Choosing A Beverage Cooler (Part 2)

Following up on my previous post, this four-part article series will examine the key elements of a beverage cooler and highlight factors that consumers should consider when making their selection. Follow our page on LinkedIn for alerts about the upcoming articles. We will post the complete series on our website once it is finished.

With competitive prices and timely delivery, Candor sincerely hopes to be your supplier and partner.

We understand that beverage coolers and other refrigeration items are not common knowledge for the general public, apart from their basic function of cooling. How they achieve this, their efficiency, and their longevity are areas where we will provide practical advice and guidance in this series of articles.

In a global marketplace with a vast array of product choices, understanding what you are looking for can greatly assist in selecting the right beverage cooler to meet your needs.

Part 2: The Construction of the Cabinet

Cabinet Walls and Structure

The cabinet's framework needs to be rigid, durable, and tough to withstand daily and yearly use. It is essential to use rust-resistant materials – Chromadek is an ideal choice for this reason. Some units in the market are made using corrugated plastic panels on exterior surfaces, which can reduce costs but make them more vulnerable to gouging or rodent attacks. Internally, some models feature molded plastic walls, which may be cost-effective but are less durable than Chromadek regarding cracking and impact. Rigidity is enhanced by insulation foam, and using a single complete 'tub' design provides significantly better rigidity compared to using pre-foamed panels.

Insulation Material

Polyurethane insulation foam is standard in the industry. Some manufacturers may use polystyrene in certain areas, but this is not advisable as polystyrene is not a closed-cell structure; over time, it absorbs water, leading to bacteria growth and loss of insulation properties. A 40-millimeter-thick polyurethane wall offers the same insulation efficiency as a 3.35-meter-thick concrete wall. Polyurethane foam is created by combining two chemicals; one, known as the blowing agent, is Cyclopentane, which is popular but flammable and harmful to the environment. Ecomate or Methyl Formate serves as a more eco-friendly alternative, with zero ozone depletion potential and zero global warming potential, and is included in the US EPA SNAP program.

Door Glass

Glass is generally not an effective insulator. In a typical beverage cooler, the glass door accounts for approximately 80% of the heat entering the cabinet. To mitigate this issue, several strategies can be employed. Multi-pane technology, which combines up to three panes of glass with gas filling, can reduce heat transfer into the unit. Additionally, applying a coat to the glass that permits light to pass while reflecting much of the incoming heat, known as Low-E glass, can help. A double-pane door with a Low-E coating performs as well as a triple-pane door but is lighter, thus minimizing the load on the door hinges. Another advantage of Low-E is its capacity to retain some heat in the outer pane, reducing condensation buildup in humid areas. Safety is crucial for glass doors; using tempered (safety) glass is advisable and often required by local standards agencies.

Shelves

Every beverage cooler requires some type of shelving. Adjustable shelving height increases the versatility of the cabinet, and the load-bearing capacity of shelves is also important—typically, a shelf double-stacked with cans can bear a load of up to 50 kg. The shelf coating is also significant, especially for metal shelves; an epoxy coating offers flexibility and cold resistance, whereas painted shelves are vulnerable to cracking and flaking.

Door Frame

Beverage cooler doors need to endure considerable wear and tear, including bumps from trolleys and the weight of the glass in the frame. A metal or aluminum frame is far more robust than a plastic or thermoformed door frame and ensures a longer lifespan.