R&D Underpins Solutions to Social Issues
The R&D Center strives to create new value through collaborative efforts based on keywords such as HACCP and IoT, and to help solve social issues through Hoshizaki products, including the development of CFC-free refrigerators and ice machines for response to climate change, labor-saving devices for response to labor shortages, and electrolyzed water for safety and hygiene response.
Development of CFC-free refrigerators and ice machines (response to climate change)
In Europe and North America, which were first with rules to halt climate change, we started delivering ice machines that use natural refrigerant (propane) in 2009, ahead of the strengthening of regulations on CFC alternatives in 2015, and since then, we have been working to expand the range of products that use natural refrigerants. We began selling commercial refrigerators that use natural refrigerant (propane) in America in 2019. In Japan, Hoshizaki started taking orders for commercial non-CFC refrigerators with the refrigerant switched from CFC substitutes to natural refrigerants in May 2022, and started taking orders for freezers from August 2022. Hoshizaki added to its lineup in 2023, and by the end of 2024, will change the refrigerants in all* commercial freezers and refrigerators for Japan to natural refrigerants that are CFC-free.
* Excluding some derivative models (special models whose uses differ from those of ordinary freezers and refrigerators).
“Pre Jet Washer” to save labor on kitchen cleaning lines (response to labor shortage)
Using the dishwasher in the kitchen or other places requires soaking and pre-washing of the dishes in order to wash them cleanly, but this work takes a great deal of time and trouble.
Often described as 3D (dirty, dangerous and difficult), this is one of the tasks that many workers want to avoid.
On the other hand, the neglect of the work will affect the result of dish-washing.
Use of the Pre Jet Washer, which takes over soaking and pre-washing work, will improve work efficiency, ensure staff safety, and standardize work quality.
Development of electrolyzed water generators (safety and hygiene response)
In response to growing awareness of hygiene among customers, Hoshizaki provides electrolyzed water generators that produce hypochlorite water to disinfect foods and utensils. We have developed an electrolyzed water generator that can pour out up to five liters every minute despite its small size and check the effective chlorine concentration of its acidic electrolyzed water in real time, which provides peace of mind and allows customers to improve efficiency.
Visualizing temperature management data (safety and hygiene response)
In kitchens, for example, that turn out a large volume of meals, temperatures must be maintained as indicated in the operating manual so we offer Hoshizaki Smart Band, which enables customers using our products to control temperature by computer. Seeking to raise overall business efficiency on the customer side, we developed a cloud-based system that facilitates temperature management for all equipment in the kitchen, including equipment made by other companies.
In addition, we have also developed an IoT device (Connect Wi-Fi) that can be attached easily to existing refrigerators, ice machines, etc. Because this enables the acquisition not only of temperature and error data, but also equipment operating data, it enables remote monitoring, operation, and failure prevention. Temperature data from other companies’ products can also be acquired, enabling temperature management for the entire store and thorough maintenance services.