5 questions for... Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Imenkämper

Thomas Imenkämper, Managing Director Sales at L&R Kältetechnik on system modernization and the company's trade fair appearance. Interview: Robert Piterek

Refrigeration is essential for electroplating baths. What is your company's main area of application in the industry?

We use our cooling systems to cool electroplating baths, rectifiers and other processes in production. Our cooling systems can generate flow temperatures from 30 to -80 °C.

You are calling for the modernization of systems in the industry. Why is that?

Energy costs will become even more important in the coming years. This is why, in addition to environmental aspects, cost savings in the energy sector are an existential concern for many companies. With our energy-efficient cooling systems, we can make a significant contribution to saving energy. Cooling systems and heat pumps play an important role here.

What proportion of electricity generation does refrigeration technology usually account for in electroplating plants?

Normally, around 80 % of the rectifier power is converted into heat, which has to be dissipated via a cooling system. We design efficient solutions for this that can be individually tailored to the customer.

How much energy can be saved?

Energy-saving technologies such as winter relief (free cooling), heat recovery, speed-controlled compressors, fans and pumps, Vari-Kon (variable condensation temperature control) and energy-efficient refrigerants can reduce operating costs by up to 80 %. The cooling systems with our energy-saving technologies are also usually eligible for subsidies.

How is L&R presenting itself at Surface Technology and what do you expect from the trade fair?

We will be informing visitors to our stand about customized energy-efficient industrial cooling systems, efficient L&R cooling systems with natural refrigerants such as propane, low GWP (Global Warming Potential) refrigerants, energy-saving technologies for cooling systems with which savings potentials of up to 80% can be achieved, funding opportunities for energy-efficient L&R systems, filter systems and chemical-free water treatment.

We recently attended our first trade fair in the plastics sector. The response there was very good, which shows that there is now life in the market again. I'm hoping for the same thing at Surface Technology, where we will be focusing on new orders and customer groups, particularly because the topic of energy is currently very topical and our energy-efficient solutions for surface technology are therefore becoming increasingly important.