In a significant technical and commercial development, Green Point UK, BITZER UK’s specialist services arm, has extended its remanufacturing operation to include transcritical carbon dioxide-based compressors.
Will Pribyl, Green Point UK's general manager, said: "We have been aware for a while of an emerging need among UK customers for a certified remanufactured option as a growing number transcritical CO2 units come to the end of their working lives. The obstacle has been the high pressures required for full quality assurance testing. However, following recent investment in a new facility at Green Point UK, we can now offer a complete service for BITZER transcritical units, returning them to full original specification, with quality underpinned by the manufacturer."
The service covers all BITZER Ecoline 2, 4, and 6 cylinder transcritical CO2 compressors, which are deployed in thousands of applications across the UK, including supermarkets, food and drink manufacturers and industrial process applications.
Pressure testing is carried out on a bespoke hydraulic test rig, developed by Green Point UK, which is able to test compressor bodies up to 180 Bar. Based on oil, it overcomes the risks associated with conventional pressure testing using air as a direct compression medium.
Remanufactured transcritical units are covered by a one-year warranty as standard, with an optional further one-year extension, as for new compressors.
Kevin Glass, Managing Director of BITZER UK, said: "The UK is one of the first in Green Point's global network to introduce this service for high pressure CO2 units. We have played a key role in developing the critical pressure testing technology, and are proud this UK advance has opened the way for what will be an international roll-out of transcritical remanufacturing in the months and years to come.”
In addition to the capital cost and safety advantages, a further benefit of Green’s Point UK’s remanufactured units is that, over time, compressors tend to become less efficient due to normal wear and tear. Remanufacturing by Green Point returns units to their original factory specification, reinstating original levels of energy efficiency.