Day: 24 December 2019

MTX completed the installation of 6 No. 24 Pallet Random Access Ripening Rooms for Chingford Fruit Limited based in Kent.

The new MTX Ripening Rooms were installed to replace their existing facility which was in need of modernisation. According to the clients’ request, the project was to be completed in 2 phases to ensure normal production could be maintained alongside construction works.

Phase 1 required the removal of two of the three existing rooms so that 3 No. 24 Pallet rooms could be installed. By maintaining close communication with the customer, MTX successfully overcame the challenges that arise when major construction works are being carried out alongside normal production.

Upon completion and handover of Phase 1, work was able to commence on Phase 2 – the installation of the remaining 3 no. 24 Pallet rooms. The rooms were supplied by the existing DX pack systems that supplies the entire site maintaining cooling requirements within the facility. Each room contains 2 No. 24KW evaporator coils allowing the rooms to operate at around 0°C. Each evaporator in each room was fed from 1 of the 2 pack systems allowing energy saving during part loading conditions with only 1 evaporator being operational whilst still maintaining the correct temperatures within the rooms.

Energy management systems were incorporated into the design allowing the fan speed to automatically adjust whilst maintaining the correct pressures throughout the pallet stack. This has already provided significant energy saving since the facility became fully operational.

The entire project was managed in house, from conception to completion, in only 17 weeks including installation, mechanical, refrigeration, electrical and commissioning.

Since the installation of the new MTX Ripening Rooms, the facility has doubled its ripening capacity whilst still maintaining the same size footprint within the warehouse, where space is at a premium. Furthermore, since its completion the client has commented on how pleased they are with the completed facility and have noticed significant improvements in the quality of the product coming out of the new MTX Rooms.

In September 2007 MTX completed the installation of five new pressurised ripening rooms within a new depot at Mack Multiples Division in Bishops Stortford.

An open-plan warehouse was purchased by Mack Multiples and MTX designed a layout of the warehouse based upon a specific number of pallets required by the client. All plant items were also designed including the new installation of a sufficient electrical feed for the entire warehouse including future expansion.

Upon approval of the design, MTX removed all redundant services within the facility. A concrete plinth was constructed adjacent to the building in order to house two new air-cooled chillers and a buffer vessel including all associated pipework.

Consideration was taken when at the design stage for future expansion of the facility with additional space allowed on the concrete plinth and all mains pipework suitably sized to allow for additional increase in duty.

The newly installed chillers operate a free-cooling option. This results in cooling of the media not using any energy when the external ambient conditions are below a certain temperature. This has proved to be a very cost effective, energy saving, option over past projects.

This project saw MTX install a new control system complete with touch screen controls. This system is both stylish and easy to use with the added advantage of allowing remote access, via the internet, to the ripening room control.

MTX were originally contracted by S H Pratt and Co (Bananas) Ltd to significantly extend the depot’s ripening capacity at which time MTX was also asked to future proof the new facility, considering the size of the pipework and the pump layout, in preparation for extending the depot in the future.

MTX were contracted to return to the facility to provide an additional 8 No. High Cube Ripening Rooms over a 2 phase project. Both phases were given a tight 8-week programme equating to approximately 2 weeks per room, and despite the facility running a 24-hour operation, MTX were able to maintain the users access to the entire depot throughout the full duration of the project, which was completed on time and on budget. Using this phased approach to the project proved extremely effective and provided the facility with a faster return on investment whilst ensuring disruption was kept to an absolute minimum.

Completing the final phase of the project MTX returned to the facility to install the last 4 No. High Cube 60 Pallet Ripening Rooms, and the installation of an additional pump, all of which was installed in just under 8 weeks with minimal disruption to the client.

Many of MTX’s clients are now opting for the High Cube Ripening Room design, as installed at Sovereign Park, as this incredibly efficient system allows end users to place an additional layer of boxes per pallet on each tier. This provides the client with the maximum amount of ripening capacity using the space available, with minimal additional cost to the overall scheme.

Owner and Managing Director Robert Wells said:

“We’ve worked with MTX for many years and have always been happy with the service they deliver. In my opinion, they offer the best product available in the marketplace, in terms of the range of room options available and overall performance. We have a large variety of orders coming through our facility on a daily basis and with the MTX room options we’re able to cater for all orders and, most importantly, achieve reliable consistency with the products we deliver to our clients.“