Rational Opens New Dispatch Centre & Their iVario Pro Wins IFSA Energy Efficiency Award
Rational's new facility will improve customer service worldwide
Rational has opened its new international dispatch centre at its headquarters in Landsberg am Lech. This state of the art building will serve Rational's nine overseas warehouses as well as specialist dealers in over 120 countries worldwide, and will result in faster service to customers.
The new centre follows up the expansion of Rational's production facilities, finished in 2018, and took 18 months to complete. The company invested 19 million Euros into the 10,000m² building, which is 60% larger than the previous facility. It features a range of energy saving features and has been optimised to reduce the time it takes staff to prepare new equipment for dispatch or locate spare parts.
The steel framed building combines the latest insulation techniques and a heating system powered by groundwater wells making it extremely energy efficient. An energy demand of just 81kw/h per square metre means it beats Germany's Energy Saving Ordinance requirements by over a quarter.
Individual work stations have been designed with height adjustable packing tables and, combined with easy access to the 28 loading ramps, create an efficient, ergonomic working space. Meanwhile the storage area has been laid out to minimise search times, allowing staff to respond quickly and safely to new orders.
Rational's Chief Technical Officer Peter Wiedemann is extremely pleased with the new facility. "2020 saw the launch of the iCombi Pro and iVario Pro during lockdown. Both feature the latest technological advances and illustrate the company's drive to push the boundaries and set new standards," he says. "Similarly this new building shows the importance of working to improve every area of our business, creating a safe, modern working environment for staff that allows them to meet the needs of customers worldwide."
For information and brochures, or to find out about free Rational Live online demonstrations, call +44 (0)1582 480388, freephone 0800 389 2944 or visit www.rational-online.com
iVario Pro hailed as ‘market leader in energy efficient cooking'
Rational multifunctional cooking system wins sustainability prize at IFSA
The Rational iVario Pro has won the Energy Efficiency Innovation in Heavy Catering Equipment award at this year's Irish Foodservice Suppliers Awards (IFSAs). While the award winners were unveiled in an online ceremony on 17th June, the winning products will be on display later this year in a special enclosure at the CATEX show (RDS Dublin 2-4 November).
Announcing the award, chair of judges Maurice Bergin, managing director of GreenHospitality.ie, described the iVario Pro as a 'market leader in energy efficient cooking.' He also noted that the iVario Pro is the only multifunctional cooking appliance in its category recognised by the HKI certification data base. This offers easy, fast and free access to energy consumption figures, with comparative data based on set guidelines, helping buyers make the best decision for their requirements.
The iVario Pro was entered for the awards by Rational DEAL Dealer Stephens Catering Equipment, whose commercial director Conrad Greene said, "The iVario Pro is a truly impressive multifunctional cooking system and is a worthy winner of this award. Our customers are amazed when they see it demonstrated, because it is so innovative and versatile."
The iVario Pro's sustainability credentials are unrivalled in its equipment category. It can boil, deep fry, shallow fry and pressure cook, delivering an energy saving of up to 40% compared to conventional cooking devices. The patented iVarioBoost heating system delivers up to 94% energy efficiency with quick and precisely controlled power from the ceramic heating plates. Preheating to 200°C in under 2½ minutes, the precise temperature control ensures that the system only uses as much energy as is required. Already up to four times as fast as conventional appliances, the iVario Pro's pressure cooking option further reduces cooking times, by up to 35%, helping to save not only time but energy as well.
Although connected loads have been reduced compared to its predecessor, the iVario Pro has up to 20% higher searing capacity. It is also fully compatible with energy management technologies such as the Sicotronic Energy Optimisation system.
Rational sales director Sandy Thomassen heads the company's team in Ireland. "We're absolutely delighted that the iVario won this award," he says. "As an industry we have to focus on sustainability and the environment, in order to leave a better and safer world for our children and grandchildren."
For information and brochures, or to find out about free Rational Live online demonstrations, call +44 (0)1582 480388, freephone 0800 389 2944 or visit www.rational-online.com
