Intelligent compressor solutions Secop

INTELLIGENT COMPRESSOR SOLUTIONS

Secop is a leading global manufacturer of Hermetic Compressors for refrigerator applications. Philip Yorke looks at a company that continues to lead the field with its on-going investments in new technology and implementation of natural refrigerants and variable speed, energy-efficient products.

With more than 50 years’ experience in cutting-edge compressor technology the company’s focus is to develop and produce advanced, energy efficient products for manufacturing businesses around the world. Secop’s headquarters, which houses its R&D and sales divisions, is situated in Fensburg, Germany. The company’s three state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities are located in Austria, Slovakia and China.

Inn 2010 the leading German Investment Group, Aurelius AG, acquired Danfoss Household Compressors of Denmark and under its new ownership re-named the company Secop GmbH. The company has since gone from strength to strength with the introduction of the advanced XV compressor which opened a new chapter in refrigeration technology and the acquisition of ACC Furstenfeld of Austria.

The Secop Group is active in the sectors of household, light commercial and mobile systems refrigeration and has developed a range of compressors which operate with the use of R600a, isobutene and R290, propane.

Unique solutions

The demand for more powerful, more flexible and more environmentally-friendly solutions continues to grow. The increased demand can be seen in the global light-commercial market in particular for freezers, beverage displays, water coolers and ice cream cabinets. In a highly competitive market it is innovation and efficiency optimisation that remain the keys to Secop’s success.

Secop has delivered advanced compressor solutions for over fifty years and with the introduction of the variable speed DLV propane compressors sets a new benchmark in energy efficiency. With its latest, variable speed compressor, Secop also sets a new standard within the light commercial market. The new series of compressors not only offers 40 per cent energy savings and exceptional, sustainable cooling efficiency, but it also provides a unique solution that is suitable for both LBP and MBP applications.

With this new family of DLV compressors, customers get more flexibility and they no longer need to worry about application restraints. Instead of the traditional sole focus on LBP, the new compressor also includes all MBP applications simultaneously.

These latest compressors from Secop come with the new CCD® controller. Its common interface enables caser controllers from all major suppliers and uses speed control through ‘Adaptive Energy Optimisation’ (AEO). The controller also provides a high starting torque and can start against differential pressures.

The main sectors where Secop’s products are implemented are the Household refrigerator market, which represents around 35 per cent of sales, light commercial appliances at approximately 50 per cent and direct current appliances which account for around 15 per cent of global sales.

The company told Industry Europe that in the household market the focus is on technology leadership through the development of its XV platform offering a unique combination of high efficiency and

compact design. In the light commercial market Secop is focused on the development and introduction of natural refrigerant solutions and variable speed driven compressor solutions for its customers, in order for them to meet the new regulations. In the direct current market segment the company continues to develop its platform in order to maintain its global market leadership position.

Global breakthrough

Solar powered vaccine coolers are one of the fastest growing technologies within the cooling market. A joint venture between the Danish Technological Institute, Secop and Vestfrost solutions, have resulted in a global technological breakthrough in terms of the storage of vaccines in areas without a regular power supply.

The project concept was to develop vaccine coolers where sun panels directly supply cooling compressors with energy. Until now, solar-powered vaccine coolers were equipped with batteries of lead in order to ignite the compressors to maintain coolers at all times. This solution was problematic because battery life was very short due to the immense discharge required. Added to this were the issues of environmental damage from spent batteries. Component consolidation

In its drive to increase productivity and global efficiency Secop plans to consolidate its European component production this year. This will involve the relocation of component production from Austria to

Slovakia. In parallel with this strategic move, Secop will further optimise different functional areas and by doing so will utilise the synergies throughout its European footprint. In the future, the Austrian facility will focus on three main areas. The Global technology area is headquartered in Furstenfeld where it is responsible for the development of new technologies for the entire Secop Group.

Particular emphasis will be placed on the consistent development of energy efficient variable speed compressors for the household, light commercial and DC powered segments. With these highly innovative technologies, Secop addresses both megatrends efficiency and low noise level. The management decided to establish a ‘Manufacturing Engineering Excellence & Competence Centre’ in Austria, which will utilise the existing process know-how to further improve the Secop production facilities in Europe and China. n For further information about Secop’s innovative, energy-saving compressors and services visit: www.secop.com