Eco-Friendly NAFEM 2009 Noteworthy Products and Vendors
CANDLE LAMP Eco-friendly chafing fuel.
Candle Lamp showed us a couple of innovations that have received a lot of attention. One is a chafer specifically designed for outdoor use. It’s big and enclosed so wind isn’t a problem for the chafing fuel. It’s also collapsible so that several of the chafers can be easily stored in a tight space. Additionally, the bronze powder-coated finish does not show fingerprints. The company is also excited about its new environmentally friendly chafing fuel. This green fuel is a gel formulation made from non-toxic ethanol, a renewable resource. And it’s more concentrated, so it burns 20 percent longer for greater cost efficiencies.
High-quality coffee is more than just great beans. Clean, filtered water is often overlooked. At NAFEM, Everpure showcased its Claris Water Technology System, a series of water cartridge filters designed specifically for hot drink machines, such as coffee, espresso, and tea. For a high-volume coffee program, Everpure offers the MRS-ENVI-RO 600, which it says is the highest-efficiency reverse osmosis system available, using only one gallon of water for every four gallons of pure water produced, resulting in up to 80% water efficiency.
Cost control was a key theme at NAFEM this year, and at Henny Penny’s booth, it started with their new Evolution Elite fryers, which use 40 percent less oil than standard fryers. “Oil costs are a huge factor in restaurants, and we’re cutting 40 percent of those costs right off the bat. Plus we've built in a unique oil filtration feature that’s much cleaner and simpler to use,” says Henny Penny’s Jason Moles. Evolution Elite fryers are also Energy Star rated, with more than 85 percent energy efficiency.
Hobart’s booth was filled with interesting new products. In warewashing, there’s a ventilation stack that combines with their new energy recovery product. The stack releases hot air and steam from the running machine, which in turn helps to heat water. The unit costs between $1,000 and $2,000, but there’s an approximate $1,300 a year payback, so it pays for itself within 12 to 14 months.
Hobart’s Baxter baking group showed off its stainless steel appliances with an artisan, old-world look featuring arched doors. They also have a high-capacity one or two rack baking oven. This rounded unit has a heat exchanger with double-thickness stainless steel so the heat stays in the unit.
We saw the new spiral mixer with its European influence. Called the “gentle giant,” it specializes in artisan breads. Between the reverse rotation and the spiral, it has the ability to keep the ingredients in place and mix them optimally.
Then we visited their Kairak division to see the new BLU system. It’s a glycol-based refrigeration system (no Freon), which saves money. Its power source is installed remotely in the roof or ceiling, away from all refrigeration equipment. The benefit is a cooler kitchen that enhances productivity. It also saves energy because only one power unit is used for the entire kitchen.
MANITOWOC ICE Possibly the world's highest producing ice machine.
Manitowoc’s S-Series 3300 ice cube machine is Energy Star rated and has a daily capacity of up to 3,380 pounds of ice. The Quadzilla Evaporator System places four high-output individual evaporators in a compact four-inch wide ice maker. The machine features CEE Tier 2 energy and Tier 3 water efficiency rating.
MARKET FORGE Energy Star-rated steamer/kettle combos.
Mark Manganiello of Market Forge enthusiastically showed us their new electric Power-Plus Convection Steam Cooker. In addition to being Energy Star rated, the Power-Plus gives customers the option of adding a four, six, ten, or twelve-gallon tilting steam kettle built into the side, which Manganiello says is “hot for hotels.” The Power-Plus is also the first boiler-based model with a built-in filter system and a built-in water management system, which can save up to 80 percent of the water consumed by other steamers in its class.
THERMO-KOOL A green mind when it comes to walk-ins.
2009 is the year Federal energy efficiency standards go into effect for walk-in refrigerators, and even tighter standards go into effect in California. At Thermo-Kool’s booth, it was business as usual though, since their walk-in coolers already met both sets of energy guidelines without any modification needed. Thermo-Kool’s Teri Brewer told us the green mindset extends all the way through the company’s products, which use recycled materials, energy-efficient lighting, and heat-reflective glass for windows.
