The project sees special wash system installed before the conference begins
Now that COP26 is underway Winterhalter can reveal that the company was chosen to supply the machine and chemicals to wash the reusable cups that will be used during the conference at SEC Glasgow.
Obviously, a conference dedicated to saving the world needs to avoid disposable cups. However, reusable and plastic cups are notoriously difficult to wash to the required safety standard – getting them dry, quickly, for the thousands of people attending the conference is another challenge in itself.
The Winterhalter system was specifically developed to deal with reusable and plastic cups and is compatible with any of the company’s UC undercounter, PT passthrough, and CTR conveyor dishwashers and glasswashers. It cleans plastic cups in less than two minutes and involves three main elements: a special rack, a new wash program, and plastic-specific chemicals. The system was specified by Aggora.
The rack features a locking bracket that keeps the lightweight cups in place, stopping the water jets from flipping them over. Winterhalter also created a software update that includes a reusable plastic cup washing program with parameters set to achieve the best possible results.
The chemicals play a key role in achieving the relevant hygiene DIN Standards. With an expected throughput of 26,000 cups per day, it’s critical that the system provides a dry product at the end of the wash. The chemicals are formulated to assist with the process and Winterhalter carried out extensive tests with the cups, chemicals, and machine to ensure that the system achieves the quick-drying results demanded by the conference center.
The machine installed for COP26 is a CTR Series compact rack conveyor, which was launched in 2020 and features a host of energy- and water-saving features. The COP26 model includes a dryer, heat recovery, water treatment, and specialist reusable cup racks and chemicals, and is capable of processing 3,000 cups per hour.
The project faced a significant access challenge since the machine had to be sited on the first floor, with access via passenger lifts. In the event, the CTR was manufactured in segments and constructed in situ. “It’s difficult to articulate how hard our team worked to get this system in place for the SEC Centre, Glasgow,” says Paul Crowley, marketing development manager at Winterhalter UK. “We’re honored to have been chosen for such a high-profile project and proud as punch of the team’s achievements!”
