What is FUSIONFRAME?
Grocery walk-in coolers and freezers are constructed of materials that must provide thermal needs. Large walk-in boxes have typically been panels constructed with polyurethane insulation with wood frame perimeters to meet both thermal and structural requirements. Unfortunately, wood is a poor insulator compared to polyurethane insulation, often allowing the majority of the heat transfer into the walk-in envelope to occur through the frame of the panel. To address this long-standing thermal weak point without sacrificing strength, KPS Global developed a framing technology that gives you best of both words, FUSIONFRAME®.
FUSIONFRAME is an important innovation in the cold storage industry. Its design combines the structural performance of wood with the thermal performance of polyurethane insulation. This panel technology provides grocery store decision makers with a walk-in panel system that offers increased thermal properties, increasing overall energy savings and decreasing maintenance costs overtime.
Cold storage systems in grocery stores carry an important responsibility by properly maintaining their intended temperature to preserve perishable goods that are vital to our daily lives. It’s essential to select a walk-in panel provider that designs and manufactures panel systems engineered to maintain box integrity under daily wear and tear, while preventing condensation, icing and panel heaving or buckling. FUSIONFRAME is the only insulated panel on the market that provides all three: thermal performance, span and extends the life cycle to combat common issues that degrade walk-in coolers and freezers overtime.
Why is FUSIONFRAME Better for Grocery Walk-Ins?
The key to the improved performance of the FUSIONFRAME system is a method of construction that injects a polyurethane foam insulation jacket around the structural member. The polyurethane is injected with a blowing agent that forms a rigid insulation, but only 3% of the insulation is a solid. The other 97% consists of millions of miniscule air bubbles which contain the blowing-agent gas inside them. These gas-filled bubbles are better able to resist the flow of heat through them when compared to wood.
Since wood is approximately 15x more dense than polyurethane insulation, heat flows more readily through its structure. The polyurethane jacket gives FUSIONFRAME superior thermal properties and is more resistant to heat flow than wood.
What are the Benefits of FUSIONFRAME for Grocers?
FUSIONFRAME increases walk-in unit R-Values at the joint, to a level that slows the rate of heat transfer, therefore limiting condensation formation.
There are two key benefits for grocery operators using FUSIONFRAME technology:
- Energy Savings: When less heat flows into the walk-in, that results in less heat required to be removed by the refrigeration system, requiring less refrigeration runtime and electricity, thereby lowering monthly utility costs. In comparison to wood, FUSIONFRAME reduces heat gain through the envelope in freezers by 30%.
- Tighter Construction: FUSIONFRAME rails use a polyurethane foam tongue and groove connection that fits together more tightly than wood. A foam seal is created, better restricting heat and moisture vapor from entering the joint. This keeps condensation and ice from building in the panel joints, which can lower R-Value and can shorten the walk-in’s life resulting in costly repairs or premature replacement.
How do Grocery Walk-Ins Benefit From FUSIONFRAME?
There are nine significant reasons why FUSIONFRAME is a step forward in the performance of walk-in unit frame and rail systems for grocery, foodservice and retail operators:
- The structural core embedded in polyurethane-foam insulation allows less heat transfer than traditional wood-framed rails, resulting in lower refrigeration run time and electricity cost.
- The significantly lower rate of energy flow eliminates the problems that can be caused by humidity and results in condensation.
- The FUSIONFRAME R-Value does not degrade over time like wood.
- Reduces the potential for ice to form in the freezer frame like wood.
- The softer foam rail allows for a tighter, more heat-resistant fit at the joints.
- Comparable to traditional wood-framed panels in span tests.
- Contributes to a longer life span for the walk-in cold storage unit.
- Carbon footprint is reduced by limiting the amount of fossil fuels that are consumed during the operation of the refrigeration system. Further, the polyurethane foam used in FUSIONFRAME has zero global warming potential.
- Due to FUSIONFRAME thermal properties, it is less prone to thermal failures in the envelope.
Why Upgrade Your Grocery Walk-In to FUSIONFRAME?
In today’s competitive grocery environment, energy efficiency, reliability and longevity matter more than ever. FUSIONFRAME redefines walk-in cooler and freezer performance by eliminating thermal weaknesses in traditional wood framing, by combining the strength of structural materials with the superior insulating power of polyurethane. FUSIONFRAME delivers measurable energy savings, improved joint integrity and long-term durability, while reducing maintenance costs and environmental impact. Grocery stores, floral departments, restaurants/food service, convenience stores, online grocery pickup and big-box retailers now have the capability to increase the efficiency of their cold storage footprint by building more efficient cold storage solutions.
Upgrading to FUSIONFRAME means investing in a system designed for lower risk, better performance and peace of mind for years to come.
Contact us today to learn more about how FUSIONFRAME can enhance your operation by upgrading your existing or new store with FUSIONFRAME (proprietary to KPSG) panel system technology.
