Chiller hire for tomato packing and storage was required at a facility in Guyra, New South Wales, ahead of the warmer summer period.
The main packing area did not yet have permanent refrigeration. Although a future upgrade was planned, it would not be completed before temperatures began to rise.
Without additional cooling, conditions inside the facility could move beyond the desired range for packing and storing tomatoes. This could affect product condition and limit the site’s ability to continue operating through summer.
Aircon Rentals supplied 400 kW temporary chiller solution that remained on-site for approximately five months while the permanent refrigeration plans progressed.
Temporary FDC units were mounted above the working area to improve air distribution and keep equipment clear of production.
Project Overview
Location: Guyra, New South Wales
Industry: Agriculture and fresh produce
Application: Tomato packing and storage cooling
Project type: Seasonal additional capacity and interim cooling
Cooling capacity supplied: 400 kW
Approximate area cooled: 1,300 m² across two areas
Installation duration: Approximately four days
Hire duration: Approximately five months
Equipment Supplied
- 2 x 200 kW temporary chillers
- Multiple temporary FDC cooling units
- Temporary glycol cooling circuit
- Flexible pipework and connection equipment
- Custom-fabricated FDC mounting stands
- Remote monitoring
The Challenge
The facility needed additional cooling across two separate areas used for packing and storing tomatoes.
The main packing area was housed within a large metal-clad shed that had not yet been converted into a permanent temperature-controlled space. A separate storage area was used to hold tomatoes after packing.
One area was insulated, while the other was not.
With summer approaching, the existing setup could not maintain the required conditions across both spaces. The permanent refrigeration upgrade was still some time away, but production could not stop while the business waited for the new system to be completed.
The temporary equipment also needed to be installed around an active farm and packing operation.
Pipework, cooling units and supporting equipment had to be positioned without blocking access, creating trip hazards or interfering with the movement of people and produce.
Why Temporary Cooling Was Required
The site needed an interim cooling solution that could support the packing operation through the warmer months.
Waiting for the permanent system would have left the packing and storage areas exposed to rising temperatures during a critical production period.
Temporary chiller hire provided the required cooling capacity without delaying packing activities or requiring the facility to complete permanent building works first.
It also gave the business more time to plan and complete its longer-term refrigeration upgrade while continuing to operate.
The Temporary Chiller Solution
Aircon Rentals supplied two 200 kW temporary chillers, providing a combined cooling capacity of 400 kW.
The chillers operated through a temporary glycol circuit connected to multiple FDC units positioned across the packing and storage areas.
The equipment was distributed between the two spaces so the system could support active packing operations and stored produce.
This arrangement allowed conditioned air to circulate through both areas while keeping the main chiller equipment outside the working zones.
The external glycol cooling system supplied chilled fluid to the temporary FDC units inside the packing and storage areas.
Custom FDC Mounting
The building did not have suitable permanent mounting points for the temporary FDC units.
Aircon Rentals fabricated temporary stands so the units could be installed in elevated positions, similar to how permanent air-cooling equipment would normally be arranged.
Raising the units off the floor helped improve air distribution and kept the equipment clear of the packing operation.
It also reduced the amount of working space occupied by the temporary system.
Keeping Pipework Clear of Production
The temporary glycol pipework needed to travel approximately 45 metres before reaching the cooling units inside the facility.
Much of the pipework was elevated to keep it clear of production areas and access routes. It was also insulated to reduce condensation.
This helped:
- reduce trip hazards
- protect the temporary hoses
- maintain clear movement through the facility
- avoid interrupting packing activities
- keep the installation separate from normal farm operations
The site had suitable concrete access for equipment delivery and positioning, which helped the installation proceed efficiently.
Installation and Commissioning
The temporary cooling system was installed over approximately four days.
The work included:
- positioning the two chillers
- installing the temporary glycol circuit
- fabricating and installing the FDC stands
- distributing cooling across both areas
- elevating and insulating the temporary pipework
- connecting the system
- testing and commissioning the equipment
The installation was completed around the operating facility without interrupting production.
The temporary cooling system was installed around the active packing facility over approximately four days.
Remote Monitoring
The chillers were fitted with remote monitoring capability for the duration of the project.
This allowed Aircon Rentals to monitor the system throughout the extended hire period and respond if operating conditions changed.
Reliability is critical for fresh produce facilities. A cooling interruption during hot weather can affect product condition, reduce storage time and disrupt the facility’s ability to continue packing.
Remote monitoring provided additional visibility over the temporary system while it remained on-site.
The Outcome
The temporary cooling system remained in operation for approximately five months.
It provided the additional capacity required through the warmer period, allowing the facility to continue packing and storing tomatoes while its permanent refrigeration plans progressed.
No cooling interruptions were reported during the hire period, and the installation did not interfere with the normal movement or production activities of the farm.
Once winter arrived and the additional cooling was no longer required, the equipment was decommissioned and removed.
The temporary system gave the site a practical way to continue operating without waiting for the permanent refrigeration upgrade to be completed.
Project Results
- 400 kW of temporary cooling capacity supplied
- Approximately 1,300 m² supported across two areas
- Packing and storage areas cooled
- Installation completed in approximately four days
- Temporary system operated for approximately five months
- Production continued during installation
- Custom stands fabricated for the FDC units
- Approximately 45 metres of temporary pipework kept clear of production areas
- Remote monitoring used throughout the hire
- No cooling interruptions reported
- Equipment removed once seasonal cooling was no longer required
What This Means for Fresh Produce Facilities
Temporary cooling for a packing shed or fresh produce storage facility involves more than selecting equipment based on floor area.
The system design also needs to account for:
- building insulation
- internal heat load
- required operating temperature
- product movement
- available mounting positions
- equipment access
- pipework routes
- installation timing
- reliability during hot weather
These factors become even more important when the temporary system needs to operate inside an active agricultural facility.
Equipment cannot block packing areas or interfere with daily production. Pipework needs to remain protected, elevated and out of the way. Cooling also needs to be distributed properly across each space rather than concentrated in one part of the building.
For the Guyra project, two temporary chillers, a glycol circuit and multiple elevated FDC units gave the facility the capacity it needed without waiting for permanent refrigeration works to be completed.
Why Aircon Rentals
This project required a temporary cooling system that could be installed around an operating tomato packing facility and remain reliable for an extended period.
Aircon Rentals designed a custom on-site installation that distributed cooling across two separate areas, kept pipework clear of production zones and positioned the FDC units above the working floor.
The chillers were also monitored remotely throughout the hire period.
The client selected Aircon Rentals again based on the successful delivery of previous projects. This repeat business reflects our ability to design practical temporary temperature-control solutions for agriculture around the operational requirements of each site.
Need Temporary Cooling for a Packing or Fresh Produce Facility?
Aircon Rentals supplies temporary chiller hire, process cooling solutions and refrigeration equipment for packing sheds, farms, food processors, cold-storage facilities and fresh produce businesses across Australia.
Contact Aircon Rentals to discuss temporary cooling for:
- seasonal production
- additional cooling capacity
- refrigeration upgrades
- equipment breakdowns
- packing and storage areas
- facilities awaiting permanent cooling
Call 1800 626 996, available 24/7, or request a hire quote online.