Panasonic Ships First 80HP TC CO₂ Racks in Japan

Japanese OEM Panasonic has shipped its first 80HP transcritical CO₂ rack systems in Japan, the company announced during a special ceremony held on October 16.

The racks will be installed this month by Benirei Logistics, a Japanese cold storage warehouse operator and logistics company, at its Osaka South Seaport cold storage warehouse, located in the Port of Osaka, where it stores various chilled and frozen foods.

A total of ten 80HP CO₂ rack units, along with four 40HP CO₂ racks, will be installed at the facility. In addition, two 20HP and two 15HP CO₂ condensing units will also be installed at the facility. All CO₂ systems are supplied by Panasonic. 

Panasonic 80HP transcritical CO₂ rack

The CO₂ rack systems were manufactured in China and shipped to Japan. Panasonic debuted its 80HP transcritical CO₂ rack system at the China Refrigeration 2019 trade show in Shanghai in April of last year.

Official shipment ceremony

Representatives from all organizations involved in the project spoke during the special ceremony, held at the offices of the cold chain business division of Panasonic Appliances Company in Gunma prefecture, on October 16.

"By realizing the use of environmentally friendly natural refrigerants in the food supply chain, we will strive to realize our mission of creating a better and more enjoyable life for people," said Hiroyuki Tominaga, Division Director, Cold Chain Business Division, Appliances Company, Panasonic Corporation.

Hiroyuki Tominaga, Division Director, Cold Chain Business Division, Appliances Company, Panasonic Corporation

Tominaga spoke about the rapid growth of the company's business in the commercial food retail and food service sectors. Going forward, he said, the company intends to expand its business further in the cold storage warehousing sector.

In addition, Hiroshi Ochiai, President and CEO of Benirei Logistics cited Panasonic's know-how and experience, as well as its corporate attitude towards product development, strict management systems and after-service care, as the reasons why it decided to adopt the CO₂ systems for this project.

"When we made this decision, we told Panasonic that we promised to take this delivery as an opportunity to make your CO₂ refrigeration systems known to the industry," said Ochiai.

"We aim to use this installation at the Osaka South Seaport warehouse as a field site to provide data and improve the quality of our products," Ochiai added. "With regard to this promise, I would like to reiterate again, here today, that this has not changed."

Japanese contractor, Nichirei Logistics Engineering and consulting company Sanrei Corp. will be responsible for the initial installation and commissioning as well as ongoing maintenance and after-sales management.