com, “Ozone is a strong naturally occurring disinfectant that with the proper exposure time and levels has been found to significantly reduce mold, bacteria, viruses, and yeast growth on foods.” Research and development of the first generation of Ozone Environmental
Solutions began in 2005.
“Our ability to control our Ozone systems with our computer control system is second to none,” Wayne explained. “We can control, on the air side, into the parts per billion. The Ozone systems are also available for water applications after our successful development of an Ozone spray bar and water application concept. We may not always have the lowest costs in the competi- tive bidding world, but we feel we always provide the best value when you purchase from Doubl-Kold. We also offer controlled atmosphere equipment – and service when requested. These are not are primary business focus, but do complement our base business. We’ve focused in this way because the needs and requirements of our clients are changing – and we’re always going to meet their changing needs. How fruit is stored today is so much different than it was when I started in 1978. In the apple industry alone, we used to harvest for about six weeks, it took six to 10 days to fill a room. Everything was stored at the same tempera- ture and if the temperature fluctuated three degrees or so in storage, that was fine. We stored those crops for about six months and generally we had three to five varieties in the Northwest. Today, harvest lasts, depending on weather, three to four months. We fill rooms in one to two days. We have to know about different varieties of apples as they need to be stored at different, specific temperatures. We have to be aware of shrinkage, we have to control within a tenth of a degree, and we have to be able to provide graphs to prove storage temperatures for export markets, and we hold product up to twelve months. And we havemore varieties in storage than can be imagined by most people, maybe 20 to 30 types – and there are more being developed every year. That’s just one of many examples.” “We have to know the product, method of desired cooling, timeframe to reduce the temperature, desired temperature, product load,” he continued. “We then pick the equipment that best fits the criteria. So, for Doubl-Kold to continue to be successful in this changing environment, we have to reach out, research, and repeat. That’s the recipe for understand- ing the needs of the customers and the market. We had to partner with manufactures that were forward thinking. We had to be willing and ready to change methods and process- es as needed. We needed to be able to adapt.” It’s clear to the competition that Doubl-Kold is ahead of the curve in every race. The Doubl-Kold team has provided their expertise to compressor manufactures, evaporator manufactures, valve manufactures, and condenser manu- factures to resolve issues and improve design – and their reputation continues to precede them on all fronts. “We
are currently working on a distribution center for fruit in the Wenatchee, WA area that has close to 400,000 square feet of refrigerated space all under one roof,” Wayne said. “We continue to look for new opportunities, both locally and abroad. We feel that our biggest poten- tial is in our Computer Control for Refrigeration systems. Marketing these systems in areas where we don’t currently have the opportunity to provide full refrigeration systems is paramount.” The user-friendly, Windows-based .NET program that is Doubl-Kold’s Computer Control system, for refrigeration systems, is, according to Doubl-Kold.com, “one of a few only in-house computer controls providers that are within the same company as the refrigeration part in the Indus- trial Refrigeration industry.” The user-friendly layout on the operator interface computer, which is customizable, is both graphically and textually informative. “We’re a unique company that produces unique products because of our collective experiences,” Wayne explained. “In the ‘80s, most people in the construction industry had some tough times. For some time, I worked directly for a fruit warehouse and during that period I learned a lot about storing fresh fruit. My partners have brought their expertise and their experiences to the table, as have all the other people who make up the Doubl-Kold team. The day that listening and reaching out doesn’t work for us, we’ll change our strategy.”
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