New AIR line for compact retail formats

4RM Refrigeration has launched a new AIR range for compact retail formats. Retailers continue to seek a balance between display density, energy consumption and space requirements. This issue is especially acute in convenience formats, where every meter of the sales area works for turnover, and the equipment must be not only functional, but also compact. For such tasks 4RM Refrigeration has developed a new line of refrigeration equipment AIR.

4RM Refrigeration develops several product lines:

Classic - a line for projects where variability, reliability and the ability to customize a solution to a specific format are important.

Solaris - a series with an emphasis on functionality and economy. These models are oriented towards modern retail spaces where it is important to maintain the quality of performance and display density with a more restrained budget.

AIR is the next step in the development of the range. This range focuses on compactness, visual lightness and energy efficiency. The first model was the NEPTUN AIR wall cabinet.

Compact format without loss of usable volume

For small stores and facilities with limited floor space, the depth of the equipment is one of the key parameters. The more compact the solution, the easier it is to integrate it into the existing layout and maintain the logic of customer movement in the sales area.

NEPTUN AIR has a depth of 703 mm and is designed for just such tasks. The showcase is suitable for convenience stores, local supermarkets and facilities where it is important to use every meter efficiently without overloading the space. At the same time, compactness is not achieved at the expense of reducing the useful display volume.

What makes the model work

One of the design solutions in NEPTUN AIR is the lower location of the evaporator. This allows you to get a shelf depth of 450-500 mm, that is, to keep a full exposure of goods in the direct line of sight of the buyer.

This solution gives several effects at once:

• the useful display area is increased;
• the temperature recovers faster after opening;
• cooling is distributed evenly over the entire display case area.

Energy consumption as a selection factor

Another focus of the AIR range is energy efficiency. The NEPTUN AIR is powered by R290 refrigerant, and the optimized cooling system reduces energy consumption by up to 30%. Against the backdrop of rising operating costs, this is no longer an added benefit, but one of the factors that directly affect the economics of the facility.

Concise design: aesthetics and functionality

The ultra-thin fascia reduces the visual load, thus providing a better view of the goods. The design itself looks up-to-date, light and harmonious in any space.

For modern retail formats it is as important as technical characteristics: the equipment should not only work stably, but also not “weigh” the hall visually.

Implementation practice: Minsk

One of the first objects where NEPTUN AIR was installed was the store №3 of JSC “ZRPT” in Minsk (67 Partizansky Ave.).

The project was connected with the transition of the retail outlet from the counter format to self-service. This transition required equipment that could be built into the updated layout without loss of usable space and without compromises on display.

As a result of the implementation, the store received:

• a more open retail format;
• convenient access of customers to the goods;
• reduced workload on the staff;
• clearer and faster organization of the trade process.

The model is already being used at other sites of large retailers.

The appearance of AIR reflects a general shift in the requirements for refrigeration equipment. Whereas previously the key criteria were primarily cooling capacity and reliability, now more and more often in the same row are:

• compactness;
• energy consumption;
• visual perception of the equipment in the hall;
• ease of integration into the existing store format.

In this sense, NEPTUN AIR is not a separate niche model, but an answer to a very specific market demand: how to preserve the display, not to lose space and not to increase operating costs.