The industrial refrigeration chain is leaning toward digitalization and sustainability

The cold chain is the control exercised over food within the supply chain, from food production to its display, sale or consumption. It is thus the state of temperature in which the product must remain so that it does not suffer contamination or lose its nutritional qualities, a key issue in the Hospitality sector.

Fruits, meat, seafood, fish, vegetables, dairy products, among others, are some of the foods that depend on a more exhaustive cold preservation.  Thus, having quality equipment that generates cold temperatures helps food to be preserved for days, weeks, months and even years, which also means a reduction in food costs and benefits restaurants and other venues.

In Guext, organized by IFEMA MADRID in collaboration with FELAC (Spanish Federation of Associations of Manufacturers of Machinery for Hospitality, Collectivities and Related Industries), professionals can discover from 18 to 21 October a selection of machinery that ensure the preservation of cold. From refrigeration chambers, showcases, bottle racks or refrigeration cabinets, among the options, attendees will find the latest specialized equipment on the market from the exhibiting companies participating in the first edition of the fair.

News on the cold chain
The study of the Association of Cold Storage, Logistics and Distribution of Spain (ALDEFE) states that the cold chain is vital for the food sector that contributes 800,000 million euros to the European economy. It also reveals that, in the European Union, almost 29 million tons of food are wasted every year, while more than 32 million people do not have access to a quality meal every other day. This underlines the importance of cold chain operators in implementing systems and strategies to redistribute food at risk of wastage. Ensuring that this food is adequately available is a crucial responsibility for all actors in the supply chain.

Trends in industrial refrigeration: towards greater energy efficiency

Efficient refrigeration machines use green gases, such as R-290 and R-600, which are more efficient and environmentally friendly. Opting for these machines not only allows compliance with environmental regulations, but also ensures better performance and longer equipment life.

Thus, although the initial cost of the equipment may represent a large investment, opting for sustainable refrigeration equipment is a smart decision for any hospitality business. This is an effective way to save costs and energy, but it is also a concern for environmental protection and improved operational efficiency.

Technology as a key to safety and efficient control

In this sense, brands are implementing measures such as wireless temperature control systems for cold rooms with which to receive alerts in case of failures and consultation from the cell phone with all the information in real time. Some cold room temperature control systems include data logging and analysis functions, which help to identify patterns and trends in temperature control and improve the efficiency and safety of the operation. They also excel in their ability to optimize power consumption, monitor temperature and facilitate predictive maintenance.

Proper installation, maintenance and servicing of this equipment together with new sensing techniques, artificial intelligence and efficient and sustainable techniques form a perfect combination to preserve the cold chain.