Gosselin said the stores are operated by “national small-format companies,” but declined to name them for publication without their permission.
He was speaking to R744.com at Hillphoenix’s FMI Connect show; the interview took place about 15 feet from an AdvansorFlex demonstration unit, which attracted a number of inquiries (FMI Connect was co-located with the GCCA Expo).
AdvansorFlex, introduced in December 2015, “is a great attempt to reduce the cost of [a transcritical] system so that it’s more competitive with HFC [systems],” said Gosselin.
“It opens the door to provide a lower-cost solution for small formats, about 15,000 t0 18,000 square feet,” he said. These would include small-format supermarkets, dollar stores and convenience stores. Multiple units could be employed in larger stores.
The unit’s enclosure allows for both inside and outdoor placement, and its footprint takes up less floor space in back rooms, equipment rooms, mezzanines, and rooftops. It is designed for straightforward installation, ease of maintenance, and reliable, cost-saving, day-to-day operation, said Hillphoenix.
The standard Advansor system has been widely installed in Europe and is beginning to make headway in the US and Canada, with installations at stores operated by Whole Foods, Kroger, Roundy’s, Food Lion and DeCicco & Sons, among others.
Like the Advansor, AdvansorFlex reduces energy costs by 5% to 18% compared to an HFC system, depending on the ambient climate, according to Hillphoenix.
Installation costs of the AdvansorFlex are 12% to 18% less than a standard HFC system owing to smaller copper tube sizes, less insulation, less wiring and less labour.
