Enclosure & Electronics Cooling, Liquid Cooling and Signaling Solutions

Customer Requirement

An OEM machine builder in the Marine industry needed a thermal management solution that was NEMA Type 4/4X rated, but also resistant to highly corrosive salt spray (fog).  In an industry that encounters very harsh environments, it is crucial to be able to have a product that will be able to withstand such conditions.

Customer Requirement

Pfannenberg worked with a bakery end user to develop a cooling solution for their control cabinets.  Most of the OEM equipment installed in the bakery called for air conditioners to cool the drives. PLCs and additional electronics. Most times Cooling units can be a convenient and effective method for cooling electronics, except when located in dusty, humid areas within the plant. 

These AC units failed regularly and had to be replaced. This was not a sustainable solution as the customer had constant issues with clogging coils and overheating panels. 

Once a panel overheated they had to either: not operate the machine, or operate the cabinets with the doors open. This would let all the contaminants that were hurting the AC units into the cabinet, damaging the drives and other components.

Pfannenberg products ensure that manufacturing operations are up and running - especially during the holidays when many manufacturing lines are always online. Read below on just a few example applications on how Pfannenberg supports these product lines and keeps them running.  

Part 1 – Candy Canes:

Candy Canes - The go-to holiday candy.  As a child, they are passed out and enjoyed by many, and as adults they are necessary for almost any holiday decoration.  This peppermint candy involves very delicate care when being processed.  There are many differences in temperature to heat up or cool down – just enough that it maintains flavor and will not ruin the product quality.  All throughout the manufacturing process of candy canes, temperatures are critical.  At certain stages, the temperature needs to be increased to help form the canes, then at other parts it needs to be cooled so that it can be mixed to perfect flavor and coloring.

When it comes down to the final decision on whether or not to purchase new equipment for a plant, the decision tends to fall down to three major concerns:

1. What preventative yearly/monthly/weekly/daily maintenance is required?
2. Is it able to withstand the environment?
3. How much time and money will it save?

In today’s modern lifestyle, frozen foods have played a major role in providing convenience to customers.  Pies – a family fall favorite, often take time that many families do not have. This is the time of the year where kids are back to school, parents are running all over doing drop-offs and pick-ups, rushing to work; taking the time to bake or make a full meal is often difficult.  Large industrial bakeries can manufacture roughly 200,000 frozen pies a day.  There is a high demand in this modern age for this aspect of convenience. 

From the Farm to the Factory

When the trucks arrive at the factory, the milk and cream are pumped into storage silos and kept cool at 36°F until they are ready to begin the process. 

Hot dogs – a staple summer treat that brings back memories of family cookouts and baseball games. It is an American favorite summertime food! Hot dogs go through a series of complex processes that combine the ingredients into their delicious final form and Pfannenberg's PWS Air to Water Heat Exchangers are perfect to keep things running. 

With the next round of Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) updated regulations taking into effect September, food processing companies are scurrying to make sure their facilities are up to code. The newest set of updates will support efforts into the quick responses to food/beverage related emergencies (contamination, expired products, recalls, and foreign materials). The new amendments also require that the FDA inspect the food production facility every two years to make sure that the facility and products adhere to all regulations. 

Liquid Cooling Solutions like Air to Water Heat Exchangers or Chillers are especially well adapted to hot, dirty environments, where it provides a method of removing the heat from the machine and not contributing additional heat back into the environment.

When it comes to Thermal Management, cooling each machinery or electrical cabinet separately is usually the solution chosen by most of the industries. However, this leave a valuable optimization potential untapped.

Maximum efficiency cooling for a whole system can be achieved with a cooling system solution consisting of air to water heat exchangers and water-based chillers. These 'Liquid Solutions' cool the complete assembly and offer significant benefits compared to traditional approaches such as cooling with ambient air.