Industrial Cooling Equipment Ltd

Industrial Cooling Equipment Ltd Industrial Cooling Equipment Ltd

Industrial Cooling Equipment Ltd, is a contractor specialising in the design, supply and installation of commercial and industrial refrigeration and air-conditioning systems, incorporating where possible heat recovery and energy conservation.

❄️ “Can you come and top our A/C up? It just needs a bit of gas.”It’s something we hear quite often.But refrigerant isn’...
07/09/2026

❄️ “Can you come and top our A/C up? It just needs a bit of gas.”

It’s something we hear quite often.

But refrigerant isn’t a consumable product. It doesn’t get “used up” or simply run out.

An air conditioning or refrigeration system is designed to be a sealed, gas-tight system. If the refrigerant level is low, there’s a reason for it – you have a leak.

Simply topping the system back up doesn’t fix the problem.

The correct approach is to identify where the refrigerant has been lost, locate and repair the leak, pressure test the system to confirm it’s gas-tight, evacuate it correctly and then recharge it with the correct amount of refrigerant.

Finding and fixing the cause, rather than just treating the symptom, helps keep the system operating efficiently and reliably.

Low on gas? Find the leak first. 🔧

04/09/2026

🔧 What is a pressure test, and when would one be carried out?

In this short video, our Service Manager, Harry James, explains what a pressure test is, why it’s an important part of refrigeration and air conditioning work, and when our engineers would carry one out.

Pressure testing is a key part of ensuring a system is leak-tight and ready to operate safely and reliably.

Another quick insight into the technical work our engineers carry out every day at Industrial Cooling Equipment Ltd (ICE).

We are delighted to announce the promotion of Harry James to Service Manager at Industrial Cooling Equipment Ltd, as par...
02/09/2026

We are delighted to announce the promotion of Harry James to Service Manager at Industrial Cooling Equipment Ltd, as part of the continued growth and development of our business.

Harry joined ICE in 2019 as an Apprentice Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Engineer and has progressed through the company, developing his technical knowledge, experience and leadership skills along the way.

In his new role as Service Manager, Harry will take responsibility for overseeing our Service Department, helping to manage our engineering team and ensuring we continue to provide the high standards of service and support our customers expect as the business continues to grow.

Harry’s progression from apprentice to Service Manager is also a great example of what we aim to achieve through our apprenticeship and development programme. We believe strongly in investing in young people, providing them with the training, experience and opportunities they need to build long-term careers within the refrigeration and air conditioning industry.

Having started his own career with ICE as an apprentice, Harry will continue to play an important role in developing and mentoring our current and future apprentices, passing on his experience and helping the next generation of engineers progress within the business.

We are extremely pleased to see Harry take this next step in his career and wish him every success in his new role as Service Manager.

Congratulations, Harry!

Helium Quench Pipe Project | St Margaret’s Hospital, EppingAnother successful MRI project delivered by the ICE team 👷‍♂️...
31/08/2026

Helium Quench Pipe Project | St Margaret’s Hospital, Epping

Another successful MRI project delivered by the ICE team 👷‍♂️💨

Working alongside DPL Group Ltd, we were appointed to design, manufacture, and install the complete helium quench pipe system for a new Siemens Altea 1.5T MRI scanner at St Margaret’s Hospital in Epping.

A helium quench pipe is a vital safety system within any MRI suite, providing a controlled discharge path for helium gas in the event of a magnet quench. It protects patients, staff, and equipment, so precision and compliance are absolutely critical.

Our scope covered every stage, from site survey, design, and pressure-drop calculations through to fabrication and installation.

The finished system included:
🔹 200 mm dia × 3 mm 304 stainless-steel quench pipe
🔹 Painted mild-steel support brackets
🔹 50 mm foil-backed insulation
🔹 1 mm aluminium stucco cladding for external sections
🔹 Silicone-rubber gaskets for airtight performance

The site presented several challenges — including a raised plant deck, fire exits, and occupied areas near the discharge point, but our engineers reconfigured the layout and recalculated the system to ensure full manufacturer compliance and safety.

Delivered in two phases (internal and external works), the installation was completed on time, fully approved, and ready for scanner commissioning, keeping the hospital’s tight schedule on track.

At ICE, we remove the complexity from MRI installations by providing a complete turnkey service, combining design, engineering, and installation expertise under one roof.

The result is a safe, compliant, and stress-free process for our clients.

&E

Did you know…?Back in the day, in Hazel Grove, Manchester, a local dairy needed a way to keep milk cool on its doorstep ...
31/08/2026

Did you know…?

Back in the day, in Hazel Grove, Manchester, a local dairy needed a way to keep milk cool on its doorstep deliveries.

ICE Ltd created the solution.

They took a Yorkshire Refrigeration Co. unit (from Shipley), built a custom system, and fitted it onto a Karrier Bantam lorry. That meant the milk could be cooled overnight and stay fresh during the daily rounds.

It was one of the first refrigerated milk delivery trucks in the UK.

From keeping milk fresh on the doorstep to today’s cooling challenges, innovation has always been part of the ICE story.

Future-proof Pharmaceutical Refrigeration: ICE Ltd upgrades a critical airlock system with ultra-low GWP refrigerant.A P...
31/08/2026

Future-proof Pharmaceutical Refrigeration: ICE Ltd upgrades a critical airlock system with ultra-low GWP refrigerant.

A Pharma client in North Wales entrusted ICE Ltd to replace a vital airlock refrigeration system serving their freezer facility. Although the airlock doesn’t store product, its operation is critical as failure could compromise the main freezer.

ICE designed and installed a 5.11 kW DX (direct expansion) system using R454C (A2L) refrigerant, delivering modern, compliant, and future-ready cooling while minimising environmental impact.

Key outcomes:

✅ Regulatory compliance: R454C has a GWP < 150, aligning with present and future F-Gas phase-down rules
Industrial Cooling Equipment Ltd

✅ Safety-first design: Mandatory leak detection system in place because of R454C’s A2L (mildly flammable) status
Industrial Cooling Equipment Ltd

✅ Reliable performance: High-efficiency Danfoss condensing unit & Kelvion evaporator ensures robust, steady cooling
Industrial Cooling Equipment Ltd

✅ Handover: Full regulatory documentation (including PED certification) handed over; zero disruption during switchover

✅ Long-term value: The upgrade secures the airlock system for the long term, without the risk of future refrigerant bans or obsolescence

If you’re looking to upgrade your refrigeration plant, transition to low-GWP refrigerants, or future-proof critical temperature-controlled environments, ICE Ltd is ready to help.

Future-Proof Coldroom Upgrade: Protecting £40m of Pharmaceutical Stock with A2L Refrigerants 💊❄️The Problem A long-stand...
19/08/2026

Future-Proof Coldroom Upgrade: Protecting £40m of Pharmaceutical Stock with A2L Refrigerants 💊❄️

The Problem
A long-standing pharmaceutical customer in North Wales relied on a critical coldroom to store over £40 million of stock at 2–8°C. Their existing refrigeration system, installed by ICE in 2005, had performed flawlessly for two decades. But challenges were mounting:

🧊 Ageing infrastructure: Spare parts were increasingly unavailable.
🧊 Regulatory pressure: Existing R407C refrigerant (GWP 1774) is being phased out under F-Gas legislation.
🧊 Future risk: By 2030, new systems must use refrigerants with GWP

A huge well done to Samuel Jones on finishing joint first at the WorldSkills competition in Nagano, Japan last week.An i...
03/08/2026

A huge well done to Samuel Jones on finishing joint first at the WorldSkills competition in Nagano, Japan last week.

An incredible achievement and a great reward for all the hard work Sam has put in over the last few years.

Next stop is Shanghai, China, where Sam will represent the UK again next month. What an amazing experience and something everyone at Industrial Cooling Equipment Ltd is incredibly proud of.

Good luck, Sam 👏🇬🇧

31/07/2026

What’s actually involved in pressure testing an A/C or refrigeration system?

“Pressure test” sounds simple, but there’s a lot more to it than just putting air in a system and seeing what happens.

Here’s what the process really looks like 👇

1️⃣ First things first – the system is made safe
The system is fully switched off and electrically isolated. Nothing runs while this work is being carried out, this must be taken in consideration if the system is critical.

2️⃣ Recovering the refrigerant
Gauge hoses are connected and any refrigerant left in the system is carefully recovered using a recovery machine.
This refrigerant is pumped into clean recovery cylinders (supplied by wholesalers) so nothing is released to the atmosphere.

3️⃣ Pressurising to find leaks
Once empty, the system is filled with either:

Oxygen Free Nitrogen (OFN), or Tracer gas (a helium/nitrogen mix)

This is not just compressed are and is oxygen free!

Tracer gas is much more expensive, but the helium particles are smaller, making it ideal for finding very small or hard-to-reach leaks. A specialist leak detector is used to pinpoint the exact location.

4️⃣ Repairing the leak
When a leak is found, it’s repaired properly — not just “tightened and hoped for the best”.

5️⃣ Pressure test & hold
The system is then re-pressurised (typically to around 1.1 × its normal working pressure, depending on manufacturer guidelines) and left for a set period of time.

If the pressure holds steady, it confirms the system is now gas-tight.

6️⃣ Vacuum and dehydration
Once confirmed leak-free, the nitrogen is safely released and the system is connected to a vacuum pump.
This removes all air and moisture — critical for system reliability and efficiency.

7️⃣ Recharging the system
Finally, the system is recharged with refrigerant.

Some refrigerants allow the original gas to be reused

Blended refrigerants must be replaced with 100% fresh refrigerant

Only then is the system ready to be powered back up and put into service.

Pressure testing isn’t a quick job — it’s a methodical process designed to protect the system, the environment, and prevent future breakdowns. You cant just bang a bit of gas in and hope for the best.

23/07/2026

You never know what you're going to find above a ceiling...

Our engineers were recently carrying out pre-arranged air conditioning night works at a pharmaceutical facility when they uncovered one of the most unusual refrigeration installations we've come across.

Above the suspended ceiling was a complete refrigeration system.

After tracing the pipework and locating the condenser, it became clear that it was a fully operational system dedicated solely to cooling the ceiling void.

The reason? Directly above was a refrigerated cold room. Apparently the cold was penetrating through the floor slab, causing condensation to form on the ceiling of the room below.

Normally, when installing a cold room thats not on the ground floor, the floor would be insulated to prevent condensation forming beneath it.

On this site, however, someone had taken a completely different approach. Instead of insulating the cold room floor, they had installed an entirely separate refrigeration system to cool the ceiling void below.

Has anyone else come across an installation that made you stop and think, "Why ??"

Address

101 Chadwick Road, Astmoor Industrial Estate
Runcorn
WA71PW

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 2:30pm

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