Whilst most refrigeration equipment is purchased on the basis of performance rather than appearance, display equipment must be aesthetically appealing. This can sometimes lead to a compromise situation and we would advise all customers to be fully aware of what the equipment will and will not do before committing themselves.

The maximum ambient working temperature of most display equipment is 25C. This temperature is often reached outdoors in summer and unless ventilation or air conditioning is installed they will often struggle in the warmer months.

Whilst the majority of equipment is available ‘off the shelf’ a number of manufacturers will construct a particular design to order. If you wish to purchase a six sided buffet display complete with glass, mirrors, strobe lighting and metalwork finished in sky blue with pink spots then it is not a problem provided that your cheque book is large enough. Most people content themselves with standard items, the most common of which are discussed below :-

Glass door cabinets. These are similar to conventional semi-commercial refrigerators but with a glass door and internal lighting fitted. Relatively inexpensive to purchase you will have seen branded versions in shops used as Coke fridges etc. Freezer versions are available at slightly higher cost due to the requirement for heated glazed doors.

All round door glass cabinets. Somewhat similar to a Tardis in appearance, these have glass to all sides with the refrigeration unit being located in the base. Shelves can be fixed or rotating for extra effect and a variety of finishes are available for the metal work.

Multideck displays. Designed to be positioned with the back of a cabinet against a wall, these are becoming increasingly popular in sandwich bars etc. They offer excellent display capacity without the disadvantage of the customer having to open a door to reach in. For shop use a white finish is popular whilst for catering establishments stainless steel is generally preferred. One or two multidecks are available in a polished stainless steel which looks superb when illuminated and loaded with product. Please be aware that due to the large open area, a reasonable size compressor is required which does generate more noise and heat than a glass door cabinet. More condensate water is also generated which often has to be disposed of manually or ‘evaporated’ away using a heating element system. For this reason larger runs of multideck displays often have the condensing unit situated outside.

Delicatessen displays. Most people will have seen these in corner shops or takeaways. The front glass is usually available in a flat or curved shape and there is generally lighting and an intermediate (non refrigerated) glass shelf. The display area is cooled by either a static or fan assisted evaporator normally hidden away from sight behind a grille. Many displays now have refrigerated understorage which utilises the area at the back of the display underneath the main display bed. This is extremely useful for back up stock. As with multidecks, you will usually have a container of some sort for condensate water which will have to be emptied occasionally. Most units are supplied with a fairly plain white or grey finish with some sort of trim along the front. Do not miss the potential to decorate with your own finish in order to blend in with your premises.

Table top displays. Similar to the delicatessen displays above but without the base and refrigerated understorage. Useful if floor space is limited but you have some spare work surface area. If you wish to have a floor standing unit but still do not require a nicely finished base or understorage then it is possible to purchase these units on a tubular trolley with castors.

Dolewells. These are literally a refrigerated well with a depth of around 150mm or so which rely on contact cooling between the base of the well and the bottom of the food container for cooling. They are available in almost any size that you may require and are also extremely versatile in that they can be sunk into an existing base. The cooling performance is generally poor and the chances are that if the top of the container is level with or above the top of the well then the product will be more or less at room temperature.

Patisserie displays. Similar in some ways to delicatessen counters, these units usually feature more shelves and a more attractive finish. Good units will be fan assisted with cooled air being blown from the base of the cabinet all the way up to the top in order to ensure a uniform temperature. Less expensive cabinets generally only have cooling to the main display bed with the shelves above getting progressively warmer until the top is more or less at room temperature.

Island site. Generally a form of dolewell in a nicely finished base (woodgrain, stainless steel etc.). Better units have a lighting strip concealed within an overhead perspex sneeze screen. This can sometimes be lowered when the display is not needed in order to provide instant storage capacity.