WR Refrigeration, the UK’s leading refrigeration contractor, has begun production at its new manufacturing facility in South Wales. WR Products, based at a 24,000 sq ft plant facility near Port Talbot, will produce high efficiency refrigeration systems and equipment for supermarkets and commercial applications.

Patrick Mullins, business development and marketing director, said:  “WR can now offer a complete refrigeration design and build solution, while eradicating third party margins, resulting in significant cost savings for customers.” He added: “It gives one-stop-shop accountability, which will simplify project management and improve response times to customers”.

The facility will manufacture a wide range of plant, with an emphasis on environmentally friendlier alternative refrigerants such as C0₂ and hydrocarbons, but also catering for conventional HFC solutions. Equipment will include:

• Compressor packs
• Condensing units
• Blast freezers/chillers
• Portable cold storage solutions
• Water chillers

Heading the manufacturing operation is Jon Godsall, WR Products’ general manager. Plant will be designed by Paul Arrowsmith, WR Refrigeration’s engineering compliance director, in conjunction with Jon Godsall and the WR Products team.

The first products to roll off the production line are a new series of high efficiency compressor packs for a leading supermarket chain.

The development follows the creation last year of a joint venture between parent Huurre Group and Italian carbon dioxide refrigeration specialist, Enex.

It also coincides with the recent expansion of WR Refrigeration’s European CO₂ Refrigeration Academy, based at Minworth in Birmingham, as a centre of excellence for engineer training and the development of carbon dioxide-based retail cooling systems.

Paul Arrowsmith said: “The new manufacturing facility opens up big opportunities. We are working closely with our partners in Enex to develop a range of state-of-the-art carbon dioxide systems that can be produced in volume to meet the needs of the UK market.

He added: “CO₂ is obviously one of the key potential solutions for the future, and several major UK end users have committed to rolling out carbon dioxide for future stores. But we are also working on a range of HC solutions, along with high efficiency mainstream systems”.

Patrick Mullins said: “The new operation enables us to offer customers shorter lead times, lower costs, improved accountability and market-leading technology. We believe it will prove to be a compelling offer, and comes just at just the right time”.

The manufacturing facility enables the company to enter into partnering relationships with customers, to develop bespoke plant to meet exact requirements. “We are already working with end user customers on collaborative projects of this kind, and believe it has great potential for the future”, said Mr Mullins.

The plant, which will initially employ around 15 people, will manufacture products for sale through WR Refrigeration across the UK.

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