Published: December 2, 2025
Emergency Low Temperature Cooling Solution for a Frozen Food Manufacturing Facility
A large coastal food processing facility specialising in frozen products faced an unexpected refrigeration crisis that put millions of pounds’ worth of goods at risk. In response, a rapid and innovative deployment of temporary low temperature cooling ensured business continuity and the preservation of inventory.
The Challenge
Late on a Friday evening, the site’s primary ammonia-based refrigeration equipment suffered a catastrophic condensing coil failure. The resulting loss of cooling threatened to raise the deep freeze storage temperature above safe levels. With no quick alternatives available for storing such a large quantity of frozen products, and restricted space within the facility, immediate action was necessary to prevent spoilage and significant financial loss.
The Solution
By Monday, a technical team from ICS Cool Energy were on site for a rapid assessment. Conventional options, such as external cold storage, were not feasible due to capacity and logistical constraints. Instead, two high-capacity low temperature cooling units were deployed, supported by a dedicated dry air cooler and on-site power generation. The installation leveraged air handlers placed within cleared racking inside the storage area, and a total of eight low temperature units were used—each equipped with advanced motorised valves and customised defrost controls to maintain continuous operation.
Additional measures included enhanced trace heating of coils and drains to prevent ice blockage, and comprehensive lagging of hoses and equipment to avoid excessive ice build-up. Teams worked in alternating shifts to cope with the demanding sub-zero environment, ensuring both rapid installation and ongoing safety.
The Result
The emergency solution became fully operational in less than four days. For the duration of the two-week intervention, storage temperatures remained safely below threshold, protecting all inventory. The successful resolution not only avoided a substantial loss but also demonstrated our ability to deliver effective emergency cooling for complex ammonia-based cold storage failures in the food manufacturing sector.
Featured Product Categories
Low temperature chillers
Our low temperature chiller range contains both packaged, low temperature versions of our i-Chiller range, as well as bespoke, large chillers (both air and water cooled) capable of reaching temperatures of -40°C for specialist process applications. Fully eco-design compliant, our low temperature chiller range combines environmental responsibility with features such as electronic expansion valves and variable fan speeds as standard to ensure precise temperature control, even at the extreme temperatures provided by these units. We have been designing and manufacturing specialised low temperature chillers to process manufacturers for over thirty years, designing complex solutions for businesses of all sizes and providing aftersales support with a nationwide network of service engineers. <strong>Built for low temperature applications</strong> Unlike competitors who modify existing chillers, the low temperature chiller range is purpose built from the ground up to ensure it can handle the unique challenges faced by chillers providing a extremely low return temperatures, with features such as a specially designed condenser and fully welded design ensuring the the units are capable of handing the stress. Our low temperature units have been custom built to ensure the best possible compatibility with your existing or designed low temperature process applications. Our VLT units come equipped with a Siemens PLC controller, allowing it to communicate with a wide range of process equipment.
Temporary chiller hire
We are the UK's experts in temporary chiller hire for all process and comfort applications. Whether your temporary need is for seasonal demand or you are expanding, upgrading, modifying, replacing, maintaining or even relocating, we can help keep your critical operation running. We stock more than 500MW of temporary chillers to rent for next day delivery from 3kW to 1.4MW and water leaving temperatures of +15°C to -40°C. The installation of a temporary <a href="/chiller/chiller-hire/">chiller hire</a> needs to be safe, quick and effective. Our packaged i-Chillers are protected in transport frames for ease of transport and install, have low footprints with integrated components and can be quickly and safely installed with flanged, camlock or Bauer hoses for all onsite situations. For temporary chiller hire needs from just weeks to over 9 years we have experience of installing temporary chillers since 1989. Working with you, our team of technical specialists engineers will provide the best solution for your business. <strong>Why use us as your temporary chiller hire partner?</strong> On average, our chiller units are less than 1.5 years old, ensuring reliability and modern equipment for your business. We use the latest technology and all of our chiller units meet EcoDesign compliance. We also offer Dry Air Coolers alongside our chiller units to deliver Free Cooling and partial Free Cooling – reducing your energy consumption and costs when the ambient temperature drops. Following an initial on-site survey, your dedicated engineer will specify a solution to meet your exact needs. Delivery, installation and commissioning of your equipment will be arranged and carried out. We will take care of the full project for you and can also provide ongoing remote monitoring of your chillers too, so you can rest assured that they continue working efficiently and you’re well supported for 24/7 technical back-up.