Game Locker Coolers for Hunters & Processors

We are quickly approaching that time of year again…hunting season. Many hunters know that after their tags are filled, the game must be cooled and held at a certain temperature to maintain its freshness. Due to the size of the game, it is necessary to have a larger cold storage unit to hold the meat before and after processing.

Game Lockers (also known as meat lockers, game coolers, deer boxes, or deer coolers) are a perfect solution to preserving and storing meat after the hunt. Game Lockers come in two sizes: 6’ x 6’ x 8’ and 6’ x 8’ x 8’. These meat coolers are sold as a package including refrigeration and overhead rail system with hooks. Both models have available space for shelving to help organize your inventory in the cooler. They are now available to purchase online from our dealer sites.

Now is the time to start looking into Game Lockers for this upcoming hunting season. Visit this page for more detailed information regarding Game Lockers.

Zero Ozone-Depleting FOAMULAR Extruded Polystyrene Insulation

Toledo, Ohio – Owens Corning (NYSE: OC), a global leader in building materials and energy efficiency solutions, today announced it has started manufacturing zero ozone-depleting FOAMULAR^® Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) rigid foam insulation. The new blowing agent technology developed by Owens Corning meets the requirements of the Montreal Protocol which requires the phase-out of the hydrochloro-fluorocarbon (HCFC) 142b, an ozone-depleting compound, by January 1, 2010.

Owens Corning’s new Gresham plant is the first facility in the Western U.S. to meet the requirements of the Montreal Protocol and expands the company’s XPS foam production capabilities. The company also has converted its Rockford, Ill., insulation plant to use the new blowing agent, and all FOAMULAR products will meet the requirements of the conversion deadline.

“High performance homes and buildings are an ever-growing segment of the construction industry, and Read the rest of this entry »

How the NMFC Affects Your Business

The NMFC has something to do with freight class. That is about all most of us know what the NMFC is all about. But it can’t hurt to know more what the NMFC is, who runs it, where does it come from, how do I get one, this article is for you! After this article, you will know exactly what the NMFC is and how it affects your business.

First off, the NMFC stands for National Motor Freight Classification. It is a guide used to classify all the commodities shipped and handled by motor carriers in North America.  The commodities are assigned one of 18 different classes – from a low of 50 to a high of 500 – based on four transportation characteristics:  density, stowability, handling and liability.

It also includes rules and packaging requirements for each type of commodity to ensure adequate protection for products moving in the LTL motor carrier service.

The NMFC constitutes industry standards which are developed and maintained by the National Classification Committee (NCC), an autonomous committee of 100 carrier representatives who are elected to represent the more than 1,000 motor carriers participating in the NMFC. The NCC’s activities are regulated by the US Surface Transportation Board which is part of the Department of Transportation (DOT).

The NMFC is published by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), a nonprofit organization based in Alexandria, VA.

Defining Freight Class

Although, classes are determined by density, stowability, handling and liability, the biggest factor in determining the class is the density. The denser the commodity is, the lower the freight class. Always remember that!

Here is a “rule of thumb” we folks in the freight industry use to do a quick guestimate to determine a particular freight class. Of course this should be backed up by the NFMC but you can a pretty accurate idea of a freight class by following this chart. Read the rest of this entry »

Operating Cost for Walk-in Coolers and Freezers

Before purchasing your walk-in, you may be wondering how much it will cost to operate your walk-in.

To give you a rough estimate of how much it cost to operate a walk-in cooler or freezer, using the national average of 11.89 cents per kilowatt, look at the chart below.

*These numbers were figured using the $.0999 kilowatt hour cost. According to the Energy Information Administration this is the average cost in the United States for commercial electricity.

This chart was created using several assumptions that can affect your actual operating cost.

1. The type of insulation in the walk-in.
2. Efficiency of the refrigeration system.
3. Inside and outside temperature of walk-in.
4. Where the walk-in is located.
5. The temperature and the weight of the product entering the walk-in.
6. How often the door is opened.
7. The age of the walk-in.
8. Cost of electricity.

This is just to name a few.  If you would like to be more accurate using your electric rate, follow the instructions below. Read the rest of this entry »

EC Motor Start-up

Interesting information about EC motors that could lead to an incorrect diagnosis.

As of January 1, 2009, all walk-in manufacturing companies must sell their refrigeration units with Electronically Commutated (EC) motors. EC motors lower energy costs and significantly improve the walk-in cooler or freezer performance. These energy efficient motors are offered as a complete unit or as a drop-in replacement. Whichever your use is, if you are not familiar with the EC motor it may seem odd when you initially start it up.
When starting an EC motor, the motor must know where the rotor is located in order to start and continue to run. When power is first applied to the motor, the controller will apply a gradually increasing amount of current to all three windings in the motor over a period of 2 seconds. This will cause the rotor to move to a known location. This move will range from no movement at all if the rotor has stopped in the location needed for the next start or may be a much larger movement if it was a longer distance  from where it needed to be. With a fan blade attached, it may even overshoot and move backwards to get to the right location. After that 2 second “positioning” period the controller will start applying power to different phases in a slow rotating pattern that increases in speed over the next 2 seconds until the rotor is moving fast enough for the controller to be able to detect its location. This second phase of the start cycle usually happens so quickly that you cannot really see what is happening. Within 3 to 5 seconds of applying power, the motor should appear to be running normally, but during those first 2 seconds the movements may seem as though the unit is having troubles starting or is broken.

Crossfire LED Lighting System for Commercial Refrigeration Applications

SCHOTT Gemtron now offers the new CrossFire™ LED lighting system designed specifically for the commercial refrigeration industry.  This industry leading light output system is designed to handle the harsh cold environments for both the normal and low temp applications.  The name says it all, CrossFire™.  This patent pending design offers light pointed directly where it needs to be, at the merchandise to aid in increased product sales.

CrossFire delivers a less than two year payback on your LED investment.  Reducing compressor run time, reducing wattage, eliminating maintenance cost, while providing the most light output of any other LED on the market.

This energy efficient CrossFire™ design can save you up to 85% of your current energy cost and also remove the amount of heat that is added to your cold environment, therefore reducing compressor run times.  The SCHOTT Gemtron CrossFire™ design has an exclusive power supply integrated into the light bar.  When you add up all the benefits of the CrossFire™ LED lighting systems you will enjoy a fast payback on your lighting investment.

For more information, please view this SCHOTT Gemtron pdf:  http://gemtrondoors.com/PDF_Files/SCHOTT%20Gemtron%20CrossFire%2009-08.pdf

Does your company manufacture a commercial refrigeration product or accessory you’d like us to feature? If so, email Kristin[at]uscooler.com with details on your product, quality images, and links to more information.

Own a restaurant? Tips to save time, energy, and money.

1. Make Your Menu More Efficient.

Are your menu items being prepped and cooked as efficiently as possible? Items that need to be thawed for daily food service can be defrosted in a refrigerator overnight instead of under running water reducing energy usage and conserving water. Review your menu to see if there are common ingredients or items that can all come from one source. Minimizing the number of individual deliveries you receive weekly will add to your conservation practices and reduce your delivery expenses as well as receiving time when you can be going in and out of cold storage using additional energy to bring it back to safe temperatures.

2. Switch to energy efficient light bulbs.

Subway recently switched all their light bulbs to energy efficient bulbs in all of their 2000 US franchise locations. Switching to an energy efficient light bulb can save up to $22 per bulb per year. This can add up to quite a savings over time. Also keep lights off when you don’t need them. If you don’t start serving lunch until 11 o’clock there is no reason to turn the dining room lights on until then.

Areas such as walk-in coolers or your dry store room don’t need to be illuminated all day long. Turning off lights as you leave typically unused areas is a great way to save money on your energy bill. Electrical timers can be used in these areas especially if they are commonly forgotten and left on overnight.

Higher efficiency bulbs can be used in areas that require constant lighting. Replace incandescent lights in your walk in cooler with fluorescent lights which are cooler and consume less energy. Replacing bulbs with higher efficient options will show a lower cost in your monthly bill.

3. Pre-cut and freeze many of the common vegetables you use in your restaurant or cafe.

Onions: Buy in bulk and on sale. Peel and slice or dice. Freeze one layer thick on a cookie sheet. When frozen transfer to plastic jars with screw on lids. Immediately put back in the freezer. Don’t forget to label the jars! When you need some onions in a cooked dish just shake out what you need. If they clump together shake really hard to loosen. Some of the ways we use frozen onions: sautéed or grilled on hamburgers, in omelets, in any dish that the customer asks for “extra onions” that will be cooked or at least heated. Bell peppers, Mushrooms

4. Train your staff.

Teach your staff to sort recyclables, turn off lights, and let you know if there is a leaky faucet in the wait station. Ask them to bring in their own take-home containers instead of using the restaurant take-outs.

Busy kitchen staff may often forget to do the simplest of energy efficient steps. Leaving oven doors open releases vast amounts of heat. Each time you open an oven door the temperature can drop by as much as 25o F.; watch the clock and use a timer instead. Don’t leave the convection oven or steamer door open too long or it will just continue to release heat, burning unnecessary energy to retain the proper cooking temperature.

The walk-in cooler is another door that needs to be shut at all times or cooling becomes a continuous energy pit. If doors such as the walk-in cooler are consistently left open, place spring hinges on the doors and it will automatically close, eliminating the opportunity for staff to forget to shut the door.

Read the rest of this entry »

U.S. Cooler Flickr Photostream

Visit U.S. Cooler’s new Flickr photostream. Flickr is a photo and video sharing site owned by Yahoo. You can view pictures of our completed walk-ins and promotional photos. These pictures represent the wide range of custom design possibilities available for your walk-in cooler, freezer or combination unit.

USDA Grant Money for Rural Energy Improvements

Government money is available to help your small business become more energy efficient.

The USDA is now offering a grant and loan program to improve energy efficiency in rural areas. The REAP/RES/EEI (Rural Energy for America Program Grants/ Renewable Energy Systems/ Energy Efficiency Improvement Program) Grants Program will provide funds to architectural producers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficient improvements.

The program is designed to assist farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses that are able to demonstrate financial need. Small businesses that are located in rural areas can also apply. Most rural projects that reduce energy use and result in savings for the agricultural producer or small business are eligible as energy efficient projects. These include projects such as retrofitting lighting or insulation, or purchasing or replacing equipment with more efficient units. One of the main requirements of the grant program is that the new equipment must be more energy efficient than the current equipment. An ‘energy audit’ will be performed comparing the energy usage of the old equipment to the new anticipated energy efficient equipment.

Walk-in coolers and freezers qualify for this grant program. Older walk-ins are not as efficient as new units built today. Some of the recent changes in the industry include the requirement to provide higher insulation r-values and refrigeration units with EC motors, which are much more energy efficient than older units. These upgrades will prove your new equipment to be more energy efficient, which will save you money on energy costs. Read the rest of this entry »

Debunking the Myth of Laminated Panels

Myth: “Laminated” or “Slab” panels are inferior to urethane because they are glued to the skins to hold the panel together. Therefore, these types of panels are not considered as durable and are thought to come loose within a short period of time.

Truth: For over 40 years walk-ins have been manufactured by either gluing insulation to metal skins (laminated) or pouring urethane (foamed-in-place) between two metal skins.  Contrary to most beliefs, both systems provide equal performance in adhesion if applied correctly.  This is important because in walk-ins the structural strength of the unit is dependent on this adhesion performance.  When metal skins are glued or foamed to insulation a composite panel is created.  This created panel performs much like a steel I-beam. I-beams by design are very strong for their weight and are used in building structures that need a lot of strength without the weight, such as skyscrapers. A steel I-beam is two flanges of steel connected and separated by a center steel web.  In a walk-in panel, the two flanges are light gauge metal skins and the web is the foam insulation.  All I-beams lose their strength if the flanges separate from the web. If the I-beams separate, skyscrapers would collapse. This is similar to walk-ins that could fail if the skins separate from the foam insulation. Read the rest of this entry »