Flexible condensate water removal at REMA 1000 Ulsteinvik
When REMA 1000 in Ulsteinvik upgraded and reorganised the store two years ago, a Jets® vacuum solution for removing condensate water from refrigeration units was installed throughout the facility. The system handles condensate from both refrigerated cabinets and freezer displays.
In many supermarkets, condensate water is handled through gravity-based drainage systems embedded in the concrete floor. Such solutions can make later changes to store layouts complicated and resource-intensive, as drainage lines often need to be rebuilt if refrigeration equipment is moved.
With the Jets® condensate removal solution, water from refrigeration units is collected in Jets® Interceptor tanks installed beneath the displays. The vacuum system then transports the water through small-diameter pipes to the drainage point.
One compact pump can serve the entire store
At REMA 1000 Ulsteinvik, the pipes are routed above the suspended ceiling to a technical room, and the entire store is served by a single Jets® Vacuumarator® pump handling condensate water from all refrigeration units. For the store staff, the system requires little attention in daily operations.
- We really don’t have to think about it. The Vacuumarator® pump simply does its job, and we haven’t experienced any downtime since it was installed, says Johnny Mork, store manager at REMA 1000 Ulsteinvik.
Before the current solution was installed, the store had experienced more operational interruptions related to condensate water handling.
- Earlier systems could stop unexpectedly, and when that happened water could leak onto the floor and we had to stop what we were doing to fix the issue. With the Jets® system, that hasn’t been a problem, Mork explains.
Efficient installation during remodelling
The remodelling project also benefited from the installation speed and simplicity of the vacuum system. According to installer Steven Kempton from plumbing contractor Svein Roppen AS, the solution was well suited for the tight project schedule.
- The installation was quick and straightforward, which was important because of the time constraints during the refurbishment, Kempton says.
Svein Roppen AS has installed five supermarket systems in collaboration with JETS, and highlights the overall process as smooth and well coordinated. JETS was closely involved in the early stages, working directly with the customer to develop the solution and provide an overview of the main components, while the installer focused on measuring and adapting the pipe routing to the specific site conditions.
- We received a clear installation guide describing the system principles. Once you understand how it works, the installation itself is relatively simple, Kempton explains.
- We have also experienced good technical support from JETS whenever needed.
He also points to the quality and reliability of the system components as an important factor:
- The components are robust, well thought through, and well suited for their purpose. As long as the installation is carried out according to the guidelines, we have strong confidence that the systems will operate reliably over time.
Reducing construction impact
Beyond installation speed, vacuum drainage systems can also make future changes easier. Because the system does not rely on drainage pipes embedded in the floor, refrigeration equipment can be relocated without major construction work. This can help reduce material use and minimise the environmental impact associated with construction work during refurbishments.
- If the store wants to adjust the layout later, the pipes and interceptor tanks can simply be moved and reused. This reduces the need for breaking up concrete floors or installing new drainage lines, which can help lower both material use and disruption during remodelling, says Tove Souto, Sales Manager Retail at JETS.
From an installer’s perspective, this flexibility is also a key advantage.
- For supermarkets, the flexibility stands out as a clear benefit. Being able to adapt the system to changes in layout or equipment placement, without intervening in floors or reworking traditional drainage systems, makes a lot of practical sense, Kempton adds.
For supermarkets that periodically update store layouts or replace refrigeration equipment, this flexibility can support more resource-efficient operations over time while reducing downtime and disturbance in the store environment.