Staycold International, based in the Free State (province in South Africa), has now fully transitioned to being able to offer their coolers and freezers range in the more climate friendly R290 hydrocarbon gas. This has been achieved with all needed local and global quality and safety standards met during production, for distribution into South Africa, Africa and abroad.
The transition entered its final stage late last year with testing of its freezer range in Hydrocarbon format to join its already established cooler and sub-zero model lines. The freezer cabinets required additional research and development due to the lower operating temperatures required, with units designed to consistently maintain internal temperatures between –20°C and –30°C. Through engineering and testing, Staycold’s R&D department ensured the hydrocarbon refrigerant system delivers the same reliable, safe performance and longevity the brand is known for across their long lifespan in trade environments.
The transition also preserves the exact same exterior appearance, to allow new and existing models to sit side-by-side seamlessly in retail environments.
For global compliance, Staycold’s units conform to the applicable International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) safety standards. Compliance has been independently tested and verified by SGS, an internationally accredited third-party testing and certification organisation, to ensure the units meet IEC 60335-2-89 safety requirements.
Secondly, for quality assurance, Staycold is ISO 9001:2015 accredited. This is an internationally recognised standard to ensure the company meets strict quality, safety and performance standards for their beverage and hospitality clients. Staycold receives this certification year on year after strict annual audits with an independent accredited certification body, in keeping with their culture of continuous improvement.
Thirdly, regarding safety, Staycold has also received Safehouse’s safety mark, a non-profit organisation highlighting South African products that adhere to the highest electrical safety standards globally.
Staycold’s end users ie its bottlers, corporates and dealers are assured of safe, high-performing refrigeration equipment when procuring from Staycold. The units consistently maintain the correct temperatures for beverages, ice creams and frozen foods, to help retailers preserve product quality and maximise sales. This is important as the industry transitions away from HCFC and HFC refrigerants, which are being phased out globally due to their high Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and Global Warming Potential (GWP).
Sebastian Hills, a director at Staycold comments: “Staycold has always had a strict mandate to conform to all local and international standards, since the company started in 1979. Our team had to work extra hard to convert the freezers into hydrocarbon, but we are now satisfied all technologies have been deployed to meet and exceed our customers’ needs to boost sales, and their trust in us.”
For more information on Staycold International, contact them on 056 819 8097 or visit their website, LinkedIn page or YouTube channel.
