultra-low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants such as

the HFO – R1234ze, with a GWP of less than 1. This highly efficient refrigerant formed the solution for the Taby Centrum project utilised in five Turbocor compressors with a cooling capacity of 3.2MW. Ian Carroll, chief operating officer, Fujitsu General Air Conditioning UK, said: “The innovation and flexibility that GIH demonstrate makes them an ideal partner, especially when applying our newly available chiller products into the UK market. “They have focused on alternative refrigerant options to assist F-Gas phase down, and in doing so negates future complications with current HFC refrigerants, such as availability and increases in price. “The joint development of the Fujitsu mini chillers will see the combined efforts of Fujitsu’s proven, quality assured inverter and compressor technologies applied with the specialist hydronic knowledge of GIH. The result will be products of the highest quality with cutting edge technologies. A true testament to the substantial expertise and investment available between the two organisations.”

GIH headquarters in Latisana, Northern Italy

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Montair close control units in the showroom at Latisana

Flexible design Projects resulting from the new partnership have already started in the UK, with over 83 close control Montair systems, both water and air-cooled, being installed. Taking advantage of top and bottom air discharge options, BMS connectivity and customisable features, such as rota lock compressor connections, chassis modifications, pressure independent control valves and corrosion prevention heat exchanger coatings. Martyn Ives, technical manager, Fujitsu General Air Conditioning UK, said: “The application of our newly available close control systems has been quite varied. Various air discharge options across both water and air-cooled systems have been specified, with quite a few modifications to standard designs. “We’ve also had the opportunity to use the ultra-low GWP refrigerant R1234ze with liquid chillers, along with remote monitoring. Large projects have been secured by GIH such as the MOSE tidal barrier in Venice by not only producing quality products but also being flexible during design. Offering customisable options across a full range of refrigerant based products in the UK will allow us to meet a variety of specification requirements and appeal to people conscious of environmental impact.” To discover more about the Fujitsu product range, visit https://www.fujitsugeneral.com/uk/ or email sales@fgac. fujitsu-general.com

The main GIH showroom in Latisana

Manufacturing line of small to mid chiller products, Latisana

Manufacturing line of large chiller products, Rivignano Teor

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I N D U S TRY F OC U S

State of the UK market Inna Collet, analyst with Eurovent Market Intelligence, takes a detailed look at UK trends for CRAC, VRF and chillers. CRAC (computer room air conditioners) The UK CRAC market in 2018 reached 33 million euros, equivalent to more than 3,300 units sold. Following very rapid growth in 2017 (around 30%) the UK CRAC market slowed and slightly diminished by 2%. In terms of market structure by cooling capacity range, there were two major trends in 2018: the permanent decrease – since at least 2015 – of the sales of CRAC of capacity 61-100 kW and the sudden increase for units with capacity over 150 kW, where sales almost doubled. The larger capacity systems over 150 kW are usually cooled by chilled water, while direct expansion is more widespread in CRAC of less than 100 kW. Following the trend of increased demand for large CRAC, we can also see changes in the market structure by type of cooling: in 2015-2017 CRAC with direct expansion accounted for more than 60%; in 2018 its share diminished to 52%. This increase in demand for the larger CRAC reflects the current transformation of the data centre market, with consolidation of the market by the hyperscale operators providing the colocation services. The result is seen in the rise of number of large projects and the demand for more powerful cooling machines.

CRAC with chilled water market in UK in 2018 - by capacity range

VRF The situation with the UK VRF market is less positive than in the EU as a whole. In 2018, VRF sales in the UK fell by 3.5% and reached 17,500 units, or 84.4 million euros. The UK was one of only a small number of European countries experiencing a negative, while overall the EU saw an increase of 12%. Units with top flow continue to dominate UK market, constituting over 70% of total sales in 2018. In the indoor segment the situation in the UK was slightly better but still behind the stable European growth. Sales of indoor units in UK in 2018 decreased by around 1.5%, almost 78 million in euros and 111,000 in units sold. As in the EU, the UK indoor VRF market is oriented towards cassette and

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CRAC market by type of cooling in UK in 2018 in units

duct units which together account for 81% of sales (71% in EU28), but with the opposite proportion. In the UK almost half of the sales goes to duct units, while in EU their share is only 30%. Duct and cassette units were the only ones to show growth in 2018 in the UK as sales of all other types of indoor VRF decreased. The most significant fall was in ceiling suspended units, where sales halved.

Chillers (over 50 kW) The chiller market in the UK remained stable at around 117 million euros. At the same

time, the market evolution by capacity range varied: the sales of units 350-700 kW rose by a bit more than 10%, while the sales of units 50-350 kW and the units >700 kW shrank by around 6%. Overall in the UK, larger capacity chillers are more in demand in comparison to the European Union. So, units with capacity 50-350 kW made up two thirds of the market, while in EU28 their share accounted for 77%. Almost 90% of the market in UK is represented by air cooled chillers and they continued to grow by +15% in 2018.

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VRF indoor market in UK in 2018 - by type

CHILLER market in UK and EU28 in 2018 - by capacity range

The remaining 10% are distributed between brine, water cooled and condenserless, which had a negative dynamic in 2018. The standard compressors largely dominate the market both for air cooled and water cooled chillers. However, their share in water cooled chillers in 2018 in the UK decreased by 5% in comparison to 2017, while in air cooled it remained at the same level. Sales of scroll-type standard compressors in air cooled chillers saw an increase of almost 20%, while the screw-type, on the contrary, decreased. That is quite logical, keeping in mind that scroll-type in standard compressors is mainly used for the capacity range below 700 kW with the switch to screw-type for the larger capacities. And as we have mentioned, the positive evolution in 2018 was observed in chillers of medium capacity (350-700 kW). The most widely used refrigerants in the UK, as elsewhere in the EU, are R410A, used in 87% of chiller units sold, and R134a with 11%. The share of new refrigerant blends (like R513a) and HFOs (like R1234ze) is a little higher in UK than the EU in general and reached almost 2%, but still remains very weak.

VRF outdoor market in UK in 2018 - by capacity range

CHILLER market in UK in 2018 - by type of compressor

Mapping the HVAC landscape Eurovent Market Intelligence (EMI) is the European Statistics Office for the HVACR market. Founded in 1994, EMI aims to establish a detailed map of the European, Middle-East and African market thanks to the manufacturers' participation in the data collections. In addition to providing market data to HVACR manufacturers, EMI assists European legislative institutions such as the European Commission in shaping legislation according to key market data. In 2019, EMI counted more than 300 participants in 15 programmes: Adiabatic coolers, Air Curtains, Air Filters, AHU, Chilled beams, Chillers, Cooling towers, Fan coils, Heat exchangers, IT Cooling, Pool dehumidifiers, Residential heat recovery, Rooftops, Split and VRF.

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Manager Yannick Cotrelle, left, with analysts Inna Collet and AnaĂŻs Hamon from the EMI team

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E N V IR ON ME N T F OCUS

The day my daughter came to work

Ben Bartle-Ross explains how Mitsubishi Electric is investing in the future through its Learning Curve programme. I took my daughter to work with me recently. It wasn’t a ‘bring your child to work day’ but an open environmental awareness session that Mitsubishi Electric put on to inform and educate primary-age children into the importance of saving energy and looking after our planet. The Learning Curve is a half-day session designed by my excellent colleagues which looks at renewable energy and recycling, and challenges the children to really think about the energy they and their families use in everyday life. The programme has already reached out to tens of thousands of children right across the country as we now offer it to schools near to our regional offices, as well as our Hatfield headquarters. A partnership with the Wigan Warriors Foundation has also seen The Learning

Curve message reach thousands of children in the North West.

Focus on the future For us as a company, we see two important goals in this programme. First, we are helping the energy consumers of tomorrow understand why they need to think about all the energy and water they consume and highlight just some of the things that they and their families can do to help protect the environment. Secondly, we use simple, fun experiments in the programme, which link to the national curriculum to get their young minds thinking and hopefully, this will have the knock-on effect of getting them interested in engineering in general, and our industry in particular.

The children are challenged on how much energy their games consoles use when on standby, compared to a TV on standby

"Lord knows we could do with some new blood, couldn’t we? And a bit of diversity of the sexes wouldn’t go amiss either" Diversity Lord knows we could do with some new blood, couldn’t we? And a bit of diversity of the sexes wouldn’t go amiss either. As a trainer, I see hundreds of engineers a year and whilst I am noticing slightly more females coming along to the courses, especially on the heat pump side, the profession is still very heavily male-focused. I don’t see as many of the trainees coming straight out of school and choosing HVAC as a profession though. And this is reflected across the engineering sector as well, so what can we all do to make sure we continue to have the numbers of young people entering our profession? It’s not a bad job is it? I for one really loved my time ‘on the tools’ and especially the problem-solving to make things work properly. In terms of career development as LEFT: Plotting the change in temperature when a bowl of ice is left floating in water

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MITSUBISHI ELECTRI C

well, it is fairly easy to transfer from being out in the field to sales, technical support, or management, if that is where you want to end up.

STEM the tide We also take the Learning Curve to various local STEM events (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) to encourage secondary-age children to think of choosing the industry as a career. If we can engage with them at an early age, we can show them the value of what our industry does for society and the great career potential they can develop in our industry. Yes, we could do with more support for apprentices from government and there is also probably more that the industry could and should do to come together to achieve this. In the meantime, though,

we all have to find ways of making sure there is a steady flow of new talent coming along. As for my daughter, well, part of having her in the office for the day meant that she also had to sit quietly through a short technical meeting on hybrid VRF. She was very well behaved, bless herâ&#x20AC;Ś and she could probably now fit a hybrid branch controller box to a system with the correct pipe sizes!

TOP: The children are given a simple explanation of how a heat pump works ABOVE: Using a PV panel, the children build a circuit to power a light and fan BELOW: The children measure how much water is wasted when the tap is left on while brushing your teeth

Learn more about the Learning Curve programme at https://www.the-learningcurve.org.uk/home

Ben Bartle-Ross is a trainer in air conditioning and heat pump systems at Mitsubishi Electric. This and other articles of relevance to the sector can be found at: http://thehub.mitsubishielectric.co.uk, which also acts as a useful sales tool for installers. CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

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Think twice before breaking the specification

The second part of our occasional series sees a leading industry figure exploring the frustration of specifying a project, only to see it end up elsewhere. Tendering for contracts can have its successes, failures and disappointments. Successful projects will largely consist of a site visit, design, client meeting, follow-up call and discussion with regards to energy consumption or features of the proposed system. What we would all like to then follow is successful receipt of the order, a good installation and commissioning process, followed by a professional hand over. My experience is that a successful project is most satisfying when it includes most of these experiences, regardless of value. A small project won based on your advice, industry knowledge, understanding of the client’s expectations and the selling of the benefits of the solution you offered versus the competition is more satisfying than a project just landing in your lap. A project landing in your lap is a good thing but it can never be more satisfying than winning an order on the back of a hardearned sale. Conversely, the opposite of this success is the frustration experienced when you have conducted all the hard work, including the design and the advice, yet the client then decides to hand the project to a competitor. In this scenario, the client receives your design and advice free of charge as you provided this on a trust basis, and your competitor has then had the opportunity to make money from a project that has landed in their lap. They can reduce their costs as they haven’t paid for the initial work on the project. It’s great when one of these falls in your lap, of course, but so frustrating when it is the other way around. For many readers, the reality will be that there are more instances of losing projects that you have designed as opposed to winning others

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you have had little involvement in. Lowest price wins. The very worst case of this type is not just when you effectively lose your intellectual property (the design) but when you have invested a lot of time. This is when you question your own existence in the trade and “why bother when someone else will just come along, use my design and take the work at a knock-down price?” Imagine then the role of the consultant sales engineer representing either the manufacturer or the distributor? Typically, this is a very lengthy process and one than can sometimes take months or years of work. The sales or technical engineer

‘It’s great when one of these projects falls in your lap, of course, but so frustrating when it is the other way around’ will create a quotation for a new enquiry as submitted by a consultant when the project is first imagined. One year later, the consultant may be awarded the project and the consultant sales engineer will then be asked to resubmit a more detailed design based on new and updated information. The depth of information required for a consultant can be significant. This can include selecting equipment based on a best BREEAM design. The selection will typically consider UK conditions, low fan speeds, off-coil temperature control, energy efficiency calculations, airflows, future expansion, heat recovery ventilation selections, specific fan power, all electrical data, schematic layouts, CAD drawings

and much more. Modern designs, due to the increase in the product selection available, may include a chiller and/or commercial air to water heat pump system. All of this information will require detailed specification and many hours of work. It is common then for all this selection and subsequent technical information to change on a regular basis. The consultant doesn’t pay the distributor or manufacturer for this design. The invested hours are essentially a gamble on the hope that when the project goes to tender, all of the hard work will be recognized and the successful contractor will place said order with the company who designed the equipment for the consultant. Some time later, a specification lands on the desk of a contractor. One page will say “air conditioning and ventilation” with a phone number to call. That person is very likely to have put a lot of hard work into that project. It may not be a manufacturer you know or like. You may be under pressure to submit a competitive price. Its simple to pass that quotation to someone else and ask for a comparative price. Some will do this, some won’t. Maybe we should all think twice before we ask another manufacturer or supplier to quote a specification and consider that many hours of work may have gone into the project selection.

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FITTINGS

Press for best practice

At the latest IOR best practice webinar for service engineers, Bill Barlow, OEM business unit director for Conex Bänninger, provided tips on how and where the manufacturer’s >B< MaxiPro press-fit range should be used for pipework joints, as well as the training available. Conex Bänninger has been providing fittings for the ACR market for several decades. In the UK, we introduced our innovative >B< MaxiPro copper press fittings designed specifically for air conditioning and refrigeration applications in 2017. Through this introduction we invited ACR engineers to join what we call ‘the press revolution’ by taking advantage of the benefits press joints have over traditional brazing. The range is a natural development and extension of the press technology that was launched in the late 1990s and has been proven in the general plumbing and heating industry since then. >B< MaxiPro is designed for systems with a maximum operating pressure of up to 48 bar and an operating temperature range between -40°C to 121°C. As with our >B< Press range for water applications, >B< MaxiPro fittings are secured with a three-point press. There is one press each side of the bead and a third compressing the O-ring. On >B< MaxiPro fittings of inch and upwards an additional hook grips the tube to provide higher pressure tolerance. One of its biggest advantages over brazing is that it is a flame-free solution. This means there’s no risk of fire on site and it eliminates the need for a hot works permit, which can be time-consuming both in applying for and then implementing. There’s also no requirement for a nitrogen purge, which

also saves time and cost. In addition, the cost of installation per unit is lower than brazing because it is significantly quicker to complete a press joint. Once initial preparation has been completed, it takes just five seconds to complete the joint using the appropriate press tool and jaws. Service engineers can be confident of a sound, secure, longlasting joint every time. Another benefit of press is that because the time taken to complete each joint is repeatable and therefore predictable, it means contractors can be confident of completing installations on time, which aids productivity and work scheduling. From a practical point of view, it is also easier for the engineer when they are on a job as they don’t have to manhandle gas bottles or cylinders around, which makes site access easier and safer.

System testing For tightness and strength testing, dry oxygen-free nitrogen should be used as this is inert. Do not use oxygen for pressure testing, as under pressure it reacts violently to hydrocarbons (oil and

grease) and could cause a fire. To ensure >B< MaxiPro fittings are tested safely, the pressure should be gradually increased to the desired test pressure as established by the installer. If pipework is to be left pressurised for 24 hours or longer to check for leaks, the system pressure and the ambient temperature should be measured at the start and finish of the tightness test. This is because a rise in ambient temperature can mask a leak if this is not taken in to account. There will be a pressure change of approximately 0.7 bar with a temperature change of 5°C. At Conex Bänninger we’re committed to supporting the installer and helping ensure high quality installation standards. That’s why we have introduced a certified training programme for >B< MaxiPro. Training is free and can be completed within an hour. It is offered on site, in conjunction with merchants and at our new purpose-equipped training centre. There is also an online training module. At the end of the course there’s a questionnaire, which the engineer has to pass. The benefit of this is that if installed by a certified >B< MaxiPro ACR engineer, the one year guarantee on fittings is extended to five years. Terms and conditions apply. For more information on Conex Bänninger’s complete range of fittings and valve solutions, visit www.conexbanninger.com. Full recordings of the best practice webinars are available from the IOR’s webinar channel. CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

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Advanced aerodynamics and retail refrigeration…

Walk into a supermarket or food outlet in any town, city, railway station or airport in the UK, and there is a strong chance you will see an Aerofoil on the front of each shelf in the refrigeration cabinets. We asked Paul McAndrew and the team at Aerofoil Energy to enlighten us. What is the Aerofoil and what is its application in the retail sector? The Aerofoil is an aerodynamically-profiled aluminium blade that attaches to the shelves of open-fronted multi-deck fridges. The Aerofoil incorporates a profiled ticket strip and takes the place of the original price ticket rail. Multi-deck fridges employ a curtain of refrigerated air blown down across the open front of the shelves to help maintain the contents at a consistent target temperature. However, much of this cold ‘air-curtain’ spills out of the front of the cabinet and into the store aisles. Not only is this wasteful from an energy perspective, but it also causes ‘cold-aisle syndrome’ with a consequent negative impact on the customer. In simple terms, deploying Aerofoils on the edge of each shelf in the cabinet draws the cold air-curtain back into the fridge, thereby reducing spill, reducing energy consumption and improving aisle temperatures.

How did you develop the concept of using Aerofoil technology? Before I developed the Aerofoil, I worked for a refrigeration manufacturer and then had my own fridge supply company. So I was acutely aware of the energy-intensive nature of open-fronted cabinets. It occurred to me that the problem was actually an aerodynamic one, whereby a wing shape could be used to steer an airflow in essentially the same way that it is used to create lift. Admittedly, convincing anyone early on even to try this out was a challenge, though fortunately the first prototype delivered a surprisingly good result in laboratory trials. From then on, it was a question of refining the profile to maximise its aerodynamic properties in a multi-deck fridge application. We did this in partnership with Williams Advanced

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Engineering, part of the Williams Formula 1 group, who brought to bear their expertise in aero- and thermodynamic analysis and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modelling. We set up a new company in 2013, Aerofoil Energy, with the support of my co-founder, Dean Frost, and four ‘angel’ investors. Their initial capital, along with subsequent investments, has supported our product development, patent processing, and commercial growth since our formation. As of today, we have sold over one million Aerofoils, which have been installed in over 4,000 stores, in effect covering about 70% of the addressable market in the UK. Most of the top UK grocers have adopted our technology, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, ASDA, M&S and Co-op, as well as other major retail chains such as SSP, WH Smith and Boots.

Why have so many UK grocers adopted the Aerofoil?

inefficiencies in retailers’ refrigerated estates. More specifically, the greatest energy consumption is seen in the compressors, and these are mainly working to support the chilled open multi-deck display cabinets. Other refrigeration cases, such as freezers, chilled counters and cold-rooms also use energy, but the open multi-deck is the chief consumer and tends to be the most common fridge you’ll see in a supermarket or convenience store. The designers of these cabinets are well aware of the need to improve their energy efficiency and devote a large amount of R&D resource into doing so. All the manufacturers have made large investments in test chambers that operate to the recognised design standard EN23953. Given this industry-wide effort, the Aerofoil has provided a timely, cost-effective and rapidly-deployable solution, and this is what has underpinned its success.

According to studies, the food retailing industry in the UK accounts for ca. 3% of the country’s total electrical energy consumption. Of this, refrigeration can account for more than half of the energy costs of running supermarkets and convenience stores. Hence, there is significant scope for energy savings and associated CO2 reductions by tackling

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What specific problems are you addressing with this technology? About 70% of the energy consumed by open-fronted fridges is for generating and maintaining the air-curtain â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this is the cold air stream that is blown down across the front of the cabinet. Other components such as fans, lights, refrigerants, insulation or internal air-flow, account for the balance. Addressing inefficiencies in these components is more expensive and the electro-mechanical technology required typically cannot be retro-fitted to existing cabinets. Instead, therefore, it was more logical to focus on the area with the most potential for efficiency gains, i.e. improving the coherence of the air-curtain. In this regard, there are two phenomena that are responsible for high energy use. Firstly, cold-air spill, where the cold air-curtain escapes from the fridge and is lost into the shopping aisle. Secondly, infiltration, where warm air from outside the cabinet mixes with the cold air in the air-curtain. With the help of CFD modelling, we can be even more specific with the diagnosis. For example, we can see that the spill effect mainly occurs from the front side of the air-curtain, and that this front side is further compromised by the infiltration effect because of its adjacency to warm air external to the cabinet. In contrast, A typical Aerofoil installation, this one for M&S. Below left: How the technology has been adopted

CFD models show the break-down in a typical air-curtain before Aerofoils are fitted. Smoking the cabinet also shows cold air escaping

After Aerofoils are fitted to the shelves, the aircurtain is immediately straightened and more coherent in form, and very little if any cold air escapes from the cabinet.

the rear edge of the air-curtain is only exposed to the inside of the cabinet and, therefore, is relatively immune from spill and infiltration. So not only did we narrow down our focus to the air-curtain, but our analysis enabled us to focus specifically on its outer edge.

the real, working store environment, they are delivering energy savings of 15% to 25% depending on the store configuration and cabinet type.

How does the Aerofoil help to solve these problems? In a perfect world, the air-curtain would maintain a strong linear pattern from its point of origin in the canopy of the cabinet to the base, where it returns via the fan system to the evaporator. However, in reality, while the air-curtain is strong at first, it quickly breaks up and loses its coherence by the time it reaches the base. CFD modelling and smoke tests highlight this issue. The most important feature of the Aerofoil is that it is, in a word, an aerofoil. From an aerodynamic perspective, it is most effective profile possible. As air flows across each side of an aerofoil, it has to travel a greater distance to traverse the curved, outer edge and therefore increases in speed. This results in air pressure differences either side of the aerofoil. When used in a horizontal plane, for example, in an aeronautical application these pressure differences create lift and, conversely, in motorsport they generate down-force. When we apply it in a vertical plane, i.e. on multi-deck shelves and blow air across its surfaces, the Aerofoil instead has the effect of steering the airflow and, by extension, maintaining the coherence of the air-curtain all the way down the front of the fridge. This effect can be seen clearly in CFD models and also with smoke tests. By controlling the air-curtain, preventing cold air spill and warm air ingress, Aerofoils address directly the key inefficiency in open-fronted multi-decks. In

Does the Aerofoil have any other important features? Absolutely, yes. As you move from the perfect world of CFD models, through laboratory trials and eventually into a real-world store environment, the Aerofoil has to do more than just control the aircurtain. For starters, it has to be robust â&#x20AC;&#x201C; busy supermarkets are no friend of the flimsy, weak or wobbly! So we decided very early on to make the Aerofoil from a solid aluminium extrusion. Then there was the question of how to fit it to the shelf edge, and how to do this quickly. Having fitted over a million so far, an extra few seconds saved on each installation adds up to a lot of days, and therefore a lot of cost savings for the retailer. Our bracket designs are essential components to the Aerofoil system and have often been critical to the feasibility of a roll-out. For M&S, we created a snap-fit bracket that reduced installation time to, literally, seconds. Moving on to the actual function of the Aerofoil as a medium for pricing display, we designed the ticket strip and its interface with the Aerofoil in such a way as to make it completely waterproof. Supermarket staff spend a lot of time replacing price labels due to product spillage, condensation and other damage; our ticket strip provides much more protection in this regard.

There is other shelf-edge technology available, so what is unique about the Aerofoil? Only Aerofoil Energy can supply the Aerofoil product, i.e. a front-facing extrusion with a curved outer surface. The key difference between the Aerofoil profile and a

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Aerofoil Effect

flat-profiled extrusion is the Aerofoil’s ability to steer the air-curtain at a zero angle of attack. A flat-profiled extrusion, for example an offset ticket strip, simply cannot do this. If instead you fit the offset ticket strip at an angle to the air-curtain, the flat profile succeeds in bouncing the air stream, which might help with coldair spill, but also creates turbulence, which drags in warm air from outside. In contrast, the Aerofoil can be fitted at a zero or positive angle of attack, and is able to control the air-curtain without creating turbulence. Hence, it works more effectively and delivers greater energy savings. This is what sets it apart from all other shelf-edge technology.

Why don’t retailers fit glass doors to improve energy performance? Of course, the obvious solution to cold-air spill and warm-air ingress is to fit a glass door to the fridge to act as a physical barrier, and many grocers in mainland Europe have done so. Indeed, there is a growing lobby to mandate this for supermarkets in the UK. The media have, for example, cited comments from the public such as “I have a door on my fridge at home, so why not in a supermarket?” The reality is, as ever, more complex. Although glass doors do improve the energy consumption in comparison with a standard, open-fronted cabinet, their application in a busy, heavily-shopped supermarket or convenience store presents very real challenges. Firstly, unlike the fridge door in your kitchen, those in a retail environment are opened much more

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Low pressure

High pressure

Comparing the effect of a flat, offset ticket strip to the Aerofoil at a zero angle of attack.

Comparing the effect of a flat, offset ticket strip to the Aerofoil at a positive angle of attack.

At a positive angle of attack, the flat-profiled product directs the air-stream successfully, but does so whilst creating high levels of drag and turbulence. The Aerofoil, in contrast, directs the air-stream highly efficiently with low drag and no detrimental turbulence.

At a zero angle of attack, the flat-profiled product has no effect on airflow, whereas the Aerofoil creates pressure differentials that cause the air stream to be pulled in towards the cabinet.

frequently, often once or more every minute. Every time it is opened, cold air escapes and warm air intrudes, rendering the cabinet less and less energy efficient. The actual, true extent of energy savings from glass doors is therefore much debated; the reality is that they are not as effective as people might believe. Aside from the question of their energy efficiency, glass doors are an expensive solution, especially so if they are retrofitted to existing cabinets. Moreover, they need regular maintenance and cleaning to ensure that they remain hygienic and don’t get jammed open (you’d be surprised how many suffer this fate). Glass doors also present a barrier to shoppers who are frail, partially-sighted or with disabilities; in the UK, retailers are particularly concerned about the customer journey and want to avoid undue inconvenience in this regard. In contrast, the Aerofoil presents no such

barriers, which is another reason for its widespread adoption.

Are there other benefits for retailers from installing Aerofoil technology? Yes, in addition to the energy savings, retro-fitting Aerofoils delivers other tangible benefits in terms of product temperature improvements and warmer shopping aisles. Retailers require the food on chilled cabinet shelves to be maintained at temperature 3M0 or 3M1, as defined in standard EN23953:2, which in simple terms means that the coldest measuring pack must have a core temperature no lower than -1˚C and the core temperature of the warmest pack should be no higher than +4 ˚C(3M0) or +5˚C (3M1), when the ambient temperature in the test-room is 25˚C and the relative humidity 60%.

Energy and temperature improvements resulting from the application of Aerofoil technology

Temperature range and gradients in a standard open-fronted multi-deck cabinet before Aerofoils are installed.

In addition to reducing energy consumption by nearly 40% (in lab conditions), fitting Aerofoils results in a narrower and lower range of product temperatures.

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Temperature measurements taken in front of a cabinet before and after fitting Aerofoils

In practice, a cabinet normally exhibits a range of product temperatures within these limits. When Aerofoils are fitted, the improved coherence of the air-curtain helps to narrow and lower this temperature range, so that the warmest pack temperature falls, typically by about 2˚C. This gives the retailer two options: either it can benefit from increased product quality and shelf-life by virtue of the lower product temperatures; or it can return product temperatures to their original levels, if acceptable, by adjusting the control setpoint and thereby reducing the energy consumption of the cabinet still further. Preventing cold-air spill has the direct, knock-on effect of increasing the aisle temperature outside the cabinet. In fact, most of the feedback we have received from store staff and shoppers highlights the more comfortable environment rather than commenting on the Aerofoils per se. Browsing time is an important determinant of sales for supermarkets, so this improvement in aisle temperature is likely to be having a beneficial impact on both. As well as retro-fitting Aerofoils to their existing estates, many clients have specified Aerofoils to be installed on new cabinets. This presents a further opportunity for savings, because the cabinets can utilise lower-duty, less expensive compressors. In turn, this requires lower-cost, smaller plant, and the electrical supply into the plant-room and into the store can also be downrated. These savings on reduced plant duty costs can easily outweigh the cost of the Aerofoils themselves, rendering them a cost-negative option on new-build refrigeration; a bit of a no-brainer really. Finally, we as a company are also attuned to our own environmental impact and the sustainability of our own operations. All of our Aerofoils are made

from 100% recycled aluminium, a product which itself requires only 5% of the energy that would otherwise be consumed in producing new metal. This has been an important criterion for the retailers in choosing Aerofoils, as well as the fact that virtually all of our components are fully recyclable in their own right.

You’ve clearly had a huge impact in the UK; what next? It’s true that most of the major UK grocers and convenience chains have already adopted Aerofoil technology. So we are now in advanced trials with the largest retailers worldwide, in particular in North America. What is interesting is the different emphases that these retailers place on the relative benefits of energy vs. product life vs. customer journey, driven by internal considerations such as their own retail model, as well as external factors the most obvious being local energy prices. But we haven’t stopped at just Aerofoils.

In 2017, we assembled a team of highlyskilled practitioners with over 150 years of combined expertise in the refrigeration industry and engineering sector. This team has been working on our Vortex technology programme in conjunction with our technical partner, Williams Advanced Engineering. Our Vortex programme has developed several new technical innovations that complement the Aerofoil product and enhance the energy and thermodynamic performance of multideck cabinets. These include, for example, enhancements throughout a cabinet’s circuit, evaporator and fan system. Our goal is to offer technology, both for retro-fitting and new-build, that renders an openfronted fridge as energy efficient as one with a glass door. We are already testing this with some of our clients and the results are exciting. Watch this space!

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Exhibits frozen in time J & E Hall cooling technology is helping to protect exhibits at the Royal Armouries. A top tourist attraction in the north of England has installed J & E Hall cooling technology to protect museum artefacts from the ravages of infestation. The Royal Armouries in Leeds attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year and its national collection of exhibits, dating from the 14th Century, ranges from suits of armour worn by medieval knights to mechanised weapons from the World Wars. The museum accepts exhibits large and small but many arrive in poor condition. They may be carrying insects which can cause damage and these bugs can infest other artefacts once on show in the

museum. To combat this, new exhibits spend five days in quarantine at low temperatures before being defrosted and made ready for display. A new freezer room has been installed at the Royal Armouries to help with this and playing a key role in the cooling system is a J & E Hall Fusion commercial condensing unit. Stephen Cohen, head of maintenance at the Royal Armouries, explained: “We have a treasure trove of military history on display but dust mites, wood furniture beetles and moth larvae are among the invaders hidden in new exhibits that

can cause us all sorts of problems. Our old cooling system was no longer fit for purpose. We needed a new, larger freezer big enough to store a horse in, as some of our artefacts are on this scale.” Many of the exhibits are old and made of wood, cloth and other degradable materials. They can decay quickly if action is not taken to halt infestation. There is not enough room to store all of them at low temperatures and in the past the museum would have had to use off-site freezer rooms in Leeds. Stephen Cohen added: “Our five-day quarantine process ensures that all the bugs are killed off

"We needed a new, larger freezer big enough to store a horse in, as some of our artefacts are on this scale"

New exhibits spend five days at low temperatures

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REFRIG ERATIO N before an exhibit goes on display in the museum. This new freezer allows us to store larger exhibits and a more extensive range too. It also saves us transport costs and hiring other freezing facilities. It’s a win-win situation.” J & E Hall says its range of Fusion commercial condensing units are the ideal solution for commercial refrigeration installations where noise, size and reliability are paramount. Housed in a cabinet made of electro-galvanised mild steel with anti-corrosion treatment and coated in baked polyester powder paint, the units are able to withstand the most stringent weather testing. The integral IP54 rated control panel provides further protection to all essential electrical components. All units are acoustically lined. Fusion Scroll units house the extremely efficient Copeland scroll compressor and the standard Fusion

range houses a highly-reliable reciprocating compressor fitted with jacket to further reduce noise. All condensing units come complete with components fitted during manufacture to save the installer time and money. Other benefits include hinged doors that provide simple access for service and maintenance. Fusion and Fusion Scroll condensing units are available for medium and low temperature applications.

Technical back-up The cooling system for the new freezer at the Royal Armouries operates in a temperature range of -24°C to -28°C and runs on R448 – a low Global Warming Potential (GWP), energy efficient and nonflammable refrigerant for low and medium temperature operations. The installation was carried out by Blackburn-based ACME Facilities Group,

a company established more than 50 years ago with wide experience of serving the food processing, retail, hotel and catering sectors. ACME Facilities Group worked closely with J & E Hall to size the system and capacity needed for the new freezer room at the museum. Andrew Hegarty of ACME Facilities Group said: “We chose the J & E Hall system for the freezer because we know we receive excellent reliability from the product and superb technical back-up from J & E Hall. It was a rewarding installation to work on as the artefacts stored in the freezer can be very different and very old. Keeping the freezer within the correct temperature range is a key element in ensuring that the artefacts are free from contamination and ready for public viewing. We are delighted that the installation is making a contribution to the visitor experience at the Royal Armouries.”

A J & E Hall Fusion Scroll commercial condensing unit at the Royal Armouries in Leeds

The Royal Armouries building in Leeds

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Change needs to happen

Ed Whinyates of Stonegrove Refrigeration says the industry should be pro-active in moving to natural refrigerants and reducing its carbon footprint.

A great deal has been reported recently about the fight against climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gasses to near zero by 2050. The committee on Climate Change (CCC) says that this can be achieved in the UK and - if other countries follow suit - there is a 50/50 chance of the world staying below the dangerous threshold of a 1.5C temperature rise by 2100. Although there is a fear that any drastic changes could impact on the UK economy, it is argued we can no longer ignore the inevitable – change needs to happen. Refrigeration and air conditioning is necessary for life and will continue to expand worldwide. Its impact on the environment is huge; it is said that the refrigeration sector consumes about 20% of overall electricity used world-wide, with some saying this figure could be as great as 30%. It is only going to rise with a combination of economic growth and urbanisation leading to a great demand for cooling. This must beg the question: can the refrigeration industry

"The cost of energy dominates the lifecycle cost of most refrigeration equipment and, over its life-span, the cost of energy can be around five times the original capital cost. End users can accrue significant financial savings over the lifetime of their equipment by opting for more energy efficient alternatives"

afford to continue without needing to make some changes (drastic or otherwise)? Aside from the enforced refrigerant phase outs, it would be naïve to think that the government will not continue to target the refrigeration sector to reduce its carbon footprint - either with a carrot or a stick (most likely both). Many efforts have already been made with new equipment and technology to help with the carbon footprint reduction, and there are solutions already available. There is not a ‘one size fixes all’ remedy but, with sound thought and application, we can make some changes now and not wait to be forced into panicked action. New refrigeration technologies do not need to be part of the global warming problem – they can be part of the solution (for example, heat pump technology).

The use of natural refrigerants such as ammonia should be prioritised wherever possible

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REFRIG ERATIO N

Educating end users will give them the information to make informed choices

How can we apply what is already available? All refrigeration and AC installations should start with a design. Maybe the first question that should be asked, at the beginning of the design phase, is “how does this impact on the environment?” The obvious starting place would be the use of natural refrigerants - like ammonia, CO2

and propane - instead of HFCs and HFOs. It is accepted that natural refrigerants cannot currently be used as a solution for all refrigeration applications but, where possible, they should be prioritised. HFCs in cooling systems are significant users of energy (electricity) and any leakage of the refrigerants used are significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Natural refrigerants with minimal or zero global warming potential (GWP) will only create reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The use of natural refrigerants in larger industrial refrigeration applications are proven to be more energy efficient. Less energy required to run the plant = lower impact on the environment. If the refrigeration and AC industry were to focus on improving energy efficiency there would be major benefits. Many of the available energy efficiency improvements create positive financial savings for the end user. The cost of energy dominates the lifecycle cost of most refrigeration equipment and, over its life-span, the cost of energy can be around five times the original capital cost. End users can accrue significant financial savings over the lifetime of their equipment by opting by opting for more energy efficient alternatives and avoiding paying for more electricity. Refrigeration and AC equipment efficiency can lead to a lower peak electricity demand. With the continued increase in electricity costs the pay-back on efficient natural refrigerant technology is far quicker,

compared to equipment with higher GWP refrigerants. Efficiency improvement opportunities are greatest during the refrigeration design stage. Designers and end users should approach the required solution with an effort to reduce the cooling load. Good examples of this being the selection of appropriate equipment type and size, with high efficiency cycles and components. There is also the use of appropriate controls to maximise efficiency under all operating conditions. A good installation, followed by operating and maintenance practices, can also support high efficiency operation throughout the life of the equipment. The move to natural refrigerants and energy efficient designs will create barriers that need to be overcome. To a certain extent the industry is at the mercy of the end client, and the capital investment that they are prepared to make. However, by educating end users, they will have the information to make informed choices. By doing this, financial barriers and objection to increased capital expenditure can be overcome – especially when the lower lifecycle cost and greater lifespan of equipment is shown. All energy efficiency improvements provide energy cost savings for the end user. Many efficiency improvements involve some extra capital

cost (for example the use a variable speed motor instead of a fixed speed motor), but this is recovered over a period of time out of the energy savings. As a new high efficiency technology matures it is likely that any capital cost difference between low and high efficiency designs will fall. The whole industry needs to be more pro-active in its move towards more efficient natural refrigerants. “This is how we have always done it” is no longer a good enough excuse.

For information about how Stonegrove Refrigeration Services can help you with your refrigeration requirements, please visit our website www.stonegroverefrigeration.co.uk or contact us on 01279 408690 ed@stonegroverefrigeration.co.uk

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C OMP R E S S OR S

Getting hands-on with training Marcus Levy, BITZER UK business development director and head of training, explores the new joint training programme on key compressor technology topics. Who are the new BITZER / Green Point courses aimed at? Last year the majority of delegates were service and field engineers, and the changes are a response to their feedback. The content had been mainly theoretical and classroombased, and they asked if it was possible to gain more “hands-on” experience in relation to BITZER compressors. Green Point has the experience and capability to provide this. Time available on the course is relatively short and, given the number of delegates, it’s not possible to “hand round the spanner”. However, we can offer a useful insight into the practicalities of compressor strip-down and reassembly by utilising Green Point’s expertise.

however there are a vanishingly small number of cases where the unit committed suicide. In the overwhelming majority of cases, it is murder, either through neglect or bad practice, and sometimes both. During the investigation, we find evidence as part of our component-by-component examination, to deduce the cause of death, and provide the customer with a detailed report on findings. Destroyed motor

What is your most popular course to date? Without doubt, Screw Technology.

Which is the least well subscribed? Any thoughts on why? Our Software Overview is least popular – not because people aren’t interested, but because BITZER software is so user-friendly that few need guidance. If the need arises, a quick call to our technical support desk usually solves specific issues. You have always had a hands-on element in your courses. What will change with the new joint approach? Hands-on has to date only been a small part of the course content. The objective of the change is to split the time 50:50, offering a greater insight into compressor construction and our experience of the kind of problems revealed when Green Point remanufactures a compressor. The new content will build on and develop the time-honoured question – who killed the compressor? Apart from knowledge of hands-on mechanical aspects, what other insights will Green Point bring to the new training courses? How will the company's experience of compressor breakdowns feed into the training? Green Point has a wealth of knowledge, as we know the compressors inside out.

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Copper from motor brazed onto compressor

Remanufacturing involves taking a failed compressor and bringing it back to life, by replacing failed and damaged parts with genuine new components combined with precision remanufacturing techniques. We intend to pass on our insights and passion to delegates, so they can translate the theory and practical demonstrations they learn in training into practice in the field. Is this joint approach used by BITZER in other countries, or is it something you are doing for the first time in the UK? The joint training approach is very much a first globally, so the UK is pioneering in this area. In terms of hands-on competence, which aspects of compressor disassembly and rebuilding require special knowledge, skills or training? Engineers obviously require knowledge and practical competence to undertake regular planned preventive maintenance (PPM) on compressors. However, the work undertaken by Green Point goes beyond this, as compressors are usually dead upon arrival. There are many reasons why it may be necessary to remanufacture a compressor,

Which systems are more challenging to work on – screw or reciprocating compressors? Each has their challenges. Screws may have fewer components but the tolerance for component clearances are more exacting for correct and efficient operation. Recips have more parts, and therefore the complexity of interrelated components is important. Maintaining correct oil regulation is also vital. If it were simple, there would be no need for a global specialist like Green Point. Are any special tools required for use with BITZER compressors, that may not be part of the standardissue tool kit for refrigeration and air conditioning engineers? Tasks that engineers carry out as part of preventative maintenance can all be tackled with standard-issue tools and equipment. However, we don’t expect engineers to be stripping compressors regularly in the field. We undertake a specialist job and, not surprisingly, have some unique tools to save time and complete complex tasks when the need arises. What is the most-frequently-asked question by engineers attending your courses? What time is lunch? Engineers, eh! Control and monitoring software now being used on compressors is increasingly sophisticated. Do you provide training in use of these systems alongside the purely mechanical side? Intelligent control and monitoring is a cornerstone of BITZER compressor integration, and BITZER Electronics is at the

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CO MPRESSO R S

COURSE DATES

Marcus Levy in a practical compressor training session

forefront of this development. With energy costs at the heart of end user discussions, the ability to achieve life-cycle payback primarily through reduced running costs places electronic developments at the top of the list. BITZER’s Intelligent Control (or IQ) modules optimise operation and reduce energy running costs. They also enable engineers to achieve a first-time fix by diagnosing problems swiftly, keeping down the cost of owning and maintaining BITZER compressors. How widespread do you think understanding is about how to use such intelligent systems to diagnose problems, or undertake performance analysis? Not widespread – yet. The technology is relatively new and engineers are only just beginning to appreciate the advantages it provides. BITZER training demonstrates the data capture capability of IQ modules and gives advice on how to harness it, with dedicated support. Importantly, the system captures details of operating conditions leading up to “an event”, which can help engineers pinpoint the cause. With remote connection, this can be taken to the level of being able to arrive on site with the parts necessary for first-time fix, saving time and money and reducing the costs of downtime.

Some air conditioning manufacturers require installers to attend courses in order to qualify for extended warrantees. What are your thoughts on this approach? Do you have any plans to introduce a similar scheme? This could offer an advantage to our wholesaler network in relation to packaged condensing units, and is being considered. However, compressors themselves are integrated into systems made up of components often sourced from many suppliers, to meet a bespoke requirement. In contrast, air conditioning suppliers are able to control and match all the key components in the system, leaving the installer to provide power, pipe work, charge and system commissioning. They therefore have much more control over warranty issues in relation to system manufacturing defects. Compressor warranties are subject to many and various system-related factors, which are inevitably outside our control. Having said that, we do offer extended warranties and IQ modules are helping to achieve this by giving installers confidence that the compressor is internally monitored and regulated to not operate outside of its working envelope. This is another example of the benefits starting to flow from application of intelligent systems.

October • 8: Inverter Capacity Control • 15: Reciprocating Compressor Technology • 22: Screw Compressor Technology • 29: Inverter Capacity Control November • 5: Reciprocating Compressor Technology • 12: Screw Compressor Technology • 19: Inverter Capacity Control • 26: Reciprocating Compressor Technology December • 10: Screw Compressor Technology • 17: BITZER Range Overview January 2020 • 7: Inverter Capacity Control • 14: Reciprocating Compressor Technology • 21: Screw Compressor Technology • 28: Inverter Capacity Control February • 4: Reciprocating Compressor Technology • 11: Screw Compressor Technology • 18: Inverter Capacity Control • 25: Reciprocating Compressor Technology March • 3: Screw Compressor Technology • 10: Inverter Capacity Control • 17: Reciprocating Compressor Technology • 24: BITZER Range Overview In addition to the scheduled courses at Milton Keynes, the company also offers courses at customers' premises and bespoke training tailored to specific needs and interests. For more details, or to book a place on a course, please contact training administrator Samantha Buckell on 01908 642966, or email: infotech@bitzeruk.com

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T RAIN E E OF TH E Y E AR

Counting down to the 10th T The 2019 ACR Trainee of the Year Awards will take place at The Belfry on December 5… and this year promises to be something special. It will be the 10th time this extremely popular not-for-profit event has been held to support and celebrate the next generation of engineers in the industry. Here we catch up with some of the previous winners… with more to follow in the next issue.

THEN

2010: JONATHON SIMPSON What was your role at the time and what is your current job? Back in 2010 I’d recently moved into the design office at Honeywell after spending a few years on the tools. I was mainly involved in the design of retail refrigeration systems for large UK supermarkets. I moved to FEL Group in 2015 and I’m now leading the design team. This has become a very customer focussed/client facing role, offering support to the sales team, attending trade shows and networking events, and helping other departments throughout the business. The majority of our work is the design and build of data centres.

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What is the most useful/important thing you have learned so far? Any chance you get to spend with more experienced, knowledgeable people should be grabbed with both hands! Even if it’s just sharing a car journey to site or staying late at the office brainstorming ideas. When these people retire, you’ll wish you spent more time with them. Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date? Over the years I’ve been fortunate to have worked very closely with some very experienced people. I can’t thank them enough for the time they’ve spent with me and the knowledge/experience they’ve passed on to me. Whilst at Honeywell and now at FEL Group my direct line managers, Guy Hodgins and Paul Horsley, have both provided me with a great foundation to build my career on. Both are now enjoying retirement.

Where would you like to be in 10 years’ time? In 10 years’ time I would like to have returned to further education, and continue to gain knowledge and experience whilst becoming more distinguished and respected in my field of expertise.

NOW

What would you say to anyone considering an apprenticeship? I’ve recently been interviewing for our latest recruitment of apprentices at FEL Group. It’s a scheme I really believe in because I feel it’s worked very well for me and my career. There’s nothing wrong with going to university, but I like to see young people who are happy to get their hands dirty and get stuck in whilst learning on the job! To people who are considering an apprenticeship, having an employer pay for your training and allow you the time to attend college is a fantastic opportunity.

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TRAINEE O F THE YEA R

h TOTY lunch celebrations

The original event was the Fred Jamieson Memorial Lunch, in honour of the founder and chairman of Ryan-Jayberg, far left, who passed away in April 2010

THEN

manager on their flagship coffee manufacturing site, along with running the start-up and commissioning of two major projects (a large biomass boiler installation and a new effluent treatment plant). What is the most useful/important thing you have learned so far? The skills learnt in one trade are crossfunctional. Working independently as a refrigeration & air conditioning service engineer on varying sizes and complexities of plant has given me a good base in developing my understanding of different processes and aspects of engineering

2011: JOHN FORTEITH What did being named ACR Trainee of the Year mean to you? At the time it was a realisation that there was potential to excel within the industry and build a career. Before my apprenticeship I’d been jobbing-around and generally not going anywhere fast What was your role at the time and what is your current job? At the time I was an apprentice engineer for a small company on the west coast of Scotland (Forteith Refrigeration & Heat Pump Solutions). I’m now employed by Nestlé as industrial services compliance

taught. More often than not the people you work with on-the-tools primary function is not to teach, so don’t expect to be spoon-fed information Where would you like to be in 10 years’ time? I’m currently enjoying working for a big company as the opportunities to develop myself and get involved in interesting engineering projects are constantly available. So long as I’m continuing to learn and develop myself I’m not too fussed on ‘where’ I am (although it wouldn’t hurt to be earning a small fortune while doing it!).

Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date? When I made the move to Nestlé it was as a shift technician. The local refrigeration specialist and the industrial services manager took a bit of a punt on employing me over others as my experience on proper Industrial refrigeration equipment was lacking (the site has a complex NH3/CO2 cascade system and a large centralised NH3 chilled water system – much more involved than what I’d previously worked on). They have really been mentors to me and I doubt my competence or career would be anywhere close to what it is without their guidance What would you say to anyone considering an apprenticeship? Put in the time and ask questions – my biggest gripe with a lot of apprentices is that they often don’t show a genuine interest. You’re there to learn, not to be

NOW

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T RAIN E E OF TH E Y E AR contracts engineer, managing other contract engineers, installation jobs, all aspects of H+S and everything in between. What is the most useful/important thing you have learned so far? I think everything I have learned from being a service engineer has set me up with great knowledge being a contracts engineer. I can see the jobs from the installation aspect and assist with technical issues.

THEN

2012: AARON LUDLOW What did being named ACR Trainee of the Year mean to you? It meant a great deal to win ACR Trainee of the Year. It was recognition of all the hard work, early mornings and late nights. It gave me a great confidence boost and an absolute ‘can-do’ attitude. I think it’s great for a young person entering a trade to get an achievement like this at such an early stage in their career.

Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date? There have been numerous influences on my career so it would be almost impossible to tie this down to one person. The fact my dad has also worked at the company for 25 years+ made a big impact on me getting into the trade. Every engineer I have worked with has made an impact on me in different ways, as each engineer has different knowledge. In my current role, I would have to say my manager, Paul Evans, due to the fact he was very patient and understanding when I first started in this role, and his technical knowledge from being in the trade for so many years is extraordinary. From an admin point of view our administration manager, Kerry Powell, has been a massive help with all things in the office. Nothing is too much to ask. I’d also like to mention my director, Ricky Brookes, as he has been extremely supportive over the years with my choices and always offered me great opportunities within the business. Everybody at the company is so forthcoming and helpful and everybody I’ve had to deal with has been great.

What would you say to anyone considering an apprenticeship? Do it! It can be the most important thing in your career as it builds the foundation of the trade you’re in and the skills and knowledge you learn at that age is second to none. Where would you like to be in 10 years’ time? I try not to put any pressure on my career. Everything to date has kind of fell into place so I’d be happy with whatever position I’m in at that time.

NOW

SUPPORTING THE INDUSTRY Generous support from sponsors and supporters over the past decade have meant in excess of £40,000 has been ploughed back into industry training. The headline sponsors for 2019 are:

What was your role at the time and what is your current job? My role at the time was apprentice service engineer at Weatherite. I am now a lead

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TRAINING

Investing in the future

Further installations mean ‘unique’ CO2 training facilities are now available for engineers. Training provider Cool Concerns believes a further £70,000 of investment at its Tewkesbury HQ has resulted in unrivalled facilities for gaining experience of CO2 systems. Director Stephen Benton and training centre manager Alan Snelling have now completed the installation, testing and commissioning of the R744 booster pack and CUBO2 Smart Aqua. Heavy duty castors have also been fitted to all existing F-Gas rigs so they can be moved to maximise space for the new equipment. The booster pack comprises 11kW MT and 3kW LT running two MT evaporators and an LT coldroom. The Italian SCM Frigo supplied pack has the latest Danfoss 572 pack controller running both inverter driven and Vari Step controlled BITZER transcritical compressors, the Vari Step compressor also being Bluetooth accessible. The rig has an effective capacity to that of a small convenience store so replicates a live commercial installation. It will be used

to demonstrate booster pack technology and the latest controls in order to deliver training for technicians that has a heavy emphasis on practical activities.

Leading edge The plant installation follows a period of significant investment in updating the R744 equipment used for training, which began in February 2018 and has since seen the decommissioning and scrapping of Cool Concerns’ first subcritical cascade system installation from 2009. The R744 inventory at Cool Concerns now comprises: ° MT / LT Booster Pack system (2 x MT evaporators and LT coldroom and controls) ° MT CUBO2 Smart system (MT evaporator and fully networked Carel controls) ° LT CUBO2 Smart system (LT cabinet and dual evap controls, Carel & RDM) ° MT CUBO2 Aqua system (MT evaporator and water-cooled gas cooler)

Stephen Benton said: “The CUBO2 Aqua comprises a mobile rig cooling an MT DX R744 evaporator, rejecting its heat (currently) to a recirculated 1,000-litre coolant supply, via a pumped water circuit. Longer term plans will see the Aqua rejecting its heat to a dry cooler. “With the addition of the Aqua and booster pack to complement the LT and MT transcritical condensing units installed last year, we have a truly unique range of CO2 equipment in the training sector. Together with the current construction of an A2L training rig and the existing HC training equipment, we remain at the leading edge of ongoing developments in our industry.’’ Both the C14 and C15 R744 training programmes are undergoing revision to incorporate the availability of the new rigs and will be delivered immediately. www.coolconcerns.co.uk info@coolconcerns.co.uk

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E QU IP ME N T

It feels great to be back… The launch of ancillaries business ACR Supplies marks the beginning of a new chapter for Craig Peebles and his fellow directors, as David Todd discovered. For someone who has always loved his holidays, Craig Peebles looks remarkably happy to be back in the world of work. His latest venture, ACR Supplies, has made an encouraging start to life in his home city of Nottingham. And if his return to the industry has been greeted with surprise in some quarters, it’s fair to say that the clues were already there. When he left Pump house in July 2017, Peebles said: “I’m a people person more than anything, that is the part that I enjoy most and it is certainly going to be one of the things I miss the most.’’ Ultimately that is what has pulled him back. Peebles says: “Four months after leaving I was probably the unhappiest I had ever been in my life, as though I had lost some purpose. It was ironic, really, because I probably had everything that society tells us we need, what we work towards, but I realised that wasn’t what I wanted. It was the people and the relationships that I missed. I needed that and it feels great to be back.’’ Peebles left Pump House in 2017, almost 17 years after he set up the business with Paul Ludlow. It had been sold in 2016 to US air conditioning and refrigeration components company DiversiTech and there was a further change when

The ACR Supplies warehouse

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ACR Supplies directors, from left, Tony Horne, Craig Peebles and Mark Rampling

ownership of DiversiTech transferred to private equity firm Permira after an acquisition deal was struck with previous equity owner, The Jordan Company, shortly before Peebles’ departure. The sale of Pump House – which you suspect was not a route Peebles favoured – left its founder financially secure but the working relationship faltered over time spent

away from the business. Determined to see his young family grow up, Peebles had been able to take additional unpaid leave but that became an issue under American ownership, as was a later request to move to a four-day week. Peebles chose to walk away.

Supplier relationships But he was soon to discover that a healthier bank balance and unlimited free time was not going to be enough. He has now launched ancillary business ACR Supplies alongside fellow directors Tony Horne and Mark Rampling, supported in Nottingham by Ryan Foote and Ben Heaver and assisted by Craig’s dad, Ian, in the warehouse. The three directors worked together in the 1980s at Nottingham-based earthing and lightning protection specialist Furse, as did Ludlow. The business had no direct links to the ACR industry but was the importer for Little Giant condensate pumps. Peebles ran the pumps division for nine years before founding Pump House with former Furse MD Ludlow, based on the Little Giant range, and Horne then joined the fledgling business. Peebles recalls: “We had the pumps and we began to think what other associated products we could sell. It was about selling

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EQ UIPMEN T more things to the existing customer base. That was how it grew. That strategy is what we are trying to repeat here to some degree, although logistically it has been much more difficult second time around because of the number of products involved. “What we wanted to do was to bring things in from manufacturers that we knew, which is where Mark (Rampling) comes in. He owns a manufacturing facility in Malaysia, so basically he is our manufacturing arm. Anything within reason that we need, we ask him to make. So there are things in the warehouse – guards, brackets, trays, dairy cabinet pumps, grab clips – manufactured by Mark’s company. We also wanted to make sure that we had suppliers that we could trust.’’ “If I have learnt one thing from Craig,’’ says Horne, “it is that supplier relationships are as important as customer relationships. It’s one thing to have great customer relationships that enable you to sell products, but you need to have the backing of suppliers as well. My understanding of the business from Day One was to utilise half a dozen key suppliers, which we’ve got, and that gives us the foundation.’’ Relationships have also been forged with a range of wholesalers and Peebles is back to what he enjoys most… meeting people from across the industry and encouraging them to choose his products.

Versatile business ACR Supplies has the exclusive UK distribution rights for Hydra-Zorb products and Horne estimates that the company has a current line-up of “a couple of hundred products in a dozen ranges”. He added: “The size of the range is not important to us. We don’t have a target, it will grow organically because a lot of it tends to be customer-driven or supplier-driven.’’ Peebles explains: “One thing we do well, which can drive Tony mad, is selling things we don’t have. I’d love to say we will grow in a strategic way but a lot of it is about talking to wholesalers and contractors, understanding what the contractors need and solving their problems. Of course we have to balance that with making sure we sell the things we do have, but it certainly helps us to build relationships. “In three years’ time we might have an additional 50-100 products. We’ll have good success with some of them and not so much with others. We will get things

wrong, but we need not to be afraid to fail on occasion.’’ Horne said: “I think there is a role in the industry for a company like ours that is a small, versatile business representing manufacturers and not manufacturing ourselves. If we are small and flexible enough we can provide what they are actually asking for. It’s being a go-between for the customer and manufacturer. “We don’t have a business plan that’s written down, a plan that says in two years we will introduce these products, in four years these products. We can make a decision today based on what we want to do… that flexibility is our USP.’’ With Rampling based in south-east Asia, day-to-day running of the business rests with the remaining directors. Both admit they have few things in common – apart from a love of golf – but their combined experience has been crucial to this launch, as it was in the early days at Pump House and before that at Furse. For Horne, the opportunity to join the new venture presented the chance of a fresh start and “one last adventure’’. He said: “I’ve worked with Craig since 1985 and have tremendous respect for him and the way he works. Once it became clear that he was going to start again, I don’t think there was ever any question that I would join him.’’ Peebles says: “I know he will say the same about me but the truth is, this business would not be happening without Tony. I don’t have the all-round skills needed to set up a business, but put Tony next to me and it works. “I was in this industry for a long time. I missed it massively and needed to come back. In Tony and Mark I have two business partners who I go back a very long way with. “I realise that I was in a very fortunate position and that someone stuck in a job they didn’t like would find it hard to understand why I would want to do it all over again. But this is what I know and what I love.’’

CORE PRODUCTS • Hydra-Zorb clamps (including Klo-Shure)

• Castel plastic products, including mounting blocks • Rubber compound struts and feet • Dairy cabinet pumps (below)

• Fan motors (below)

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• Guards, brackets and trays

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P R OD U C TS & S E RV ICES

The Innovation Zone

The guide to what’s new for ACR Journal readers, offering vital industry news. PRECISION CONTROL WITH HomEvap The HomEvap from Humidity Solutions provides safe and precise humidity control and/or low energy cooling for residential, commercial or preservation applications. With four different models, the system can be applied to a range of buildings or conditions and, whilst ideally included in the initial design of a property, it can also be easily retro-fitted. Fitted to an air stream such as a Heat Recovery Unit, the HomEvap Humidifier connects inline to provide humidity-controlled air to space. Using the adiabatic evaporative process, the water wastage is low, as is the energy usage. Alternatively the HomEvap Direct includes a fan and built in heater to become a standalone system. This innovative humidifier from HomEvap increases comfort in every living and working environment and ensures a healthy indoor climate. HomEvap evaporators were developed as energy-efficient humidifiers, coolers and/or combined solutions for offices, homes, hotels and public facilities.

‘DRAMATIC’ SAVINGS THROUGH AHU REFURBS Engineering company ECEX has published a guide to air handling unit (AHU) refurbishment. John Grenville, managing director of ECEX, said: "Conventional wisdom dictates that air handling units (AHUs) should be replaced every 10 to 15 years, depending on use and maintenance over that time. There is, however, a potentially far more cost-effective way to proceed than replacement - refurbishment and/or upgrade. "One of the best routes to sustainable development in the HVAC sector is through retrofitting and refurbishment of heavyuse equipment like air handling units and condensers." Ryan Hawken, ECEX contracts manager and AHU specialist, added: "On a recent AHU upgrade project, we calculated that we could provide an estimated 22% - 33% energy saving by upgrading the fans because it could take advantage of a fan design. "There were also additional savings on drive belts, motor and fan pulleys and bush replacement as well as much reduced maintenance time. Overall, the savings associated with air handling unit refurbishment can be dramatic."

www.humiditysolutions.co.uk

www.ecex.co.uk

CAREL INTRODUCES NEW VALVE FOR CO2

BITZER A2L SCROLLS APPROVED FOR SERIAL PRODUCTION

CAREL has introduced a new electronic expansion valve with copper fittings designed for transcritical CO2 applications. The goal of reducing the environmental impact of refrigerant gases has driven the development of a new generation of high-performance components, including the new E2V-CW high pressure valves. The E2V-CW is installed by braze welding the special copper fittings, rather than the more complex and expensive welding techniques required for stainless steel. CAREL says this further lowers the barriers to the use of CO2, and allows OEMs of Hecu and Heos condensing units to optimise their line assembly processes using K65 copper pipes. E2V-CW uses modulating equipercentile control, guaranteeing accuracy and a rapid response in the control of refrigeration systems. This feature is common across the entire range of CAREL ExV valves, and ensures extreme precision at low cooling capacities and a fast response to sudden variations in load at high capacities.

BITZER has become one of the first manufacturers to build scroll compressors for low-GWP A2L refrigerants on a large scale. The Orbit (model range VL) and Orbit+ scroll compressors have been approved for serial production for use with the refrigerants R454B, R452B and R32. BITZER says this makes it the first manufacturer to supply scroll compressors with displacements of between 20 and 80 m3/h (50 Hz) for use with A2L refrigerants. The Orbit series in the VA model range will continue to be available for operation with A1 refrigerants.

The valve has a stainless steel filter supplied as standard and a wide range of hermetic stators is available, suitable for any type of installation.

The manufacturer says customers will particularly benefit from the A2L approval of the Orbit (model range VL) and Orbit+ compressors as both series provide several years of planning security due to the low GWP values of the refrigerants involved. The ORBIT and ORBIT+ models are designed for air conditioning systems and heat pumps in particular. and claim high energy efficiency and a low noise level.

www.carel.com

https://www.bitzer.de/gb/en/

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EQ UIPMENT

Stay safe with Safe Seal Andy Harvey, Product Manager for JAVAC UK, talks about the latest innovation in refrigerant hoses. Perhaps one of the more easily overlooked items in an engineer’s van, refrigerant hoses are often not given a second thought, despite undoubtedly being a key piece of HVAC kit. Dealing with refrigerant is a tricky job at the best of times and, as every HVAC engineer knows, it comes with certain risks, meaning safety is of the utmost importance. The quality of refrigerant hoses can massively vary, so choosing reliable hoses is key in ensuring engineer safety on site, as well as the safety of the public.

Risk-free JAVAC knows the challenges that busy engineers face and is proud to supply the latest technology to ensure engineers are able to work safely. HVAC engineers will be familiar with the risk of refrigerant burns when gas is discharged from a standard refrigerant hose. Once a system is shut down, the hose can still be full of the potentially harmful gas and if this gas comes into contact with the skin it can cause nasty burns, resulting in pain, blistering and, in worst case scenarios perhaps time off work. Of course, this excess gas can be purged using a refrigerant recovery unit, or skin contact avoided with the use of gloves but in reality these things can get overlooked. The new Safe Seal hoses from JAVAC offer a complete solution, providing a safe reliable answer to all these potential issues.

The first thing to note is that they come with the valve included and attached, meaning there’s no need to buy a valve separately. The “one touch” design ensures engineer safety by securing the connection before initiating the refrigerant flow – simply twist the hose into place. Once the valve is fully connected, continue twisting further to activate the internal core depressor. Only then will refrigerant run from the system into the hose – fast, easy and risk free. Unlike regular refrigerant hoses, Safe Seal hoses feature a handy safety swivel

sleeve which means even if the hose is knocked, it will not become loose, providing added peace of mind. This excellent design feature also means the hose can be moved from side to side to allow easy access for other work. Disconnecting the hose is just as safe as initial connection. First the core depressor is closed, stopping the flow of refrigerant. The fitting is then disconnected safely without the loss of gas. Refrigerant trapped in the hose can be recovered at a later time. Available in two sizes, 1/4 x 1/4 as well as 1/4 x 5/16 (set of 3), Safe Seal Hoses come with a 1 year guarantee, as well as JAVAC’s outstanding 5* service and support. JAVAC has refrigerant recovery solutions for every job, to suit every engineer.

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For more information visit: www.javac.co.uk

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R E F R IGE R A N T S

Solving leak detection early Ultra Refrigeration has completed one of the first installations of the new Bacharach MGS-400 Series gas detection system for CO2 equipment. Steve Gatenby, sales support manager at Climalife UK, talks us through the project. Whether for safety, to maintain optimal energy efficiency, minimise the cost of refrigerant loss, or to comply with legislation such as F-Gas, there have never been so many compelling reasons to find leaks and fix them early and quickly. Modern refrigeration systems are designed to be efficient and leak free, but improper installation, inadvertent damage or mechanical wear can result in potentially hazardous refrigerant leaks, which is some cases, could also beÂ flammable.

The need Lincoln Co-op is a new flagship concept store for the Lincolnshire Co-op Group and required a leak detection system to be fitted to its CO2 compressor pack in order to indicate the presence of CO2 levels which exceed the current safe levels, and to indicate a leak.

The solution Ultra Refrigeration, who work closely with the Lincolnshire Co-op Group, contacted Climalife UK to see which leak detection product would be most suited to this installation. The Bacharach MGS-400 series was chosen as it is the latest technological advance in leak detection, and utilises Bluetooth communications for the set-up process, making it quick and easy to be installed at site.

The product The MGS400 series is the latest product range from Bacharach and is a complete leak detection solution designed specifically for safety and F-Gas compliance in refrigeration applications. It comprises of three gas detectors, MGS-410, MGS-450 and MGS-460, an 8-channel controller, MGS408, and a smartphone app, connectable to the detectors & controller via Bluetooth.

New cabinets installed at Lincoln Co-op, left, and the leak detector fitted to the compressor pack

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REFRIG ERANTS The MGS410 detector requires connection to the MGS-408 controller, or a BMS/ BAS via Modbus. The MGS450 and 460 are standalone units, but can be connected to the MGS-408 or a BMS/BAS. All the gas detectors offer integrated audio and visual alarms which comply with safety regulations and maintain performance in temperatures as cold as -40°F (-40°C). The MGS-400 series refrigerant detectors can be connected to a smart phone (Android or iOS) via Bluetooth, using the Bacharach MGS-400 app. The app makes commissioning and maintenance intuitive and requires no special tools or training in order to set up the alarm behaviour or thresholds. It also gives the user a real time reading of the PPM levels of the refrigerant being detected. The MGS-408 controller can have a maximum of 8 detectors connected to it, in any combination of MGS-410, 450 and 460, allowing the centralised monitoring of several gas detection points.

Installation The detector was fitted to the CO2 compressor pack, manufactured by Ultra Refrigeration. The detector was very easy to install and only required a few electrical connections including power and outputs. Set up was simple via Bluetooth and the MGS-400 app. Anthony Lomas, operations director at Ultra Refrigeration, said: “We’ve just finished set-up and commissioning of our second device which has now become a standard on our CO2 packs for Lincolnshire Co-op Group. “The integrated alarm provides a reliable warning for persons entering the plant room should CO2 be present, and connection to the site’s RDM DM Touch means we can remotely monitor the system for pending failures due to leaks, even if very small and not posing a safety issue. “Set-up using the Bluetooth connection and iPhone app was a breeze and simplified the whole process. Aside from learning how to make the initial connection, there was no need to consult the installation manual or to navigate a complicated parameter list.” Climalife UK sells a range of fixed leak detectors from Bacharach to suit most refrigerants and systems. Bacharach are specialists in the manufacture of products that detect, measure and monitor gases with both portable and fixed instruments. www.climalife.co.uk

Using the app to set up the detector

Staying safe with refrigerants Climalife UK has launched a campaign to encourage the safe handling of refrigerants. The company is supplying as many of its customers as possible with high-quality safety goggles/spectacles and gloves, as well as sharing its ‘Handling Refrigerants Safely’ guide. The guide’s infographic style makes it a simple reference tool for industry professionals to review and display, with reminders on safety measures to take. It also features an added reminder of Climalife’s application-based tools that can help engineers when managing refrigeration installations. Marketing co-ordinator Mel Summers said: “We ran a really successful and fun campaign earlier in 2019 across social media; supplying customers with pairs of safety gloves. Photos were shared across social media with the hashtags #safety and #climalifegloves. This is an extension of the safety message, with some new giveaways added to the package. Safety is so important when handling refrigerants, so anything we can do to reinforce this message, we believe is incredibly valuable to the industry.”

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R E F R IGE R A N T S

Hard stops to come in 2020 A-Gas Managing Director John Ormerod with an update on supplies of R404A and the progress being made on meeting the F-Gas phase down challenge. Much to our surprise, it’s been a year of turmoil on the refrigerants market. Prices shot up last year and everyone thought that the F-Gas phase downs were having the effect that they were intended to. Since then we’ve seen a flood of R404A entering the market and prices have headed in the other direction. With prices coming down by approximately a half to two thirds compared with the heights they reached at their peak last year, some have used this as a reason to pause their retrofit activity and not commit to moving to the next generation of low GWP alternatives. We do have some hard stops at the end of this year which are likely to force the industry to get back up to speed on the F-Gas phase downs and refocus their retrofit programmes. In 2020 there’ll be a ban on placing on the market stationary refrigeration equipment using high GWP refrigerants (>2500 GWP) with an exception for equipment operating below -50°C. The ban on the use of virgin refrigerants with a GWP of more than 2500 will give the industry plenty to think about. Irrespective of the size of the system, this means you will be unable to install refrigeration equipment that uses gases above this threshold. This effectively brings the installation of new R404A equipment to an end. There’ll also be a ban on servicing existing equipment with virgin refrigerants that have a GWP of more than 2500 and where the charge is greater than 40 tonnes of CO2 equivalent – that’s equal in amount to approximately 10kgs of R404A. These changes will focus the minds of installers and end users as reclaimed R404A will need to form part of their procurement plan. Reclaimed R404A is available for servicing such systems until 2030. The amount to come from reclaimed sources will be limited as the rate of retrofit activity has declined over the year. Most industry observers were expecting the opposite to happen. This is probably down to the widespread availability of high GWP HFC refrigerants.

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"The widespread supply of illegal refrigerants during 2019 has given the market a false view of the availability of these high GWP products, suggesting that they are in plentiful supply. We expect this to change in 2020"

But with the service ban kicking in on January 1 this will force people to confront the problem if they haven’t faced up to it already. They will have to retrofit or be forced to use a dwindling supply of R404A where permitted – and I can see this only leading to price rises. There is evidence of illegal refrigerants entering the market having an effect on supplies of R404A in the UK but not to the same extent as on supplies on the Continent. Recent media reports have highlighted the problem in Europe. Eight people were arrested in Spain when more than £450,000 worth of illegal refrigerants were seized by the police. At ports around Europe there is often no connection between the F-Gas management system and customs enforcement. This is how shipments of illegal refrigerants can often be waved through customs without any stringent checks. The widespread supply of illegal refrigerants during 2019 has given the market a false view the availability of these high GWP products, suggesting that they are in plentiful supply. We expect this to change in 2020. Despite this turmoil there is a clear path to follow for the refrigeration industry with the F-Gas phase downs. My advice to end users is to accelerate their retrofit programmes if they haven’t done so already. Help is on hand from refrigerant suppliers to ensure that you and your maintenance team have all that’s needed to make the switch to low GWP gases. It is significant that the big supermarkets and many larger operations in food processing have made this change already. Let’s not forget that we have made considerable progress on this in the last three years but maintaining momentum is key. This year will see the major refrigerant suppliers saying goodbye to virgin R404A. Contractors need to be sure that they are buying in line with the regulations. The good news is that you no longer have to rely on virgin R404A. Interim replacements like R448A and R449A will give you some

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REFRIG ERANTS

breathing space to meet the low GWP challenge into the mid to late 2020s. But if R404A is still the product for you, reclaimed product is available. Experts are on hand to help. There’s a wealth of information available on the A-Gas website to help you make the switch from R404A to low GWP gases and we are happy to give advice at the end of the phone. Only by working together we can all meet the F-Gas challenge. www.agas.com

‘The good news is that you no longer have to rely on virgin R404A. Interim replacements like R448A and R449A will give some breathing space to meet the low GWP challenge"

Keep on top of the latest developments in the ACR Journal Refrigerant Update, which is included with this issue.

Hospice the winner in Soapbox Derby Engineers from A-Gas created a cart based on an electrical-powered Rapid Recovery unit as they raised money for charity in the annual Portishead Soap Box Derby. The A-Gas team, with driver Sam Pearce displaying impressive technique, finished a creditable 11th out of the 40 entrants, who were there to raise money for Bristol’s St Peter’s Hospice.

The

Refrigerant

Update

In association with

Essential Information for the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry

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D ATA C E N TR E S

Hidden heroes must keep their cool In today’s data-driven world and with the ever-increasing trend towards “cloud based” information, Aspen Pumps Group Technical Director Chris Gee takes a look at the role which cooling has to play and the importance of continuous innovation. Data centres are vital to global connectivity. Our content – from laugh-out-loud YouTube cat videos to financial and sensitive personal information, is all stored and distributed from these data centres 24/7. There are over 7,500 data centres worldwide, with over 2,600 in the top 20 global cities alone and in a world where we expect instant access to data as well as complete and assured online security, the importance of maintaining efficiency is clear and the need has never been greater. The pressure on companies to protect our information is huge and when entrusted with our sensitive personal information ie medical records and personal financial details, these corporations cannot afford to take any risks. By 2020, at least 1/3 of all data will be cloud-based, so it’s imperative that

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business critical I.T. equipment is kept and maintained in optimal conditions. Even for small businesses, short outages can cause significant disruption and any downtime can result in reduced productivity and loss of revenue.

Small but mighty The rooms which contain and process this valuable data vary in size from small, single rooms serving small organisations (known as a server room) and scale right the way up to those of internet giants such as Google and Facebook. The energy consumption for a typical data centre can vary from just a few kW into MW depending on the size, with approximately 35% of consumption used on cooling and HVAC. Even in smaller server rooms, systems run 24/7 and can consume

vast amounts of electricity, generating heat which needs to be removed to minimise the risk of fire from components overheating and to optimise performance - cooling is therefore a vital consideration. This cooling produces condensate which needs to be removed and gravity drainage systems are commonplace due to the obvious need for water to be kept well away from IT equipment. Manufacturers such as Aspen Pumps Group are constantly innovating to create alternatives. We have worked hard to build core competences in smart controls and pump technology. The Hi-Flow Max Tank Pump has a much better and patented centrifugal pump than any other on the market. Though it is designed primarily

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DATA CENTRES for ceiling voids, since server rooms are not usually customer facing, there is no reason why this reliable pump could not be situated alongside a mini split system in a server room and used to pump the condensate far away from valuable IT equipment.

The bigger picture One of the most common methods of cooling in large and medium server rooms are known as CRAC units (computer room air conditioners). The server rooms are placed onto a raised floor and the CRAC units then distribute conditioned air to the server racks. The units have heat exchangers inside which are connected to refrigeration units to remove heat from the rack. Some can also humidify or dehumidify the air which is very important to control the static electricity in the air. The conditioned air is moved by a fan in the CRAC unit into a void under the floor and leaves the floor through strategically positioned holes in the floor. This air collects the heat from the units, rises up and is sucked back into the units to be reconditioned. After much trial and error over the years, hot and cold aisles are commonly used today, meaning server units are placed back to back, creating a convection effect to keep the hot air from recirculating where it is not wanted.

"Cooling data centres can be a huge task but one which is increasingly essential to support the worldwide exchange of information on which we have come to rely" An improvement on this has been hot air containment aisles which stop the flow of hot air from mixing with the valuable cold air using a physical barrier like a ceiling void. Data giants such as Google are a huge operation. Google’s data centre in Oklahoma is estimated to measure in at 980,000 square feet, so it’s no surprise that these companies need large-scale methods of cooling far beyond the needs of most businesses. While Google does use the hot aisle method for cooling, the entire room serves as the cold aisle. Raised floors are used but no perforated flooring. Instead, all the cooling magic happens in enclosed hot aisles, using cooling coils with chilled water which serve as the "ceiling" for these hot aisles. The aisles also house large stainless-steel pipes that carry water to and from cooling towers housed in the building's equipment yard. With environmental impact an increasing

factor for all businesses, Facebook claims its data centre in Sweden is “one of the most efficient and sustainable data centres in the world” using the biting -41°C air to cool the thousands of servers within the building, with any excess heat harnessed to heat offices.

Everyday solutions The reality for most businesses is a server room, as opposed to a larger data centre but cooling is just as critical. A mini split system may be used to cool the room and with this method comes the opportunity to use pumps to direct the condensate away. Pumps such as Aspen’s Peristaltic are designed to be placed as far as 3 metres from the AC unit with no impact on performance. This means they can be sited remotely, if needed, to allow for easy maintenance access and no worries about water near equipment. The other great thing about these pumps is that they are built to last – many running for 30+ years! Cooling data centres can be a huge task but one which is increasingly essential to support the worldwide exchange of information on which we have come to rely. With manufacturers such as Aspen Pumps Group leading the way in HVAC innovation, the future looks bright for technology which can deal with the ever-growing need to keep our information safe.

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WOME N IN A C R

ACR industry What attracted you to the industry?

Catherine Murray at this year’s National ACR & Heat Pump Awards with, left, Louis Sullivan, sales manager, MHIAE, and, right, Andy Morgan, MHI technical manager, Beijer Ref UK

In this issue we meet Catherine Murray, retail sales engineer for Dean & Wood. What was your first job? My first job in the industry was a weekend role where I was a service helpdesk operator at Denman Group back in the early 2000s. It was a steep learning curve into the industry; back then there were a lot of manual processes. Some supermarkets we looked after logged calls verbally so we had to fact find, assign the appropriate Service Level Agreement and despatch engineers. I do believe, had it not been for the relationships I built at Denmans, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I was lucky to work alongside some knowledgeable guys and gained considerably from them. They were my mentors whereby I could ask ‘silly questions’ such as ‘so is a vac pump like a hoover?’ or ‘why do you have case cleans? Why doesn’t the cleaner just clean the fridges?’ I have A LOT to thank them for! After Denmans, I moved from service into contracting at A1 Refrigeration Installations

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as it was known as then. Having worked within both service and contracting departments, it has put me in good stead for my role now.

What does your current role involve? I am a retail sales engineer for Dean & Wood. Our retail division is a specialist procurement team who supply and offer a bespoke service to customers whose end users are supermarkets. During my time at both Denmans and A1, I worked in different roles and departments which enables me to understand my customers; I know why the part is needed urgently for a frozen food cabinet breakdown, I can empathise the impact delayed material deliveries has on an installation job and I can understand the frustration the accounts department have over a purchase order and invoice values not matching.

Money is my honest answer. I was at Newcastle University so I needed a weekend job which could fit around university, support my student lifestyle and designer handbag addiction! (I still have that addiction, now also along with holidays and homewares!) My Dad is in the industry and it’s often assumed I’m in the industry because of him, however, that’s not the case at all. I know my Dad is one of my biggest supporters and has my happiness and wellbeing at heart but he’s also a realist. Before I accepted the job at Denmans, he made sure I knew what I was getting into. The reality is, we are a specialist industry which brings a double-edged sword. On one hand we’re unique, we’re a necessity, but there aren’t enough of us. We don’t have the calibre of engineers required in the field. We don’t have enough project managers who understand refrigeration and therefore the potential issues which may arise on sites; it causes a ripple effect throughout the entire chain. Our jobs aren’t easy and there can be moments of high stress.

What excites/interests you about the industry? I am extremely passionate about our industry. The majority of the general public most likely don’t even consider how much they need us for their day-to-day lives. From food production to supermarkets to air conditioned offices to hospitals and morgues. I really believe that everyone who works within our industry plays a vital role,

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WO MEN IN ACR

The Women in RACHP Network has launched a survey to examine the gender-parity gap in the industry. The survey is open to both women and men working in the RACHP sector in all roles. All answers will remain confidential. Participants can enter their email address to be entered into a prize draw to win a Latitude travel charger set. Anyone taking part in the survey can request a complimentary copy of the report for reference. The survey is at: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/wrachp19 from the engineers to the administration teams, from the manufacturer to the end user. We are all links in a chain and without one, we wouldn’t have the other. I also get excited about the company I work for. I may not have been here long but it’s an inspiring place to work. We have years’ worth of industry knowledge amongst us and at the helm of Dean & Wood are John Billson and Nick Kilner who have a wealth of experience, not just relating to sales but also engineering. We are the largest specialist refrigeration supplier in the UK and I’m proud to be part of the legacy we have.

How would you like to see your career developing? If I had answered this question 12 years ago I’d have said ‘service director’. When I worked at Denmans I was extremely fortunate to be surrounded by people who were at the top of their field, I was new to the working world and was also naïve enough to be a sponge and ultimately learned a lot from them. However, since being on the supplier side I can only see myself staying within the supplier role. I feel like it’s the right fit for me; I’ve always enjoyed having customers but now those customers are contractors, similar to those I’ve worked for and having started my career that way, I am able to quickly get to know them and their requirements. I approach my career fairly organically; I am not a person who has a specific job title in mind as an end goal. Of course, I want to progress but I’m happy knowing that I’m doing my bit to help within the industry.

What is the best piece of advice you were ever given? Don’t ever ask anyone to do anything you’re not prepared to do yourself.

What do you see as the challenges facing the industry? In my opinion we have three main challenges; refrigerants, industry knowledge and Brexit. The majority of my customers have adopted the natural refrigerant selection of CO2, in fact, many of them have led the way but there are contractors out there who don’t know enough about it as an alternative option to HFCs. When it comes to knowledge within our industry, we have experienced people leaving, whether that be through retirement or moving into other sectors. Not enough people are replacing those we are losing and it will leave a knowledge gap. We need more apprentices, we need to be an industry which people know about and want to be a part of. I think ahead of us there is uncertainty regarding what Brexit will bring our economy here within the UK, not just our industry.

What are the best things about being in your role? Job satisfaction, helping customers do what they need to do quickly and effectively. I don’t feel like I’m doing a job most of the time, I do my best to help identify their needs and resolve problems, taking the time to get to know them.

What would you say to other women who are considering coming into the ACR industry? I was recently at an event where I was asked if I was intimidated as there were so many males in comparison to females. My immediate answer was ‘no’ as to be honest, I never walk into a room and see gender. The dictionary explanation of intimidation is ‘to make timid; fill with fear’ so why would I feel like that? I care about our industry, as do most of us. We all want to play our part and support each other. It’s true that we don’t have the most diverse group of people in our industry but that’s not just related to gender. I don’t believe we aren’t inclusive, I think it’s more to do with the fact that historically engineering has been male dominated. When I left school I didn’t think that being a fridge engineer was accessible to me, whereas if I was leaving school now, I think it is. I knew I wouldn’t be able to carry gas bottles over my shoulder or lift compressors but now, due to health and safety, jobs which were done solo now require a pair. We’re more conscious of lifting and where ladders were once acceptable, scaffolding is required which are the aids which could help me keep up with my male counterparts. I’d say to anyone, not just women, that our industry is great to be a part of. I believe that most people will have a set of transferable skills that they can apply to various roles. If you have opportunity to join us, then do it, ask questions, learn what you can and find the right role for you. When you do, I’m sure you’ll get great job satisfaction from it, there is a real sense of camaraderie amongst us all.

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V E N TIL ATION

MVHR: all you need to know With a growing awareness of the dangers of poor indoor air quality, effective ventilation has become a key component of the energy and sustainability agenda and Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems are an increasingly popular solution, says Lee Stones, senior product marketing manager at Glen Dimplex Heating & Ventilation, which includes the Xpelair brand. What is an MVHR system? MVHR systems are ideal for buildings where insulation levels are high. Available as a centralised heat exchange system, the proven technology extracts moist, stale air from inside the property and replaces it with fresh, incoming air. Crucially, it uses heat from the outgoing air to warm the incoming air, with high efficiency systems able to warm air up to more than 90% of the internal air temperature.

How does it work? Correct specification is key. Heat recovery is a system comprising two components – the heat exchange unit and the ducting. The design and quality of both is equally important in achieving maximum performance. Because the heat exchange unit is often installed in an isolated space, equally important is how the device is connected to the spaces within the building requiring ventilation. Since the role of the system is to remove stale air and replace it with fresh air, the suitability of the ducting that travels in and out of the unit is vital. Appropriate specification of the MVHR unit and the ducting to operate alongside it requires an overall design view, in the context of the property it is destined for, to ensure the correct heat exchange unit and optimum ducting is selected. If you specify a certain duct run, the MVHR unit needs to be able to be operate effectively alongside it. If excessively long ducting is used or the duct has too many bends or a completely inappropriate type of duct is fitted (for example flexi ducting) then an MVHR unit will not be able to perform correctly.

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This is why our dedicated in-house Xpelair System Design Service work with clients, reviewing their building design and ventilation requirements to help them get this right.

What are the main benefits of an MVHR system? Part F of the Building Regulations states that there are four categories of ventilation product that an installer can choose from: Intermittent extract fans and background ventilators, passive stack ventilation, centralised or de-centralised mechanical extract, or MVHR. As a cost-effective, mechanical, balanced ventilation system, MVHR offers the benefit of providing ventilation that extracts air from a building, whilst also supplying fresh filtered air - addressing key health concerns commonly associated with high levels of insulation and poor ventilation. To increase their effectiveness, the latest MVHR systems from leading manufacturers offer a host of features including ultra-fine filters, PIR sensor activity for enhanced efficiency, and coldclimate pre-heating. Uniquely, Xpelair’s Natural Air 180 also uses adaptiflow technology to deliver a constant volume of extracted air, giving system designers and users assurance that the specified performance is being delivered.

The right choice of ventilation can pay dividends for years to come

How can installers maximise this opportunity? Ventilation is not a one-size-fits-all approach and the one constant of a modern ventilation system – whether in a domestic or commercial setting - is the need to balance energy efficiency with management of indoor air quality. MVHR provides an opportunity for outstanding performance in this area when significant refurbishment or new building design is taking place. Evolving Building Regulations and a greater focus on management of indoor air quality make this a fantastic opportunity for installers to add value and boost their income stream. It is now easier than ever to help your customer understand the benefits of investing in a ventilation system that will pay dividends for decades to come.

www.xpelair.co.uk

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HEAT PUMPS

Now is the time for action Bean Beanland, chairman of the Ground Source Heat Pump Association, looks at the role of the technology in the Government’s commitment to Net Zero 2050. In June, the Government passed into law a commitment to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050 as recommended by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) just weeks before in early May. Critically, this target now encompasses all greenhouse gases, not just CO2. In parallel, air quality is racing up the agenda, especially for local government and particularly in urban centres. A Royal College of Physicians study found that 40,000 premature deaths in the UK per annum are linked to air pollution. The cost to the NHS is considerable. Whilst the electricity grid has made great advances with a reduction in generation emissions, progress with the decarbonisation of heat in buildings remains stubbornly slow. The country remains trapped in a fossil-fuel cage of our own making and accepts levels of energy waste which are completely incompatible with the Net Zero target. Fabric first has been a watchword for years and yet Building Regulations have not been tightened to deliver this. Both the CCC report and the National Grid Future Energy Scenarios state that the decarbonisation of heat (and cooling) in buildings cannot be achieved without

insulation. We need regulatory drivers for insulation, both in new build and for existing housing stock, because for the vast majority of homeowners, the cash savings delivered by the hassle of clearing the attic to lift the boarding and insulate, is just too low whilst gas prices for the consumer remain at current levels. Assuming that wasted heat loss will be addressed, possibly in the Building Regulations consultation later in the year, how can we decarbonise the heat that we actually do need? Again, the CCC and National Grid are in broad agreement, a mix of technologies is required. The days of a single, centralised solution, such as the national gas grid, are numbered. Hydrogen and biofuels are touted, but neither are commercially available in volume yet and, in any event, the biofuels that do come to market will be so much more useful if applied to transport – a transportable fuel for a moving target! But to deliver Net Zero, the country cannot afford to delay making a start. The proven technology available right now is the heat pump, and in the UK climate, ground and water source heat pumps have the efficiency edge over air source.

Total cost of ownership Concerns are raised against the electrification of heat using heat pumps. Peak heat demand is too high, the electricity grid cannot cope – but the recent academic paper, “Decarbonising domestic

heating: What is peak GB demand?” by Watson et al, has found “peak gas” to have been significantly overstated and grid reinforcement investment is already high to deal with the inescapable challenge of electric vehicles. The existing housing stock is too thermally inefficient, heat pumps will leave homeowners cold – but Delta-EE have found that the vast majority of off-gas grid properties are already suitable for heat pumps and, in any event, we’ve already identified that we must insulate the existing housing stock; the latest generation of heat pumps will operate efficiently and effectively when deployed with weather compensation, even if a 60° flow temperature is required for a small number of hours per year. Coefficient of performance (COP) at subzero air temperatures is not the measure required, we should be much more focussed on Seasonal Performance Factors (SPF) across the year. Heat pumps are regarded by many people as being too expensive to buy and operate – but this headline fails to take into account the total cost of ownership, driven down by the long term value in the ground array and by the less frequent plant replacement cycle, and, in the future, by the potential to load shift heat pump operation to times of day when electricity is both lower cost and lower in carbon intensity. The current government Heat Pump Demonstrator programme is designed to verify all these factors. Give the heat pump sector stable and long-term policy that makes the electrification of heat investable, and the industry will respond with improved training and standards to build consumer confidence; capital costs will fall as volume sales rise; and with smart controls applications, peak electricity demand will reduce. The NHS budget will benefit too, from heat pumps that are zero CO2 , NOx, SOx and particulates emitters at the point of use. If we address heat with electrification now, the Net Zero target will remain in sight. But if we delay, the target will disappear over the horizon and the cost of meeting it in the future will be so much higher.

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H E AT P U MP S

Aquarea marches on... Air-to-water solution chosen for prestigious new development in market town. A new development of 20 executive homes in Cambridgeshire is using Panasonic Aquarea Monobloc air-to-water heat pumps to supply heating and domestic hot water. The four and five bedroom homes at Spire View, in March, have been equipped by Panasonic distributor Oceanair. Marcel Cooper, construction director of James Developments, said: “We find that today’s prospective purchasers are far more aware of environmental issues, emissions and the need for their homes to be sustainable. Purchasers increasingly look for cleaner, greener homes and are far more mindful of potential running costs. "After comparing the benefits and costs of air source heat pumps with a traditional gas boiler solution and the attendant cost of bringing a gas main into the site and installing all the service ducts and meter boxes etc, we came to the conclusion that air source heat pumps were more cost effective and beneficial for us, as the developer, for our purchasers and, most importantly, for the environment.'' Tony Holland, southern area account manager for Oceanair, said: “Following the initial decision to go with the Panasonic systems, we had various meetings with all parties to agree on all aspects of choosing the correctly sized system and position of each individual install at Spire View. This has been a team effort between Oceanair and Panasonic from day one and the final result is a very satisfied customer.

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Sustainable alternative “It is important when buying a heat pump to choose a reputable manufacturer who will provide a quality service, a comprehensive warranty and provide proper guidance about the buying and installation of heat pumps. The initial outlay of a sustainable heating system may be slightly higher, however buying from a reputable manufacturer will ensure a high-quality, long life product, low maintenance costs and the peace of mind that you’ve made an optimised investment. A reputable manufacturer will also have the confidence in their products to offer a comprehensive warranty, such as Panasonic’s seven-year warranty*1.” Spire View consists of 20 new executive four and five bedroom homes, with the four bedroom homes having one en-suite and a family bathroom while the five bedroom homes have three en-suites and a family bathroom. Large high efficiency Aquarea hot water storage tanks ensure a

constant supply of domestic hot water for the occupants. The Aquarea Monobloc has a COP of 5.08 for the new 5kW range, is quiet in operation and offers a sustainable alternative to traditional boilers with zero emissions at point of use and a lower carbon cost than mains gas, oil, LPG and direct electric. All residents will benefit from reduced heating and hot water bills. Tony Lathey, Panasonic’s UK air to water pre-sales manager, said: “Up to 80%*2 of the energy generated by air source heat pump comes from the air, with electricity making up the remaining 20%, so not only is this an extremely cost-effective alternative, but it is also environmentally friendly. With increasingly volatile energy prices, an air source heat pump is a great option to reduce overall energy bills by up to 60% (when compared to fossil fuel alternatives).” The Aquarea Monobloc line-up can maintain the heat pump output capacity until -15°C outdoor temperature without the help of an electrical booster heater. The range is designed and produced by Panasonic and among the technologies listed on the International Energy Agency (IEA) Blue Map, whose goal is to reduce CO2 emissions to half the levels emitted in

2005 by the year 2050.

*1 Available via qualified Panasonic Accredited Installers subject to T&C’s. *2 Compared to a direct electric system. Information provided by Aquarea customer.

Volume 5 No.6

17/09/2019 17:07

HEAT PUMPS

Kensa makes room to grow More jobs on the way as manufacturer prepares for further expansion.

British ground source heat pump manufacturer Kensa Heat Pumps has begun construction of a new 900m2 manufacturing and office facility at its current home in Cornwall. Coinciding with its 20th year anniversary, the new premises at the former Mount Wellington Mine will enable Kensa to produce 30,000 ground source heat pumps every year, which it says will provide carbon savings equivalent to taking 60,000 cars off the road. The privately-funded expansion is due for completion in January 2020 and will make Kensa the largest low carbon business in Cornwall, providing at capacity 150 jobs. With an existing market share of almost 50%, Kensa forecasts annual growth of around 50% as regulations are introduced to outlaw the use of high carbon fossil fuels, particularly in new build housing in just six years time. James Standley, managing director of Kensa Heat Pumps, said: “Kensa’s new manufacturing facility provides us with the capability to build on what we started here in Cornwall 20 years ago, and make a huge impact on the UK’s transition to a low carbon economy. Whilst we are the UK’s number one ground source heat pump supplier for the seventh consecutive year, we remain proudly Cornish, with a strong local workforce and infrastructure. As pioneers for renewables back in 1999, it is testament to the Kensa Group’s quality, The site from above

From left, Craig Pascoe, HSBC UK business banking relationship manager), Simon Lomax, Kensa Group CEO), and Sarah Newton, MP for Truro and Falmouth

service, and expertise, that we will now be the largest, privately funded, renewable business in the County.”

Significant role Like Kensa’s current factory, the new premises will have underfloor heating and hot water fed by a ground source heat pump harnessing heat from water from the flooded mine workings below. Simon Lomax, CEO of the Kensa Group, said: “Kensa has emerged as the county’s

largest employer in the low carbon heat sector and the new facility will provide our committed workforce with an exceptional workspace. Kensa is the long-established UK market leader and we expect to grow at a rapid rate in the years ahead as the appeal of ground source heat pumps become apparent to all.” Sarah Newton, MP for Truro and Falmouth, said: “It has been a pleasure to watch Kensa grow over the past decade. I am delighted that they continue to create well-paid jobs in Cornwall. Ground source heat pumps will play an increasingly significant role in meeting the Government’s 2030 net zero carbon target.” A finance package from HSBC has been provided for the new premises. Mark Self, business banking area director, said: “We’re committed to helping sustainability businesses thrive, so it’s been fantastic to see Kensa expand its facilities to react to increasing demand for more eco-friendly heating systems. This is particularly pertinent as the UK commits to becoming carbon neutral by 2050. We’re looking forward to seeing the new factory take shape as the business continues to grow and invest in the local area.” www.kensaheatpumps.com

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H E AT P U MP S

Residents feel the benefit Ground source district heating system cuts bills by 56% and reduces energy use by 70%. Housing association residents in Suffolk are enjoying warm homes with significantly lower heating bills, thanks to a new communal ground source heat pump. Norfolk-based renewable heating expert Finn Geotherm has completed the district heating system in In partnership with Gasway Services, part of Flagship Group. Owned and managed by housing association Flagship, the 21 bungalows in Quayside Court in Lakenheath were built

during the 1970s. Heating was provided by individual electric storage heaters and a shared oil boiler, which were inefficient and expensive to run. Having completed an award-winning district heating scheme for Flagship in 2017 for 30 flats in Watton, Finn Geotherm were appointed to design and install a similar solution. The new scheme uses one central ground source heat pump system to provide heating and hot water for all homes on the Two Lämpöässä EMI 43 ground source heat pumps generate all the heating and hot water for each of the 21 homes at Quayside Court (inset)

estate. Heat is collected from under the ground via 14 boreholes installed beneath the parking area and two Lämpöässä EMI 43 ground source heat pumps generate all the heating and hot water for each home. Every bungalow is individually metered and customers are only charged for the energy they use. The heat pump equipment is housed in a standalone plant room meaning that maintenance and servicing can be undertaken without having to disrupt residents in their homes. Residents are now said to be enjoying cheaper energy bills – costing around 56% less than before. Energy use has also been cut by 70%, making a significant impact on carbon emissions and providing a more affordable and efficient living environment. In addition, the installation qualifies for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which assists with the project’s capital cost by providing quarterly payments for 20 years, allowing Flagship to roll out the systems for more customers in the future. Charlie Conley, head of asset investment at Flagship, said: “Working with heating experts such as Finn Geotherm and Gasway allows us to explore further opportunities to reduce the cost of living for our customers, and the savings should make a real difference for them. Quayside Court is our second district heating installation and we hope to see many more in the future. It is also interesting that this technology, which was actually developed in 1945, can help towards tackling fuel poverty.” Guy Ransom, commercial director at Finn Geotherm, said: “We are delighted to complete this second district heating installation for Flagship, which has had such a positive impact on the residents at Quayside Court. Not only does this system eradicate fuel poverty and create homes that they can enjoy living in, but the system will also significantly reduce energy use and cut carbon emissions. It is a pleasure to be working with an organisation which not only puts its customers at the heart of its operations, but also its environmental responsibilities.” www.finn-geotherm.co.uk

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Volume 5 No.6

19/09/2019 11:32

CHANG ING FACE S

JONAS CAINO

LOREDANA GROZA

Airedale International has appointed Jonas Caino to head up its new European data centre solutions Team. With over 20 years in the IT and data centre industry, Jonas has an extensive background in the technology and regularly speaks and writes on data centre design and trends. Tony Cole, managing director of Airedale, said: “We are delighted to welcome Jonas and excited at the potential this new team brings. The appointment is a real signal of intent from Airedale and we have a formidable suite of data centre solutions and talent to enable us to increase our presence in the European market.” Airedale was formed in 1974 to take advantage of the evolving computer market and the subsequent requirement for cooling systems in on-site IT rooms and has constantly evolved its products and services. The newly formed European team will look to build on recent Airedale success in the hyperscale market and deploy their solutions across Europe, particularly in France, Germany, Ireland and The Netherlands.

JS Air Curtains has expanded its team with the appointment of Loredana Groza as technical sales advisor. She will be providing support and assistance in all aspects of air curtain design, specification and installation to consultants, contractors and specifiers. Kerry Jones, UK and Ireland Sales Manager, said: “We are delighted to welcome Loredana to the JS Air Curtains sales team. The company has experienced considerable growth in recent years and Loredana’s appointment will help us maintain the responsive technical assistance our customers rely on.” Loredana, originally from Romania, has three degrees in engineering, environmental science and geology, from studying in Romania and Spain. JS Air Curtains has been supplying air curtains for commercial and industrial applications since 1999. The company offers advice on air curtain projects, system design, supply, service and after-sales support.

www.airedale.com

www.jsaircurtains.com

MIRCO CAUZ

LEE TEBBATT

Mirco Cauz, formerly managing director of CAREL Central and Southern Europe, has been appointed to the role of regional CEO for the Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa Region (EEMEA), reporting directly to Francesco Nalini, CAREL CEO. The regional organisation means the managing directors of CAREL‘S Russia, Middle East, Alfaco Poland, Ukraine, South Africa and Central and Southern Europe subsidiaries will all report to Mr Cauz. He said: “It is an honour for me to be appointed to this prestigious position in a growing group such as CAREL. Our colleagues in the Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa region stand out for their experience and professionalism. It will be a privilege to work with them and together find the best synergies for organising the team and consolidating our presence on the market, by anticipating our customers’ requirements.‘‘ Marco Galluppi, formerly part of the team as business development manager for Turkey & West Asia, is appointed managing director of of CAREL Central and Southern Europe.

Pump specialist Wilo UK has announced the appointment of Lee Tebbatt as managing director. He returns to Burtonon-Trent, where he worked as Midlands sales manager in 2004-5, and said: "I’m delighted to be joining Wilo UK again at what is a really exciting time for the business. I’m confident that we can make huge strides in the various markets we are currently targeting and I’m looking forward to leading the company to new heights as we maximise upon the resources we have here in the UK and the support we have from our colleagues in Europe.”Lee recently spent three years as new business director for ERIKS UK, part of SHV Holdings, a large family owned organisation based in the Netherlands, with a global turnover of around €18.6 billion. Prior to that he was managing director of Uponor Building Energy, formerly Velta UK, from 2011-2015, and before that was brand sales director at BSS Industrial. He takes over from Andy O’Brien, who has been interim managing director for the past few months. The company publicly thanked Andy for a "phenomenal job'' whilst the process of finding a new managing director took place.

www.carel.com

www.wilo.co.uk

DATA CENTRE SOLUTIONS, AIREDALE

REGIONAL CEO, CAREL

TECHNICAL SALES ADVISOR, JS AIR CURTAINS

MANAGING DIRECTOR, WILO UK

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C H ILLY CH AT T E R

GRANT EXTENDS BATH RUGBY BACKING

The winning team from Coolair Manchester at the first Fujitsu/TQ Environmental golf day

Coolair cruise on first Fujitsu/TQ golf day Fujitsu and gas detection specialists TQ Environmental staged their first annual golf day at Hollins Hall Golf and Country Club in Yorkshire. The winning team, by a

Craig Peebles, Brian Kelly and Andy Stanford from the TF Solutions team

TEAM TF TAKES TOP BILLING AT OLD HORNS

A TF Solutions team featuring Brian Kelly, Andy Stanford, Mark Hawkey and Craig Peebles won the Stableford competition at the 32nd Hampshire Refrigeration Society golf tournament at Old Horns. There had been a damp start to proceedings as more than 100 competitors tackling the Texas Scrambles but the sun emerged for the main event, with Kooltech runners-up, Woodland Group third and RW Refrigeration Wholesale fourth. JAVAC dominated the Texas Scrambles, with team 2 winners off the 1st tee and team 1 winners off the 10th tee. Runners-up were Wolseley and Kooltech, respectively. Best gross score went to Paul Airey of Oceanair and the best nett to Lee Chard of ICS Cool Energy, with Andrew Powles as runner-up. There were also 12 nearest the pin and longest drive prizes and 6 individual handicap prizewinners, including Nick Wilks, Paul Whitty, Greg Lindley, Scott Smith, Steve Taylor and Nathan Growns.

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clear margin, was Coolair Manchester, who claimed 9 birdies and 1 eagle along the way. Nick Wilks, national distribution sales manager at Fujitsu General Air Conditioning UK, said: “TQ Environmental are a key partner of ours and holding the first joint golf event together proved to be a great success.” Gary Hall, managing director, TQ Environmental, said: “It was such a friendly environment and great to see everyone enjoying themselves, a true testament to the nature of the day and the relationships we both hold with our customers.”

Grant UK is backing Bath Rugby for a fifth consecutive year. The firm became a Business Partner of the club in 2015 with the objective of using home games to strengthen and build relationships with customers. Since then, Grant UK has hosted guests in its hospitality box at The Rec supporting the squad in both domestic and European competitions. Managing director Paul Wakefield said: “Over the past few seasons, Grant UK’s ties with Bath Rugby have strengthened so we are very pleased to announce our fifth year as a Business Partner of the club. We are looking forward to welcoming our customers and staff to the Rec to watch another season unfold.”

Adventurers raise £10,000 for charity

A team from Birmingham-based M&E specialist J S Wright tackled a tough physical challenge in Snowdonia and raised more than £10,000 for charity. The 12 directors, employees and friends cycled, trekked and kayaked for six hours over a 36km route in a Snowdon Triple Challenge in memory of their colleague, Stuart Rouse, who died from cancer last year. They beat their target of raising £10,000 for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, which supports the Royal Marsden Hospital, the leading cancer centre that treated Stuart, who was a foreman at a work site and a close friend of the team.

The J S Wright team, back, from left, Simon Newland, Phil Leech, John Stevenson, Matt Coy, Ryan Quinlan, Gerry Rea, John Heggs, Julie Wilcox, Alan Whyte and Jamie Dove. Front: Lucy Heggs and Chris Lyonså

Volume 5 No.6

19/09/2019 11:34

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Style. It’s in the air. Samsung’s 360 Cassette offers a stylish approach to comfort as the world’s first circular air conditioner. The circular cutting-edge design effectively and evenly discharges cool air to obtain optimal comfort, while fitting seamlessly into the design of any space. Due to its bladeless design, the velocity of the discharged air remains unaffected which results in an absence of cold drafts.

samsung.com/360cassette

p68_acroctnov19.indd 1 NLP19100001_SEACE_360Cassette_Ad_210x297_ACRJournal_Def01db.indd 1

19/09/2019 12/03/2019 10:44 14:04