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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