CHOOSING A CHILLER: 5 FACTORS TO CONSIDER

When it comes to chillers, figuring out where to start is the tricky part. Air-cooled or water-cooled? Used or new? What size do you need? The experts at Cold Shot Chillers cover all of these questions and more in today’s article.       

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What Are Industrial Chillers?

An industrial chiller is a refrigeration system that keeps equipment and materials cool, allowing operations to run smoothly. Air Conditioners dehumidify air while water chiller systems cool down fluids that can be used to condition spaces or cool processes, simply by removing heat. However, these units are not “cooling” or “chilling” anything; they simply remove heat.

Factors to Consider for Your Chiller Choice

There are a few general rules of thumb to keep in mind when selecting a new cooling system. Keep reading to gain a better understanding of the different chiller types available on the market.

1. Size

Size is one of the biggest factors to consider when buying a chiller. Selecting a correctly sized chiller is paramount. A chiller that is too small won’t properly cool your equipment or materials. On the other hand, a chiller that is too large will work just fine, but providing excess capacity will over time fail prematurely due to short cycling. In addition, you’ve spent more money than you needed to. So how do you know what size chiller you need?

Industrial chillers come in a variety of sizes, ranging from ¼ ton to thousands of tons in capacity. We recommend you use a chiller size calculator to determine what size chiller you need for your application. Below are some examples of chiller sizes based on industry standards.

• Medical Chillers – 7 ½ ton and 5-ton chillers; or 12 ½ and 15-ton chillers for cooling multiple medical devices simultaneously
• Welding Chillers – it’s advised to have at least 1-ton of chilling capacity for 100KVA of welder capacity
• Winery Chillers – typically, a 2-ton air cooled chiller is sufficient for most winery applications
• Waterjet Cutting Chillers – common sizes are 2 and 3 ton
• Hydroponic Chillers – sizes generally range from 1.5 to 100 tons
• Flower Chiller – sizes range typically from 2-100 tons

Keep in mind that these sizes are only based on industry standards. Manufacturers like Cold Shot Chillers can design and build custom units of virtually any size. We highly recommend using a chiller sizing tool with exact measurements for the most accurate estimation. You can also reach out to our experienced team for additional help with sizing requirements or general questions.

2. Application

Chillers have various applications for all types of industries. For example, they are used for medical applications such as radiotherapy, PET scans, laboratory operations, and even blood bank refrigeration. In addition, MRI chillers and CT chillers are used frequently in the healthcare sector.

Food processing chillers serve a variety of applications in the food and beverage industry. Depending on your specific setting, you can choose from bakery chillers, winery glycol chillers, brewery glycol chillers, dairy milk chillers, and even commercial yogurt machine chillers.

Metal finishing chillers can be beneficial for paint and powder coating, anodizing, die casting cooling, furnace cooling, quench cooling, and more.

Explosion-proof chillers are commonly used in chemical processing plants, coal plants, oil and gas refineries, and other work environments that interact with flammable gases and vapors.

Cold Shot Chillers offers additional industry-specific chiller types, including laser chillers, plastic processing chillers, government and municipal chillers, welding chillers, and more. 

3. Type

Industrial chillers can be categorized in a few different ways. Let’s take a look at five types of chiller classifications.

• Air Cooled Chillers – Air-cooled systems are generally cheaper than water-cooled chillers. However, they tend to release significant amounts of heat, so these chillers are best-suited for facilities where heat is not an issue.
• Water Cooled Chillers – Water chillers are typically quieter and more efficient than air-cooled chillers. Therefore, they are suitable for commercial-scale and small-scale facilities.
• Portable Chillers – In this case, the term “portable” does not refer to the mobility of the chiller. Instead, it means that a chiller contains all the system’s basic components in a single footprint.
• Stationary Chillers – Chillers that are “stationary” do not include a tank or pump. Instead, they are stand-alone units that must be connected to a reservoir and pump to function.
• Central Chillers – These chillers are used to cool several processes. They can have a portable or stationary configuration, and they can be air-cooled or water-cooled.

4. Pricing

Industrial chillers can range in price anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars. As mentioned before, water chillers are typically more expensive than air-cooled chillers. In addition, different chiller manufacturers all design and price their systems uniquely, so make sure to carefully compare prices and weigh your options before making a purchase.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit portable water chillers industrial.

5. Manufacturer

Always familiarize yourself with the manufacturer and their policies ahead of time. Ask the following questions and more before choosing a chiller:

• Do they offer a chiller warranty?
• What’s the turnaround time?
• How are new chillers tested?
• Do they offer chiller accessories and tools?
• How is the chiller prepped for shipment? 
• Has the company been around for a while? The longer a company has been in business chances are good the company is reputable and trustworthy.
• Does the chiller design use any proprietary components? That replacement part might carry a high price tag since these types of parts are generally used to control the chiller. Over time these items become obsolete and no longer supported.
• How easy is it to reach a live person? Can you get technical and commercial issues resolved over the quickly?
• Has the chiller manufacturer built a chiller handling the same type of application or something similar?
• Does the chiller company make it easy to do business with? Can you discuss your application with a knowledgeable technical representative? Can you get a quote issued for your project quickly? Does the submittal information include everything you need about the chiller you are considering?
• Deal directly with the manufacturer to cut out the middleman. This will alleviate any confusion on how your chiller should be configured and possibly save some time and money.

Looking to buy a new or used chiller? Look no further! Cold Shot Chillers is a Houston-based industrial chiller manufacturer with decades of industry experience.

Finding the Right Chiller for Your Company

We hope that you’ve learned some valuable information here that will help you make the best purchase. We’re confident that we can find a solution for you, no matter what you’re looking for!

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Best Chiller Recommendations and Buying Guide for Injection Molding

Introduction

Abstract:

In injection molding, chillers are the unsung heroes driving efficiency and quality. With ushering in demands for precision, sustainability, and value, picking the right chiller for your injection machine is a game-changer. This “ Best Chiller Recommendations and Buying Guide” dives into key factors, top global and Chinese brands, and practical pairing tips. From high-output U.S. plants to precision-driven European setups or budget-focused Asian factories, we’ve got detailed recommendations, real cases, and data to optimize your production.
Cooling turns plastic into perfection—let’s find your ideal chiller!

Why Do Injection Molding Machines Need Chillers?

Cooling defines injection molding success. Chillers keep molds at 5-15°C (41-59°F), slashing cycle times and ensuring defect-free parts. A 200-ton machine without a chiller sees cooling jump from 20 to 26 seconds—23% less output. Overheating? Expect warped parts and waste. By , eco-regulations demand efficient chillers.

More at Injection Molding Cooling Basics.

Key Factors for Choosing a Chiller in

Here’s what matters:

• Capacity: 1HP per 80 tons is a baseline—adjust for mold heat.
• Type: Water-cooled for heat, air-cooled for simplicity.
• Efficiency: inverter models save 25% power.
• Precision: ±1°C keeps molds stable.
• Durability & Service: Overseas buyers need local support.
• Cost: Weigh upfront vs. long-term.
  Details at Industrial Chiller Buying Guide.

Top Chiller Recommendations for Injection Molding

Top picks with prices and cases:

• Trane Sintesis Advantage CGAF (USA)
  10HP water-cooled, ±0.5°C, COP 5.0, ~$12,500 USD. Case: An Ohio 400-ton plant molding dashboards boosted hourly output from 200 to 250 units—25% up.
• Daikin Pathfinder AWV (Japan)
  15HP air-cooled inverter, 58dB, 30% savings, ~$15,800 USD. Case: A Munich medical parts plant hit 12,000 daily units from 10,000, scrap down to 1%.
• Carrier AquaSnap 30RB (USA)
  5HP air-cooled, COP 4.5, ~$8,200 USD. Case: A Toronto toy factory cut cooling from 22 to 17 seconds, upping daily output 18%.
• Haier HC-10W (China)
  10HP water-cooled inverter, ±0.5°C, ~$6,800 USD. Case: A Bangkok 200-ton plant saved $3,000/year on power molding appliance shells.
• Midea MA-5A (China)
  5HP air-cooled, 55dB, ~$3,600 USD. Case: A Pune bottle cap plant raised daily output from 50,000 to 60,000.
• Thermal Care Accuchiller NQ (USA)
  3HP portable air-cooled, COP 4.2, ~$4,900 USD. Case: A Monterrey packaging shop saved $500 on setup with its mobility.
• Eurochiller GCevo (Italy)
  8HP water-cooled, ±0.5°C, ~$9,800 USD. Case: A Lyon car lamp plant improved precision 10%, delighting clients.

Comparison Table: Top Chillers

Brand/Model Type Capacity (HP) Precision (°C) COP Noise (dB) Price (USD) Best For Trane CGAF Water-Cooled 10 ±0.5 5.0 62 12,500 Large-Scale Daikin AWV Air-Cooled 15 ±1.0 4.8 58 15,800 Precision Molding Carrier 30RB Air-Cooled 5 ±1.0 4.5 60 8,200 Mid-Sized Plants Haier HC-10W Water-Cooled 10 ±0.5 4.5 65 6,800 Cost-Effective Large Midea MA-5A Air-Cooled 5 ±1.0 4.0 55 3,600 Budget Small/Mid Thermal Care NQ Air-Cooled 3 ±1.0 4.2 57 4,900 Portable Needs Eurochiller GCevo Water-Cooled 8 ±0.5 4.7 63 9,800 High-Precision

Note: Prices are FOB estimates; check Made-in-China for quotes.

Tips for Matching Chillers with Injection Machines

Pairing takes know-how:

• Capacity: 1HP per 80 tons, plus 1-2HP for complex molds.
• Piping: Match flow to heat—below 0.2MPa loses punch.
• Environment: Water-cooled for heat, air-cooled for tight spots.
• Case: A Thai 300-ton plant molding appliance shells with Haier’s 10HP unit dropped mold temp from 25°C to 12°C, cycles cut 5 seconds, output up 15%.

Common Pitfalls When Buying Chillers

Avoid these:

• Price Trap: Cheap units break twice yearly, costs soar.
• Service Void: No local support overseas? Production stalls.
• Size Errors: 5HP on a 500-ton machine won’t cut it.
• Noise: Over 60dB air-cooled units annoy workers.

Chiller Market Trends

What’s next:

• Smart Tech: Remote monitoring is standard.
• Green Shift: Low-GWP refrigerants, 30% efficiency gains.
• Competition: Haier and Midea rival Trane and Daikin globally.
  See Cooling Industry Trends.

Conclusion & Call to Action

Chillers power injection molding success. In , from Trane’s strength to Daikin’s precision or Midea’s value, this guide has your back. Boost output and cut costs—share your machine specs and budget below, and I’ll find your match!

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