Category: General

We all know that air conditioning units are designed to control temperature and humidity, while purifying the air in a room but here are five facts about air conditioning that you might not be familiar with.

Regular maintenance is required to promote the efficiency and longevity of an air conditioning unit’s service. Bartlett offers maintenance and repair services for air conditioning Cornwall, Devon and other parts of the UK. Aside from these services Bartlett specialises in high quality catering equipment, among others.

A catering business provides professional food services for various types of events in a specific venue or location. Most provide food in bulk and in a buffet style setting. It can be operated part-time or full-time, depending on your capacity and availability. If you are interested in starting a catering business, here are some important factors to consider:

Menu

You will need to determine the menu that can either be diverse or unique. A diverse menu can attract and serve a wide variety of clients, whilst a unique menu can fill a niche that has not been fulfilled by other caterers in your area. Carefully choose the menu to suit your capabilities and the tastes of your target audience.

Personnel

The owner of a small catering business is sometimes the chef. However, it usually takes more than one person to run a successful catering business. Hiring staff and training them can minimise your workload and it will enable you to accommodate bigger parties and events. Some of the catering personnel needed in a catering business include:

• Chef
  Responsible for cooking the dishes on the menu
• Manager/Planner
  They will communicate directly with the chef regarding any changes in the menu. The manager/planner is also in charge of organising the events’ requirements
• Food Preparers
  Assisting the chef, food preparers will help to prep the food in the kitchen and assist with minor cooking duties
• Food Servers
  Responsible for bringing the food out to the guests, the food servers will also top up the drinks and clear the tables

Catering Equipment

The catering equipment that you require will depend on the needs and activities required in the catering business. It can be used for cooking and preparation, for storing food and for handling buffet events. Here are some examples of equipment commonly used in a catering business:

For food storage:

• Refrigerators and Freezers

For cooking and preparation:

• Cooking Ranges
• Fryers/ Griddles
• Ovens
• Steamers
• Fabrication Tables

For buffet events:

• Food Warmers/ Bain Marie
• Table Setting Items
• Hot Cupboards
• Serving Equipment

Running a catering business is not as easy as you might think. It requires time, effort and resources.

Air conditioners are used to lower and humidify air temperature, especially during the summer months. There are 5 general types of Devon air conditioning system and each one has its own advantages.

Air Conditioning Types

Window AC
As the name suggests, this type of AC is designed to fit on window sills. Though it has a small body, its system consists of all the important parts.

• Advantages:
  • Single unit AC – means less effort in the installation process
  • Cheaper than other AC alternatives

Split AC
Split air conditioning systems have two units working together – internal and external. The internal unit intakes warm air to the external unit and throws cold air into the room.

• Advantages:
  • Less space consumed for the internal unit since the bigger external unit is installed outdoors
  • Less noise
  • Usually hung on the wall/does not affect home décor
  • Can be installed even if the room has no window

Tower AC
Also known as floor standing air conditioning, it has a higher cooling capacity than other air conditioning units, which makes it appropriate for very large rooms.

• Advantages:
  • Can lower room temperature immediately
  • Ideal for offices

Cassette AC
Stylish and space-saving, the Cassette AC is installed on the ceiling. It is designed to blend in with all kinds of home décor.

• Advantages:
  • Space saving
  • Can cool areas which other ACs cannot reach
  • Stylish and easy to blend with existing home décor

PTAC Cooling and Heating
Package Terminal Air Conditioners or PTACs are self-contained air conditioning units commonly used in hotels, living facilities, hospitals and offices. They are capable of cooling or heating a room of any size.

• Advantages:
  • Most brands allow an operator to control multiple units in one location
  • Incredibly low energy costs make them ideal for hotels, hospitals and works environments

The best air conditioning solution should be bought depending on the use, available space and productivity. If you are still in any doubt, speak to a Devon air conditioning specialist.

Refrigeration equipment, like fridges or freezers, aids in the preservation and freshness of our foods. Bartlett specialises in refrigeration Cornwall, helping you to save money, time and effort.

Today, it is easy for households and commercial establishments to preserve food and other goods but how did refrigeration products come about?

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History of Refrigeration

• The idea of refrigeration started by using ice, caves, cellars and more.
• Ancient people like the Greeks or Romans used to cool their foods with ice that came from the mountains.
• The rich used snow cellars or pits buried in the ground (protected with wood and straw) for storing ice.
• Another way to preserve meat and fish was to salt it.
• The origin of refrigeration can be traced back to the Chinese who used to cut ice blocks in 10,000 B.C.
• The Ancient Egyptians used to expose jars filled with boiled water, placing them on roofs at night, when the cold temperature would eventually produce ice.
• In 1748, William Cullen demonstrated the renowned artificial refrigeration at the University of Glasgow, using ethyl ether (boiled in a partial vacuum). After the experimentation, he didn’t use the results for any particular application.
• During the Industrial Revolution (1760-1850), the first practical refrigerator was invented. It was built by Jacob Perkins and through the help of Dr John Goorie’s ice machine they were able to produce “cool air”.
• In 1805 an American inventor, Oliver Evans, used vapour instead of liquid for his refrigeration machine. He did not complete the process.
• In the 1840s, refrigerators were introduced to the public. Refrigerated vehicles were now used to transport dairy products.
• 1844 saw John Gorrie invent a refrigeration machine that was similar to that of Oliver Evans.
• Alexander C. Twinning is believed to be the person who introduced commercial refrigeration in 1856.
• Then an Australian, James Harrison, inspected the Twinning and Gorrie invention. Harrison invested his time and efforts into making a vapour-compression refrigeration unit that was afterwards introduced to the brewing and meat-packing industries.
• In 1859, a more complex invention was produced by Ferdinand Carré of France. This soon became the most common and widely used cooling technique. His machine used ammonia, which later became a disadvantage because it was thought to be toxic. Refrigeration engineers researched into a more appropriate refrigerant substitution during the 1920s.
• By the 1860s, we had begun transporting refrigerated seafood products.
• 1911 was the real beginning, wherein refrigerators were recognised as a household appliance.
• After World War II, refrigerators became essential to every household.

Refrigeration has evolved in many different ways but its sole purpose has never changed and will never change.

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The catering business is considered as one of the fastest growing employment sectors worldwide. While a fully equipped kitchen with a comprehensive range of equipment would be ideal, for those who are just starting out it is not always practical.

Below, we have listed what we consider to be the most essential equipment necessary for all you start-ups out there. Your Cornwall catering equipment can be purchased from Bartlett.

Commercial Refrigerator/Freezers

Catering involves food and other perishable goods. For small catering businesses, an under-bench fridge will save space in the work area. However, an upright fridge freezer is more practical because it offers greater storage and spacious freezing facilities.

Preparation Tables/Counters

Food should be prepared on a clean table or counter. For most catering businesses, an aluminium steel counter is required. Our counters are available in different sizes and designs to suit individual preferences.

Grills/Stoves/Ovens

Some catering equipment manufacturers offer a 3-in-1 cooking facility that is highly recommended for start-ups, considering they usually have minimal space.

Display Units

Presentation is everything in the food industry. Food products are better merchandised in display units to give customers an idea of what’s on offer. When choosing your display unit, always check the materials used as this will hold most of the finished products.

Cleaning Equipment/Dishwashers

At the end of the day, you will be dealing with a lot of plates, pans and other dirty kitchen utensils. Dishwashers can help lighten the manual load and once you have one, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it.

Kitchen Tip: Assigning a dedicated area for cleaning equipment and dishwashers can help to make cleaning faster and easier.

Waste Disposal Units

Proper waste disposal is very important, not only to follow certain laws and regulations but also to assure the cleanliness and safety of the food being served. Waste disposal units should be placed away from food storage areas to avoid contamination. Getting rid of all the collected waste should be done in a hygienic and environmentally friendly way and should be based on EC Legislation

In order to maintain the quality of your catering equipment, Bartlett also offers maintenance and repair services. You can access the relevant page here.