Despite the increasing popularity of counter fridges, the upright cabinet is still the biggest seller in commercial refrigeration, yet they can account for a significant portion of a kitchens energy use.
At Williams, all our cabinet fridges are engineered to help operators reduce running costs without compromising on performance. They offer exceptional reliability, flexibility and food safety alongside energy saving features.
For example, our one door Jade refrigerated cabinet now boasts an A energy rating, offering operators significant energy savings.
Uprights come in a huge range of sizes – gastronorm, non-gastronorm, slimline, single door, double door, glass fronted, half door etc. The refrigeration system can be mounted on the top or the bottom. Typically upright cabinets range in capacity from 410 litres (like the Williams Amber A400) to 1295 litres (such as the two door Garnet G2T and the Jade J2).
Key energy considerations
Food safety: A high performance cabinet is critical to keep food safe there’s no point in buying a model that uses less energy but can’t keep the ingredients at the right temperature. Make sure to ask the supplier to confirm performance levels.
Energy Labels: Most professional storage fridges are required to display energy labels, helping buyers make informed decisions. Each commercial counter fridge is rated from A+++ (most efficient) to G (least efficient), allowing operators to quickly compare performance and identify energy-saving equipment that meets their needs.
Intelligent Controllers: Modern refrigerated cabinets feature smart controllers, precisely controlling the temperature to minimise energy consumption all while ensuring food safety. Clear displays help staff to monitor the unit easily.
Evaporator Fans: Using the best components such as evaporator fans will improve heat rejection for greater efficiency and reduced energy consumption.
Removable Pod Refrigeration System: If there is a breakdown, the engineer can simply pull out the refrigeration system pod, replace it with a working one, and take the faulty unit away to service, without disrupting the kitchen.
Self-closing Doors: It’s all too easy for staff to leave a door open, which is an absolute no-no in terms of reducing energy consumption as cold air escapes. Make sure your cabinet has self-closing doors.
Hydrocarbon Refrigerants: Natural refrigerant such as hydrocarbons (like R290 or R600a) are environmentally friendly, with low global warming potential and zero ozone depletion. Hydrocarbons are very efficient, which increases cooling capabilities, translating to lower energy consumption and operational costs. Find out more about natural refrigerants here.
High Performance Insulation: The better the insulation, the more thermally efficient the cabinet will be. Choosing cabinets with high quality insulation such as precision injected, high density 80mm polyurethane provides maximum thermal properties while strengthening the cabinet further.
Take a look at our range of cabinets here.