Seward

SEWARD REFRIGERATION LTD

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SEWARD REFRIGERATION LTD

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I PROFILE

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Seward Refrigeration Ltd is a successful, independent, UK company, specialising in the design, installation, service and maintenance of industrial and commercial refrigeration systems. These days, its work includes both cooling and heating. Mark Culley, Technical Director, told Hannah Barnett more about the new objectives of the business. is little surprise that a company with

IT

A history of chilling

a name like Seward Refrigeration

Seward Refrigeration began as Rock

has spent the last 30 years per-

Refrigeration in 1966, run by Bob Seward.

fecting the cooling process. But now, it is

It is still a family firm, with Bob’s son Brian

expanding these capabilities to provide a

taking over as MD in 1993 to form the

truly sustainable solution for clients. This

present company.

means one that includes heating too: “We are moving into heating areas, like

As it passes its 30th year of trading, Seward is aiming for a turnover of £16

district heat mains and air or water source

million. “We’ve come from the grassroots,

applications for industrial estates,” said

in my opinion,” Mr Culley reflected, “from

Technical Director Mark Culley. “I’m doing

producing condensing unit systems for

loads of concepts, absolutely loads of them.

small food businesses, all the way to

“The UK is just entering the heat recovery

projects for some of the largest manu-

market. Seward were originally freezing and chilling. Now we are freezing, chilling

facturers in the UK.” Operations are supported by three

and heating, up to 95 degrees. We are

offices, in Manchester, Leeds and

going to be taking heat out of the air, from

Norwich, with 75 staff employed. The

down to minus five degrees, and gener-

personnel number has grown signifi-

ating 95-degree hot water. This is nothing

cantly from 36 around eighteen months

to do with refrigeration, other than there’s

ago, reflecting the period of growth

a fridge plant in the middle of it.”

Seward is enjoying.

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SEWARD REFRIGERATION

I PROFILE

explained. “We then use a pump to generate hot water for under floor heating applications, void heating, office space or even production. We can provide hot water for pasteurisation or in bakeries on provers.

“Instead of wasting loads of power to cool the application and then throwing the waste heat out, we use it in conjunction. It’s like a handshake principle, to generate hot water rather than using LPG which damages the environment.”

Cost reducing, planet saving Seward can save its clients millions of tonnes of CO 2 emissions by harvesting Now, the company is embracing the potential of the waste heat produced

and reusing heat.

The company also promotes other

by its refrigeration systems, which in

sustainable solutions by avoiding chem-

traditional industrial settings can make

ical water treatment where possible and

up 50 to 60% of power consumption.

looking at alternative designs of hybrid

“With one central system, we can

condensers. It also offers a choice of

harvest all that waste heat instead of

refrigerants to suit a client’s applications

ejecting it into the atmosphere,” Mr Culley

and preferences, including natural,

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environmentally friendly options like

what we do then is advise on the lowest

ammonia and propane. Not all customers

Global Warming Potential (GWP) HFO

are yet ready to take the plunge with

refrigerant, to stay well below the 1,500

ammonia, though.

GWP range.”

“There’s a cost involved,” Mr Culley said.

As a refrigerant, ammonia is the most

“Some customers, depending on the

sustainable option on the market, with

cooling capacity they already have,

a GWP of zero. It is also very cheap,

won’t want to spend the money installing

with high thermodynamic properties

a category four ammonia system. So

that make it 60 to 70% more efficient

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SEWARD REFRIGERATION

I PROFILE

Pressure Equipment Directives from the UKCA, meaning the likelihood of getting a pipe rupture is very slim.

“The chances of getting a breach in terms of a leak are pretty much minimal, unless it’s due to neglect, not following the maintenance procedure or someone has deliberately put a screwdriver through a coil,” Mr Culley added.

“But ammonia is only viable in systems than other options. It has a COP heat

that are over 300 to 350 kilowatts in

transfer rate of seven, as opposed

cooling. The main reason is because

to other refrigerants which are closer

of the leak detection system, EN 378

to two or three.

requirements and safety parameters that

“Ammonia is a sustainable medium for

we must meet. And because the systems

the future,” Mr Culley explained. “It’s not

have been managed properly, we’ve

a man-made refrigerant like some newer

never really had a concern.”

HFO refrigerants that are blends of three different types of chemicals, less effi-

The sustainable outlook

cient and very expensive in comparison.

The future is clearly bright for Seward,

One tonne of ammonia is probably going

backed by the strength and experience

to cost about £1,500. One tonne of HFO

of its team. The company is confident in

449A costs £32,000: and there are more

its ability to add value to clients, and using

leaks with the HFOs, because the addi-

this wealth of knowledge it provides

tives and chemicals shrink the seals, so

consultancy services for companies,

it’s very expensive.”

of all sizes, around the world.

The downside to using ammonia is its

“We’re one of the leading private inde-

toxicity, which is why Seward upholds

pendent companies in the UK,” Mr Culley

such stringent regulations, such as

said. “The standard of installation and

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design sets us apart. Our experience, across a vast temperature range, will far outweigh others in standards, speed of installation and commercial value. We have highly talented

For Mr Culley, working in the field since

engineering staff that are loyal to us. And

the age of 18, it is the endless potential of

we all work hard towards the same goal.”

the industry that makes it such a dynamic

Seward also maintains a strong relationship with its network of partners

and inspiring one to be a part of.

“No two days are ever truly the

and suppliers; something that is crucial

same,” he concluded. “We’re heating

to the company’s success, according

one minute, then we’re freezing, chilling,

to Mr Culley: “Our suppliers are

or doing a whole factory design: I don’t

probably the most important people,

get bored. Of course, there are some

along with our clients. We only deal

tough times and challenges, but I enjoy

with suppliers that meet certain criteria

the task of working to add value for

and standards.

a client.

“A good relationship with a supplier is

“And I also like interacting with new

unavoidable when we are ordering thou-

people. It’s the whole package, extending

sands of pounds worth of equipment on

from the client base to the solution-

a weekly or monthly basis from them.

finding, the design and the finished

That’s just how natural business syner-

article, whilst working alongside a great

gies work. Plus, the deliverability must

team. We strive to meet the expectations

be right, on all levels, because without

of our clients and look towards the future

that, we can’t function.”

with confidence.”

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