Mexico. The adoption of the natural refrigerant R290 (propane) in autonomous refrigeration equipment is growing every year, as a way for companies to comply with global treaties, such as the Kigali Amendment, which gradually bans the use of HFC refrigerants with high global warming potential until 2047.
Mexico ratified the Amendment in 2018 and migration to R290 in the country as a future-proof solution is ongoing with many success stories. An example is the Mexican company Solid Solution Servicios Integrales en Refrigeración S.A de C.V (SSSIRSA), a company focused on the reconditioning of self-contained equipment, as well as service and attention at the point of sale. Among its customers we can find the most important beverage and food brands in the world, for whom SSSIRSA reconditions bottle racks, freezers and cold rooms for drinks, ice cream and others.
As far as overhaul is concerned, SSSIRSA has chosen to replace the used compressors with new ones that use R290, for their characteristics of zero ozone damage potential and a negligible global warming potential (GWP), and for the higher energy efficiency. For this, it has selected Embraco compressors, a brand in the Nidec Global Appliance portfolio. Embraco is a global reference in cold chain technology in the domestic and commercial sectors, and has been a pioneer in the development of compressors using natural refrigerants, starting with this practice for 25 years.
The Embraco compressor chosen was the EMC for beverage coolers, vending machines, refrigerators under the table and reach-in chambers, manufactured in Apodaca, Nuevo León. "It is the compressor that has had the highest positioning among customers as it is one of the most efficient fixed speed compressors and that applies R290," says Jorge Romero, Sales Manager at Nidec Global Appliance, where he is responsible for the Embraco portfolio in Mexico. EMC compressors have a smaller platform, with extended cooling capacity that can replace larger compressors, freeing up more internal space for refrigerators. The use of the EMC in SSSIRSA generates an average improvement in energy efficiency of between 9 and 15 percent in the equipment, after reconditioning.
Currently, it is 4 years since SSSIRSA began commercial relations with Embraco, with one of the main objectives being the positioning of the use of natural refrigerants in the commercial sector, with hydrocarbon solutions, such as R600a (or isobutane) and R290 (or propane), which stand out for their good performance and extremely low GWP, compared to other refrigerant options. "Thanks to this alliance, both companies have positioned themselves as a benchmark in Mexico in the transition from traditional to natural refrigerants," says Jorge Romero.
"The high quality standards in compressors with the use of natural refrigerants from Embraco, is one of the great benefits that SSSIRSA has found with this alliance, due to the energy efficiency that translates into saving money, impacting the finances of our customers", reinforces Jorge Salia, commercial director of SSSIRSA.
SSSIRSA has seven branches nationwide located in strategic areas for greater coverage and customer service, in each of these branches there are specialized personnel focused on the repair, storage and distribution of self-contained refrigeration equipment. "The presence that SSSIRSA has in important cities nationwide is a strategic advantage that gives us the viability of being able to offer training to technicians in different parts of the republic and thus increase the positioning of the concept of compressors with natural refrigerants to many technicians who have some caution in the use of these equipment", indicates Jorge Romero.
From this commercial relationship, the effectiveness of these alliances for Mexico stands out, while Embraco combines environmentally friendly technologies with high performance, innovation and energy efficiency, SSSIRSA has the infrastructure and capacity to increase knowledge of the use of natural refrigerants among the commercial sector.
