Chiller Hire Success: Keeping a Food Packaging Cold Store Operational
The Challenge
One of our partners urgently required a high-performance cold storage chiller & fan coil hire package for their customer—a major player in the food packaging industry. The customer operates a large cold store facility, where precise low temperatures are vital to preserve food products and maintain strict hygiene standards.
Their existing cooling system had begun to fail, and the lead time for replacement equipment was far too long to risk. Without a fast and effective solution they faced production downtime, potential stock loss, and non-compliance with food safety regulations.
The challenge was urgent and multifaceted:
-
Deliver and install a powerful chiller & fan coil system quickly to replicate their existing failed system.
-
Ensure the cold store maintained consistent low temperatures across multiple large rooms.
-
Avoid disruption to operations and eliminate potential hazards during installation and hire.
The Solution
Our engineering team immediately got to work designing a custom chiller hire package tailored to the needs of a food-grade cold store environment.
We specified a setup that included:
-
2 x 125kW Chillers
- 200m of Flexible Hoses
-
100m of Armaflex Lagging
This package was selected to maintain sub-zero or near-zero temperatures essential for food storage, across two large temperature-controlled rooms.
Key implementation features:
-
Minimal disruption: Chillers were placed in a secluded area at the back of the unit, minimising space usage and disruption to ongoing operations.
-
Safe flexible hose routing design: With over 200 meters of lagged flexible hoses, we ensured there were no trip hazards by routing the flow and return pipework through building cut-outs and over doorways using elevated temporary structures.
-
Condensate management: Operating at low temperatures generates significant condensation, which can be a slipping hazard. To prevent this, we supplied condensate pumps for each chiller and fan coil combo, directing excess water into IBCs and ensuring the site remained safe and compliant.
The Result
The temporary cold storage chiller hire solution was delivered and installed in record time. The cold store quickly reached the necessary temperatures, keeping production running and food products safely preserved. There was virtually no downtime or disruption to the client’s operations.
The equipment has continued to perform reliably, maintaining strict temperature requirements with high efficiency. The client remains satisfied with the seamless delivery and ongoing performance, with the system still in use and scheduled to remain in place until the end of summer.
“The project went really well—great cooperation between the customer and all teams at Celsius Hire. The engineers delivered a smooth install which has kept the customer happy and their production rooms cool!”
Check out out industry page to find out more about cold food storage and how we can support this sector.
