WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (May, 2016) – Champion® Industries, manufacturer of a full line of premier commercial warewashing systems, has been announced as a recipient of the National Restaurant Association’s 2016 Kitchen Innovations (KI) Award for the Ventless Rack Conveyor Dishmachine. The system is designed to capture 100% of the operating exhaust heat and vapor, converting it into useable energy to heat the wash water and assist in heating the fresh rinse water. The 2016 KI Awards honor equipment and technologies that increase efficiency and productivity for foodservice operations and benefit restaurant operators.
Champion’s Ventless Rack Conveyor incorporates a variable speed fan with an independently mounted heat pump to collect operating exhaust energy and vapor and convert them into usable energy for heating wash and rinse water. This machine emits less than 70 degrees Fahrenheit and no vapors into the dishroom reducing the heat often associated with traditional conveyor systems. The Ventless Rack Conveyor Dishmachine is designed with a unique air chamber across the entire top of the machine allowing full access from inside the dishmachine for cleaning.
An independently controlled heat pump and heat exchanger work with a variable speed fan to extract the heat and vapor from the dishmachine and convert them into useable energy. This energy exchange saves up to 10 kilowatts on the 44 inch rack machine, which uses a 15 kilowatt heating element to maintain NSF rated wash tank temperatures. The Ventless Rack Conveyor allows operators to save up to $3,000 in wash tank and rinse water heating cost annually. Additionally, this machine saves foodservice operators as much as $7,500 on the capital investment of purchase and installing a vent hood.
“We are honored to be named one of 2016’s National Restaurant Association Kitchen Innovation Award Winners, this recognition acknowledges our commitment to provide foodservice operators with simple, cost-effective, energy saving and performance enhancing dishroom solutions,” said Will Means, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Champion and Bi-Line Conveyor Systems.
Receiving a KI Award underscores the true innovation of each product and their contribution to improving the foodservice industry. “KI Award recipients exemplify the advancements from foodservice industry professionals that solve the complex challenges of day-to-day back-of-house operations,” says Lisa Ingram, Convention Chair for NRA Show 2016.
