Nemox takes steps to heal the planet

Nemox the market leading Gelato batch freezer manufacturer aims to become one of the first Gelato machine manufacturer in the world to comply with the European regulation “F-GAS” 517/2014 and only use ecological refrigerant gases, with an impact on the environment practically equal to zero.

The EU set a target of January 2022 for all commercial refrigeration companies to reduce the number of harmful gases their products produce. In reaction to this European regulation Nemox set up an internal project called ICEGREEN with the aim of giving a “green” angle to the gelato market segment.

The greenhouse effect indicates the natural phenomenon that ensures the heating of the earth thanks to the gases present in the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide, ozone, nitrogen peroxide, water vapor and methane. Without the greenhouse effect, the planet's temperature could be 30°C. colder. However, in recent years, human activities have increased greenhouse gases, causing global warming.

Different types of greenhouse gases:

Water vapor product of various combustions.

Carbon dioxide released when solid waste, fossil fuels (oil, petro l, natural gas and coal), wood are burned.

Methane it is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas and mineral oil; from the decomposition of organic matter in landfills and the normal biological activity of the nearly 2 billion cattle on earth.

Nitrogen dioxide is produced during agricultural and industrial activities, during the combustion of waste and fossil fuels. 

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfurhexafluoride (SF6) are generated by different industrial processes, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) now banned.
Traditional refrigerants used in gelato machines – as well as in refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners – are hydrofluorocarbons greenhouse gases: 1 kg of these gases, for example R404a, has a GWP (Global Warming Potential) equivalent to 3922 kg of C02, which corresponds to the emissions into the atmosphere of a car that has driven about 40,000 kilometres.The objective of Nemox is to industrialize a new generation of ice cream machines operating with very low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants, such as propane (R290).

Based on the provisions of the European regulation “F-GAS” 517/2014, starting from 1st January 2022 all systems similar to professional-use chillers and freezers will have to use a gas with a GWP lower than 150.

Alternative Gas
Hydrocarbons, such as propane (R290), are an excellent alternative for use in small hermetic systems with a charge of less than 150 g (EN 378). However, the machines mus t be radically redesigned and engineered to ensure quality and safety.Through extensive prototyping and testing Nemox discovered other benefits of using R290 as an alternative; they compared a traditional Gelato 10K to the new Gelato 10K I Green model for power consumption and found the I Green model reached a lower temperature quicker, reaching -7°C three minutes quicker making it 21% more efficient than its predecessor. Another benefit is alternative components can now be used which require a lower quantity of power giving a lower cost to operate.

99.96% less greenhouse gases

30% less consumption of electricity

0% consumption of water for refrigerating the machine.  

Over the next three years Nemox estimates that 10 million kgs of CO2 will be saved through this change of gas; 9000 tonnes of CO2 from the gas itself and 1000 tonnes of CO2 from electricity used based on 5 million hours of use.