"Companies with vision and healthy growth don't doubt CO2 as a coolant," says Matthias Cuvelie, Managing Director of Airclima, a Belgian business that specializes in industrial refrigeration. "Switching to CO2 cooling or deep-freezing is more than a technical decision. It's a strategic investment in sustainability, product quality, and operational reliability. Those who choose CO2 aren't only ahead of the curve regarding the environment, but are also building a more efficient, greener, and future-proof produce business."
© AirclimaMatthias Cuvelie and Kiran Cluckers
According to Airclima, CO2 offers much potential as a coolant. "In the transition from synthetic to natural refrigerants, ammonia, propane, and CO2 are most commonly used in the fruit and vegetable sector," adds Kiran Cluckers, Airclima's Sales Manager. "We don't consider CO2 a hype; it's a sustainable choice for the future. This flexible, versatile refrigerant is suitable for a wide range of applications. But, we don't dictate choices; we guide customers on their own journey."
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Longer storage, better quality
Refrigerating with CO2 has the important advantage of increased storage while retaining quality, says Kiran. "Those systems ensure the stable temperatures and humidity levels crucial for fresh produce storage. We can perfectly match products' moisture content, which directly improves quality and storage time," he explains.
© Airclima
Kiran notes that CO2 cooling enables efficient heat recovery too. "You can use residual heat to clean a production area or heat offices. Since the system recovers heat even at high temperatures, you can use it for heating throughout the year without additional systems such as heat pumps or boilers." Freezing with CO2 is now also a viable option. "The technology has advanced so much that CO2 is ideally suited for both small and very large cold storage and distribution, provided the system is correctly designed," he says.
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Quick ROI
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Matthias admits that the initial investment is somewhat higher than that of traditional freon systems. "That can be 30 to 35% more for smaller systems, and 15% for larger installations. But the higher return and lower operating costs ensure a quick payback period. What's more, both the Belgian and Dutch governments are encouraging CO2 cooling through subsidies," he points out.
10-year all-in guarantee
Airclima engineers each system component by component. "We take the time to make sure everything works perfectly together. That's why we can offer a 10-year all-in warranty on our systems; you can't do that if you're in a hurry." The company's R&D center is key to that.
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"We're constantly testing new components and control systems. Innovations in CO2 technology are happening rapidly. We want to be sure every new idea is reliable before implementing it for our clients. Every installation must meet the buyer's needs – that's always our starting point," Matthias concludes.
For more information
Kiran Cluckers
[email protected]
Airclima
Tel.: +32 473 84 08 51
[email protected]
www.airclima.be
