Turbo air, a Long Beach, Calif.-based foodservice equipment manufacturer, has completely transitioned its product line this year to hydrocarbons. either R290 or R600a, the latest in a series of OEMs that have converted to hydrocarbon refrigerants.
“It was a very expensive process to switch, but we said, it’s the right thing to do, it’s going to save energy, so we’re going to do it,” said Mike DiDaniels, a manufacturers representative for Turbo air.
The company had a slew of ETL-certified hydrocarbon units on display at the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show in May, including club top beer dispensers (R600a), curved glass bakery cases (R290), back bars (R290/R600a), bottle coolers (R600a), glass/mug frosters (R290), vertical open display cases (R290) and swing-door merchandisers.
The hydrocarbon units are 20%-25% more efficient than R134a or R404A, said DiDaniels, adding that 75 models meet the ENERGY STAR 4.0 efficiency standard. They are designed for a wide range of food retailers, including grocers, convenience stores, drug outlets ands school cafeterias.
Turbo air runs its own service network across its 13 U.S. branches, noted DiDaniels. “We’re one of the few companies that does. It makes servicing a lot easier.”
Most of Turbo Air’s units employ a self-cleaning condenser, which includes a fine mesh filter at the front to catch dust, and a rotating brush that moves up and down once a day to push excess buildup out of the unit.
Other foodservice equipment OEMs that have made the transition to hydrocarbons include True Manufacturing, Welbilt (Delfield), and Beverage Air.
“It was a very expensive process to switch, but we said, it’s the right thing to do, it’s going to save energy, so we’re going to do it.”
Mike DiDaniels, Turbo air
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