There’s a lot more to keeping milk cold than just the refrigeration unit on the vat. We work across the complete milk cooling system - from pre-cooling the milk before it reaches the vat, plate cooling and chilled water systems, through to vat refrigeration, ice banks and heat recovery. We install new systems, upgrade existing equipment, service and repair refrigeration units, carry out preventative maintenance and attend breakdowns.
We can also assess your current set-up and offer practical advice on where improvements can be made - whether that’s getting better performance from what you already have, reducing running costs or looking at a different cooling solution. Whatever your on-farm refrigeration needs, give Dan a call - if it involves cooling and keeping milk cold, he can help.
Before spending money upgrading your refrigeration, make sure your pre-cooling is doing its job. Getting the milk colder before it reaches the vat can make a big difference to how hard the rest of your refrigeration system has to work.
Refrigeration breakdowns don’t always happen during business hours. Our technicians are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergency breakdowns when you need us most. For the quickest response, give Dan a call on 027 248 5151. Depending on the problem, he may even be able to offer some advice over the phone and get you going without the need for a call-out.
Our technicians’ vans are well stocked for most common breakdowns and, when needed, a little Kiwi ingenuity can often get things up and running until a permanent repair can be completed during normal working hours. And our 24/7 service isn’t just for the farm - our light commercial refrigeration customers can call us after hours too.
As much as we offer a 24/7 emergency breakdown service, there are a few simple things you can do to help avoid needing us after hours! Keep an eye on your milk temperatures after the morning milking - often an early sign that something isn’t quite right. Give your condenser (the radiator-looking thing) a regular wash, particularly through the warmer months. Keeping it clean and clear helps your refrigeration system do its job. And if you’re not a Fonterra supplier, consider investing in vat temperature monitoring. It really can be worth it - an early alert could save you a late-night breakdown call and, more importantly, a vat of milk.
Commercial refrigeration doesn’t have to mean a supermarket full of chillers! We specialise in light commercial refrigeration, servicing, repairing and installing refrigeration for cafés, restaurants, butchers and other local businesses. From display cabinets and chiller rooms to freezers and glycol systems, if it has an evaporator and condensing unit, there’s a pretty good chance we can sort it. Whether it’s not holding temperature, needs a service or has stopped altogether, give us a call and we’ll take a look.
Keep an eye on airflow, especially during those hot summer months. Poor airflow can cause warm air to recirculate back onto an already hard-working refrigeration system. Check your condenser too - you’d be surprised how quickly dust and grease can build up, particularly in busy little café kitchens. Keeping it clean allows good airflow and helps your system work more efficiently. And one you may not know - keep egg products covered. Sulphur from eggs can attack the copper in your evaporator over time, potentially leading to corrosion and refrigerant leaks.
Good milk cooling starts before the milk reaches the vat. Our ice banks are designed and handmade in our own workshop, using quality materials and built specifically to suit the cooling requirements of each farm. With decades of experience in farm refrigeration, we’ve found ice banks to be a reliable and effective solution for pre-cooling milk - particularly when the existing system needs a little extra help during peak milk flow and the warmer months.
Because we build our own, we can design an ice bank around your herd, your existing refrigeration and your cooling requirements rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. Not sure what you need? Give Dan a call. He can assess your existing set-up, talk through the options and give you practical advice on what you need - and just as importantly, what you don’t.
An ice bank isn’t always the first answer. Make sure your existing pre-cooling and vat refrigeration are working efficiently before investing in additional cooling.
Yes! we install, service and repair Heat Pumps - Air Conditioning for homes and businesses. While dairy refrigeration is our specialty, we also have plenty of experience keeping homes, offices and light commercial spaces comfortable year-round. Whether you’re looking for a new heat pump, replacing an existing one or simply need some advice, give Megan a call at the office and we can talk through what you need and what will best suit your space.
We install and service a wide range of heat pump brands and systems, although Daikin is our preferred choice. Over the years we’ve been impressed with their range, warranty support and, importantly, the availability of parts when something does go wrong.
Give your heat pump a little love! Clean the filters regularly - dirty filters restrict airflow and make your system work harder. You can remove them and give them a gentle clean when needed. If you live near the coast, it’s also a good idea to regularly rinse the outdoor unit with fresh water to help remove salty residue and reduce surface corrosion. And one that’s easily forgotten - check your mode at the start of each season. ☀️❄️ Make sure you’re on heating for winter and cooling for summer!
Daniel is an Independent Qualified Person (IQP) for SS9 Mechanical Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems. He can inspect your specified systems, provide practical advice and complete the required certification for your Building Warrant of Fitness (BWOF). Where servicing or maintenance is required, our team can take care of that too. We aim to keep the process straightforward, helping building owners stay on top of their ongoing compliance requirements.
Keep your servicing, inspection and maintenance records together and up to date. Good records make your annual BWOF process much simpler - and help avoid a last-minute scramble!
Need Refrigeration Help?
Whether it’s a breakdown, servicing, maintenance or a new installation, give us a call and talk to someone who knows refrigeration.
