What is the project
Development of a dual-temperature display case — refrigerated and heated — featuring two independent closed compartments, with the integration of an innovative heat recovery system that captures the heat rejected by the condensing unit into the environment and converts it into useful thermal energy for heating the warm section of the display case.
Objectives
- Develop dual-temperature platforms with two compartments sharing the same dimensional characteristics as their corresponding product family, enabling seamless integration with any element of the same family
- Ensure heating of the warm storage compartment with zero electrical energy consumption, powered entirely by energy recovered from the refrigeration system
- Guarantee refrigerated food preservation in class 3M1
- Guarantee hot food preservation within the +60/+65°C range
- Determine the ideal ratio between the refrigerated and heated volumes so that the cooling and heating capacities are equivalent and allow the system to reach equilibrium
- Ensure design consistency throughout the range
What we delivered
- Combined vertical dual-temperature display cases with heat recovery system for self-service
- Combined horizontal dual-temperature display cases with heat recovery system and dual function — assisted service and self-service
- 80% reduction in energy consumption of the heated section
- Elimination of heat discharge from the refrigeration system into the store
- Scalable solution to other typologies wherever refrigeration and heating are combined
- Boost to cross-selling and development of cross-selling opportunities
- Suited to convenience and independent stores
Key metrics
- Awards — 1: Innovation Smart Label Award 2023, promoted by POLI.design Milano (Politecnico di Milano) under the patronage of ADI - Associazione Italiana per il Disegno Industriale
- Energy efficiency — 80% reduction in heating energy consumption; 100% elimination of heat discharged by the refrigeration system into the store
- Primary pilot locations — 1 retail store
- Events — 6 trade shows: Euroshop 2023 (Düsseldorf), Host Milano 2023 (Milan), Host Smart Label Award Lounge 2023 (Milan), Tecnipão 2024 (Lisbon), Host Milano 2025 (Milan), Euroshop 2026 (Düsseldorf)
Summary
The project aimed to develop autonomous hot & cold display cases with two independent compartments, capable of preserving both refrigerated and hot food by recovering the heat generated within the refrigeration system itself, significantly reducing energy consumption and reinforcing the equipment's eco-design credentials.
Technical solutions were developed to ensure integration across different display case typologies, while maintaining design consistency and alignment with each product family. The validated prototype demonstrated the ability to preserve refrigerated products in class 3M1 and reach up to 55°C in the heated compartment without electric heating elements, achieving a reduction of over 80% in energy consumption of the hot module and near-total elimination of heat discharged by the condensing unit into the store.
The project confirmed the technology's potential for application across new typologies, although technical challenges remain regarding thermal balance, temperature control, and optimisation to stably achieve the target of +60/+65°C in the heated module.
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