When the summer sun burns on the 4,700 m² workshop roof at the company Kvarnstrands in Småland’s Ekenässjön, 8 Rex Nordic Eco Coolers now keep the temperature in the premises at a pleasantly cool level.
Inside the workshop of the family company Kvarnstrands, 50 of the total of 95 employees work at several different machines to manufacture and sharpen top-class cutting tools for the wood industry in Europe. The machines used are CNC machines, washing machines, oil purifiers, and robots. In recent years, the business has grown, and with more heat-generating machines in the premises and with restrictions on ventilation on the facade, the indoor climate during the summer months has become a challenge for the company and its employees.
Maintenance manager Alexander Sellman did careful research on which cooling solutions could work for the company’s needs – today and also in the future.
-Our business is constantly developing, and we need a flexible solution for cooling the premises, says Alexander, who has worked at Kvarnstrands for 17 years. Based on changed EU regulations in the future, the choice of cooling medium was an important issue for us to take into account.
Kvarnstrands took help from Rex Nordic’s technical sales advisor in Sweden, Jon Lindahl, to find the best solution for their conditions. The choice fell on 8 REX14000, which are deployed in strategic locations in the premises.
-We are noticing that many companies in the manufacturing industry have the same challenges, and it is very rewarding to be able to assist with affordable solutions with the launch of the Eco series, says Jon Lindahl.
Kvarnstrands was founded in 1939 in Ekenässjön and the business premises have been expanded several times since then. To be able to shop locally was an important factor in why the choice fell on RexNordic.
-We prefer to shop from our neighbours and here we were able to buy the machines through Axima in Vetlanda and get good and fast help and support from a Swedish salesperson, says Alexander.
At Kvarnstrands, the evaporative coolers are running throughout the working hours. And the employees have found clever ways to keep the tanks filled and maximize the cooling effect.
-We exercise our fire hoses and fill the coolers directly with them, says CNC technician Violand Tiku, who also puts a few ice cubes in the water to get extra efficient cooling when the outside temperature reaches above 30 degrees Celsius.
The coolers were delivered just a couple of weeks ago and the employees are already experiencing less heat stress.
-Yes, there is a big difference and it is very nice with the cooler air, says Sara Vilhelmsson, CNC operator.
Another advantage is that the coolers are energy efficient, the REX14000 model draws only 510W, and can easily be connected to a standard 10A outlet in the room.
Violand Tiku has a REX14000 placed about 10 m away and he appreciates the coolness a lot.
-It’s really great, he says enthusiastically. Previously, I only had two normal room fans in this corner, but with the coolers’ adjustable fan I can adjust the airflow myself and adapt it based on the outside temperature.
Jon Lindahl sees an increasing interest in evaporative coolers in many different businesses, including in milk production and the entertainment and event industry.
-These coolers really create many great opportunities for RexNordic to reach new customer groups and I look forward to continuing to develop sales, he says.