Imperial announces change to 245fa blowing agent.

Posted in Green Posted in Recommended Reading by Rick on 07/03 at 01:20 AM

Imperial Manufacturing changed to 245fa blowing agent used in polyurethane foam production June 1.

Imperial now joins leading walk in cooler / freezer manufacturers in providing the highest R value panels available. Imperial 4” panels exceed federal 2009 freezer standards and Imperial’s unique 3-1/2” panel exceed federal 2009 cooler standards! These standards will go into effect January 1, 2009 as required by the US Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

We cover all this information and more in our “Countdown To Implementation: Energy Independence Act 2007” web site.

While Imperial exceeds 2009 federal standards with minimal thicknesses of panel, we strongly believe in maximum energy savings.  That means going far beyond federal minimums. California Energy Commission (and Oregon Building Code in 2009) already requires R values considerably higher than federal standards. Cooler panels need to be 4” thick and freezer panels need to be 5” thick to meet these standards. We have met these stringent standards since inception and, in fact, are the first Walk-in manufacturer to be tested and validated by an Energy Star testing agency.  Imperial is receiving energy incentive rebates for its industry-leading Walk-in Cooler and Freezer systems.

Bookmark this site for regular updates.

Product Security Helps Foodservice Businesses Handle Cost Control

Posted in Recommended Reading by mmathews on 06/16 at 09:18 PM

Cost control is an essential part of the foodservice business and refrigerated or frozen product is a high-cost area for loss. A door carelessly opened or left unlocked in an area away from employee scrutiny can leak profits.

Lock hasps are a simple method for securing walk-in cooler and freezer contents. While the main advantage is avoiding product loss, the secondary advantage of access control ensures that product is not exposed to undue harm from exposure to heat or other damaging conditions by unauthorized entrances.

Using a cylinder lock in the latch is a substitute for using a hasp. Cylinder locks require more care with key security because the lock cannot be changed immediately. Lost or misplaced keys can require expensive replacement of the cylinder on an irregular basis.

Physical Mounting
Hasps are secured to the door frame using tamper-proof fasteners and are thermally separated from the inside temperature. The staples are mounted on the door using a through-bolt inside release. This configuration placing a staple on the door and the hasp on the frame is the most secure against forced entry because it places the most force against the heavier built frame instead of the lighter door panel.

Hasps can be defeated, even with tamper proof bolts; a locking bar is an even more secure method for protecting product in walk-in coolers and freezers.

The locking bar uses two staples, one mounted on either side of the door through the frame. The staples are mounted to the door frame using a threaded rod and a twist-off inside release on the interior. Once the bar is in place, there is no access to the mounting hardware because the hardware is covered by the bar. The main drawback to a locking bar is that two locks are required, one for each side of the door, both locks must be removed to open the door. Using two locks adds some minor complexity to maintaining keys for the locks, but locks can be quickly replaced and keys can be synched.

Keys Versus Combinations
Keyed locks are preferred because keys control access physically, a person must have a key in order to access the secure area. Combination locks are not recommended because control of the secure factor, the combination, is easily passed along from one person to the next and replicated each time it is passed along; controlling physical keys is much more secure.

More About Tamperproof Fasteners
Tamperproof fasteners provide an extra level of security by making it very difficult for unauthorized persons to remove hinges and latches. Without the proper tools and access, tamperproof fasteners are extremely difficult to remove, foiling quick attempts to pilfer product by removing hardware. Many styles and designs of tamperproof fasteners are available to handle specific situations, matching various security requirements and tool designs.

For more information on securing walk-in coolers and freezers, call or (1-800-238-4093).

Gear Up For The 2nd Annual Commuter Challenge

Posted in Green by Rick on 05/30 at 06:18 PM

A bunch of us had fun with this last year, so let’s try to beat our record: the Commuter Challenge is back on from June 1 through August 31.

You know I enjoy this. Anytime I can cut the cost of commuting and get a chance to ride my bike to work. OK, some days I cheat and use the MAX line to get over, or under, the hills, but at least I give it a try. Here’s our press release on our involvement this year

A whole bunch of us won awards from the WTA last year and we had some fun getting the awards. So who’s up for the Commuter Challenge this year?

FE&S Remarks on New National Walk-in Cooler and Freezer Requirements

Posted in Green Posted in Recommended Reading by Rick on 05/19 at 09:04 PM

Foodservice Equipment and Supplies Magazine released an article on May 13, 2008, covering the new national requirements for walk-in coolers and freezers to be implemented on January 1, 2009. This gives everyone about seven months to gear up for this change, but we’ve been working with the technologies specified in this requirement for years.

Dan Greenberg, Associate Director, E Source, writes about the new rulings required nationally and how only five states are currently working with similar requirements: California, Connecticut, Maryland, Oregon or Rhode Island. The bill was signed into law by President Bush in December 2007 and goes into effect on January 1, 2009.

According to Greenberg, ....” an analysis conducted for Pacific Gas & Electric in advance of California’s adoption of these standards, these features will add, on average, slightly less than $1,000 to the cost of a walk-in. The good news is that they’ll cut energy consumption by as much as 55 percent, yielding a simple payback to the user of 1.5 years for freezers and 3.4 years for refrigerators, on average.”

Our own Paul Nastari recently published two articles in FCSI’s The Consultant covering energy-efficiency and the technologies used in walk-in coolers and freezers. You can read both these articles to get a very good understanding of the technology and background behind conforming to these new regulations.

FCSI Quarter 4 2007 - R You Insulated Against the Next Phase (Out)? (PDF)

FCSI Quarter 1 2008 - Capturing Financial Savings through Energy Efficiency in Commercial Refrigeration (PDF)

Comment here or give Paul a call if you want to discuss how to handle these regulations.

Energy-Efficiency and Alternative Energy Ranked Highest by 37% of Americans

Posted in Green by mmathews on 05/01 at 03:38 AM

Energy is on American minds everywhere these days. A recent survey of the FECDA in Virgina found that 37% of respondents ranked spending on energy-efficiency and alternative-fuel technology a top priority for future investment, and a second survey in Britain reveals similar priorities. This issue hits home with foodservice businesses.

We are working pretty hard with our customers in foodservice and other industries to help lower energy use and the accompanying costs through better, and sometimes “green”, technologies. Many subsidies are available from federal, state and local governments and utility companies, that will pay for a large portion or possibly the entire cost of the upgrade. So these energy-efficiency efforts just make good business sense, and now they make customer-interest sense, too.

The interest in saving energy and reducing costs is only going to rise for the foreseeable future, so this is a great time to stay in step with the public and show that our businesses can be publicly responsible and still be profitable. In fact, many of these energy-efficient solutions return higher cash flow and greater profitability within months. Given a choice, this survey indicates customers will find an energy-efficient solution more attractive, whether that is a fuel-efficient delivery vehicle or a energy-efficient walk-in cooler or freezer.

You can read the entire FECDA report on their web site. Additional energy and cost-savings technical information is available from this web site, including information on the hidden costs of using pre-charged line sets, and the efficiencies of using split systems versus self-contained systems. More information on how Imperial Manufacturing approaches energy-efficiency is available from your Imperial representative.

State Policies On Energy Savings--Look For Effects On Walk-in Coolers & Freezers

Posted in Green by Rick on 04/17 at 04:17 AM

Here is another very good web site to see what the latest legislative picture on energy efficiency is for your state.  Alliance to Save Energy.

This contact information came from the State Energy Efficiency Policy Bulletin, your connection to legislative, regulatory, and industry news from accross the country.

Kickplates: Essential Protection for Walk-in Cooler and Freezer Doors

Posted in Recommended Reading by mmathews on 04/16 at 08:53 PM

Walk-in cooler and freezer doors withstand a number of assaults over time. One of the more immediately devastating assaults is damage from mechanical transports like forklifts, pallet jacks and even hand truck blades. A simple kickplate will not stop a forklift from piercing the door, but the kickplate can stop modest damage and maintain the environmental integrity of the interior of the unit or space.

Even simple push carts or hand trucks can degrade a door over time. The act of opening a door with the hand truck blade or the ends of a cart cause wear and eventually break down the door surface unless it is protected. Mounting a kickplate can avoid damage requiring the door to be replaced before it’s standard lifetime.

Kickplates are mounted on each side of an R-Plus door using screws and sealed with color-matching silicone. This mounting process maintains the integrity of the door finish underneath the kickplate, further enhancing the longevity of the door. The kickplates prevent unsightly damage and maintain the integrity of the interior environment by protecting against puncture, but they can also be quickly replaced in less time and at less cost than replacing a full door.

Available finishes are standard in 1/8-inch aluminum, 18-gauge stainless steel, and 16-gauge galvanized steel. But special orders are available through consultation with your R-Plus Doors factory representative. Stainless steel is the best surface for corrosive environments, especially those exposed to salt-laden sea air, and in manufacturing facilities that are constantly in wash-down cycles. Aluminum is the next best choice for these corrosive environments; galvanized steel will eventually develop rust, especially in where exposed to external environments.

Although kickplates do add weight to a door, this is rarely an issue. In some installations, on extremely large doors, the additional weight can require the use of a heavier-duty hinge or an additional hinge. R-Plus sliding door hangers are already designed to manage heavier weight than the standard doors and easily manage the addition of kickplates.

Obviously, using a kickplate has many advantages. Kickplates extend the service life of the door, protect the door from common bumps and scrapes during typical use, and are quickly replaced when necessary while maintaining the integrity of the environment they enclose. For more information on kickplate options or R-Plus Doors, contact your local R-Plus Doors representative.

Smith & Greene Installs Imperial Walk-in Cooler at Tutta Bella in Seattle

Posted in Projects by mmathews on 04/14 at 06:43 PM

Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria and Wine Bar, Seattle, WA
This small, local pizzeria has grown to 3 stores in Seattle with another reported to open in Woodinville in 2009. Because they make their dough fresh, the walk-in cooler needs capacity and air movement. 

Due to the unique site in Westlake the cooler has to take on some interesting challenges with beams, columns and a mezzanine, not to mention the entrance is at an angle with a ramp. Despite all that was going on with this plan, Smith & Greene and Imperial answered the call. A great place, with an elegant pizzeria atmosphere this site has excellent neighborhood views into the heart of Seattle. Check out their web site for more about this fantastic pizzeria and their coveted Verace Pizza Napoletana “VPN” certification.

Whether planning new construction or remodeling an existing space, a proper analysis and specification can win big bottom line rewards on an annual energy usage basis and on the overall construction investment. Contact our nearest rep to see what savings might be available in your project.

Curtis Restaurant Equip Installs Imperial Walk-in Cooler at Albany, OR, Sizzler

Posted in Projects by mmathews on 04/14 at 06:01 PM

Sizzler Steak House, Albany, Oregon
Curtis Restaurant Equipment and Imperial Manufacturing supplied Sizzler with an outdoor walk-in cooler/freezer combination that substantially increased Sizzler’s growing demand for cold storage without consuming any more of their valuable kitchen space. 

On this project the City of Albany required structural calculation of the walk-in, requiring that the walk-in would stand up to the worst imaginable weather conditions as well as a catastrophic event, if one were to arise. Working with Miller Consulting Engineers, Imperial provided a walk-in that both meets the Sizzler’s growing needs but also is extremely safe from a structural standpoint.

In many cases Imperial’s walk-ins do not require any changes to the normal construction approach. In this particular case, Miller Consulting Engineers recommended a moment frame to ensure stability of the walk-in under the most extreme conditions. Imperial Manufacturing constructed and incorporated a steel moment frame at a very minimal cost, giving Sizzler’s of Albany a very useful and safe cold storage walk-in.

Whether planning new construction or remodeling an existing space, a proper analysis and specification can win big bottom line rewards on an annual energy usage basis and on the overall construction investment. Contact our nearest rep to see what savings might be available in your project.

Refrigeration 101 Class for Walk-in Coolers and Freezers

Posted in Imperial Ideas Posted in Recommended Reading by Rick on 04/10 at 05:24 AM

We just finished up our annual Refrigeration 101 class.  This internal 8 week college level course covers all aspects of basic refrigeration as it applies to walk in coolers and freezers. 

All sales, service and design staff at Imperial are required to pass this course to insure the staff can provide expert application assistance to our customers.  Graduates of this year’s course are Bruce Garrett, Design; Freddy Rodriguez, Design; Jeff Thomas, Service; JP Karleskint, Sales; Nick Stahl, Sales; Rex Plombon, Accounting; Rick Jones, Sales; and Rob Loucks, Sales.

We also developed a modified version of this course - Introduction to Refrigeration - to be made available to our customers.  The course consists of two 2.5 hour sessions (can be done in one day - morning & afternoon or two separate days). The sessions provide attendees with an excellent foundation in basic refrigeration as it applies to walk-in coolers and freezers, as well as refrigerated cabinets. 

We’d be happy to schedule this course at your location either face to face or via webinar.  Leave me a comment here for more information on this very informative course.

US States Moving Forward on Energy Efficiency Legislation

Posted in Green by Rick on 04/08 at 09:46 PM

I was surprised to see that nearly half of the States in the Union have legislative items in the works relating to energy efficiency.  This website gives us, in condensed format, a summary of the ongoing state projects.  Note that most of the projects deal with updating current building code from and energy savings perspective.  While each State listed may not be working on projects dealing with commercial refrigeration, you can be sure that discussions are in works at some level.

An excellent website that gives a State by State summary of utility incentives is www.dsireusa.com . 

Energy savings strategies are essential in business planning at all levels.  Commercial Refrigeration, especially in the Foodservice category has tremendous upside potential in energy savings approaches.  Microprocessor based control systems on refrigeration equipment from Heatcraft and high performance polyurethane foam insulation systems from BASF are among the highest energy savings protocols in this category.

Demand Defrost Benefits Disrupted By Well-Meaning Humans

by mmathews on 03/12 at 09:30 PM

Seems that interest in demand defrost is rising. FE&S magazine published an article by E Source analyst John Sustar, that suggests our practice of designing new refrigeration systems with demand defrost is good practice. Unfortunately, he also suggests that industry practice sometimes inadvertently the advantage of demand defrost.

Heatcraft, an Imperial strategic alliance, produces two versions of demand defrost, one for new installations (Beacon II) and one for retrofit or replacement installation (Smart Defrost Kit). We use the Beacon II product as often as possible because, as the FE&S article suggests, it pays back the initial cost in a couple of years and lowers costs in following years.

E Source, an energy industry research and advisory group with a 20-year history in addressing energy efficiency issues, looked into the energy usage and financial aspects of demand defrost and discovered that the benefits paid back quickly, indeed, but human intervention sometimes disrupted the effort. It seems that some refrigeration techs disable the demand defrost system if they make a service call to a malfunction report, this action defeats the design and eliminates any future savings.

Service techs should be aware of the proper process for handling service calls on demand defrost units.

Congratulations to Bargreen-Ellingson, FE&S 2008 Dealer Of The Year

by mmathews on 02/21 at 05:45 PM

It’s not often we get to congratulate an industry member or colleague, so we’ll take this chance to give a hearty congratulations to Bargreen-Ellngson and thank them for being great members of the industry.

We have the opportunity to work with Bargreen-Ellingson on many projects, so this is especially good news to see a company rewarded for good work.

Some of the projects we work together on are reviewed on our web site as Case Studies, Success Stories and Testimonials. We occasionally mention Bargreen-Ellingson in our Blog .

They will will receive the award during FE&Sf annual Dealer of the Year & Industry Awards Gala, May 17 at Chicago’s Four Seasons Hotel. We won’t repeat the entire announcement, you can read it at the FE&S web site.

Energy Savings Government Incentives and Rebates for Walk-in Coolers and Freezers

Posted in Green by Rick on 01/22 at 12:10 AM

In looking at potential energy savings rebates for Walk-in Coolers and Freezers it is apparent that there are multiple State, County, City and Utility programs available in the Pacific Northwest.

I went to a website summarizing Incentive and Rebate program - Dsire.com - and was surprised to see a diverse array of programs ranging from low interest loans, utility rebates, and a variety of regional programs. Of interest, each of these programs required applications ranging from quite simple to very involved. To incorporate the programs into a client presentation, one has to ask, at what level in distribution is the research on these programs handled in order to make effective client presentations. It’s confusing. Oregon utilities seems to have the best approach via the Energy Trust of Oregon. This organization consolidates all utility programs and provides a central clearing house to process applications.

Maverik Country Stores Needed A Unique Walk-in Cooler Solution

Posted in Projects by mmathews on 01/17 at 01:53 AM

Maverik Country Stores, Moab, UT
Adding walk-in cooler capacity to an existing store sometimes calls for thinking outside the walls, something Kelly Irons, construction manager for Maverik Country Stores, was willing to consider when they needed a new
beer cooler installed in three weeks in their Moab store for the Moab Jeep Safari 2007*.

Imperial sales person John Sandall reviewed the remodel and discovered that there was not room inside the store for a cooler of the required size. So architect Jason Sandburg of Dixon & Associates specified that the cooler break through the store wall and be built partly-inside and partly-outside the store, a unique solution to handle the expanded size. Also, the store height kept the cooler from being built with an internal steel structure, so a support beam was installed to support the building structure at the wall opening and to support the cooler ceiling panels.

Then, a couple of weeks before the event, it was discovered that the store did not have 230V 3phase power available, so the refrigeration equipment had to be switched out to 230V 1phase. Heatcraft, an Imperial strategic alliance member, managed to get the proper equipment delivered on time, thanks to Shane Cleveland of F. E. Company.

The fairytale ending? Cobalt Refrigeration completed construction within the critical time requirements and beer sales rose 70% following the remodel. This design worked so well that two more Maverik stores are being remodeled for expansion using the same method.

* Maverik is very in tune with events and outdoor adventures of all types. They use outdoor adventure as the theme for their stores, and have their own reality show airing on the SLC KJZZ TV station.

Papa Murphy’s & Curtis Restaurant Equipment Save Energy

Posted in Projects by mmathews on 01/09 at 12:03 AM

Papa Murphy’s Pizza, Monticello, MN
Papa Murphy’s, Curtis Restaurant Equipment, and Imperial Manufacturing have a longstanding and successful partnership. What makes this latest project in Monticello different is the approach to energy savings. 

Energy is a substantial operating expense to restaurateurs. To help mitigate energy expenses for Papa Murphy’s and their franchisees, Imperial Manufacturing worked closely with Curtis Restaurant Equipment to design an energy savings alternative to the standard Papa Murphy’s walk-in cooler.

Imperial Manufacturing provided an energy analysis comparing the energy savings construction approach vs. the standard construction for Curtis Restaurant Equipment to present to the Papa Murphy’s franchisee. The analysis showed that for a minimal increase on initial cost the Papa Murphy’s franchisee will enjoy annual energy cost savings of $720 at current energy rates in Minnesota. The franchisee will also enjoy an initial investment payback period of less than two years.

Olympic Food Equipment Sales Helps Westwood Baptist Church Serve Their Missions

Posted in Projects by mmathews on 12/20 at 01:41 AM

Westwood Baptist Church, West Olympia, WA
Westwood Baptist Church in West Olympia, Washington, serves the community of Olympia and other sister churches, as well as missions both home and abroad. But their existing kitchen did not meet the expanding needs.

Todd Sillars, Imperial sales person, got a call from the church and joined Olympic Food Equipment Sales, Inc. to help with the project. The church had an existing, small, non-commercial kitchen that was not able to keep up with demands, so a remodel was planned.

Consumer refrigerators could never carry the expanded requirements efficiently, but space was at a premium in the remodel. Todd and Olympic Food Equipment were able to shoehorn a walk-in cooler and freezer combo into a tight 22’-6” x 5’-9” space, giving the kitchen a commercial refrigeration capacity to match their needs.

The new kitchen now replaces the need for the church to cater out of house when they hold their events, a big help for a non-profit with an expanded mission.

Presbyterian Community Care Center Satisfaction

Posted in Projects by mmathews on 11/13 at 06:11 PM

Skip McMillan of Boise Refrigeration rated us on our work on the Presbyterian Community Care Center in Ontario, Oregon. 

Skip gave us a “5”, on a scale of 1 to 5, on every item on our satisfaction survey—except for Problem Resolution, which he says just didn’t apply on this project. Skip even complimented Bart Maslowski and the rest of the Imperial crew for promptly returning phone calls and emails, something we pride ourselves on handling quickly during every project.

Thanks Skip, we look forward to working with you again very soon.

Click here to read Skip’s exact comments.

High Efficiency Scroll Compressors

Posted in Imperial Ideas Posted in Recommended Reading by imperial on 08/31 at 03:30 AM

I just read an excellent case study regarding energy savings through the use of scroll compressors.

In one section of the case study it compares the scroll compressor to a reciprocating compressor on approximately a 9’ x 16’ x 8’ walk-in cooler. The scroll compressor would save an impressive $212 per year on that cooler. This report offers good information on where to find rebates and tax credits for scroll compressors. Click here to download the case study.

Electronically Commutated Motors

Posted in Green by imperial on 08/02 at 05:11 PM

Here is the article’s summary: The current California Energy Commission Report calls for all single phase evaporator fan motors that are smaller than one horsepower and less than 460 volts will be required to have EC Motors on them.

The current California Energy Commission Report calls for all single phase evaporator fan motors that are smaller than one horsepower and less than 460 volts will be required to have EC Motors on them.

The current CEC report can be found at:
CEC-400-2006-002-REV2.PDF.
EC motors have a typical payback period of about 2 ½ years in restaurant applications. A good explanation of ECM technology and some case studies can be found at www.nailor.com.

New Smart Defrost Kit

Posted in Green Posted in Recommended Reading by imperial on 08/02 at 05:02 PM

I just read a press release from Heatcraft & InterLink regarding their new Smart Defrost Kits for walk-in freezers. An independent 3rd party testing company confirmed that the Smart Defrost Kits reduced the number of defrosts in freezers by up to 44%.

The Smart Defrost Kit uses a microprocessor to learn the tendencies of the freezer refrigeration system. Once it has educated itself it will begin to eliminate or “skip” a defrost cycle that it determines to be unnecessary. They did a case study at one restaurant and found that they could save $146 annually. That is significant because the Smart Defrost Kit only costs around $300. These kits are available on new systems and retrofit kits for existing freezer systems. More information on Smart Defrost Kits can be found at www.interlinkparts.com/sdk. This website includes an energy savings calculator, installation video for retrofits and additional case studies.