As the tourists poured in from every corner of the world to watch the Olympics in Beijing, so did the foodservice equipment expected to take care of them. What better venue to test the performance of Manitowoc’s new Multiplex high-volume, environmentally-friendly beverage dispensing system than at this year’s summer Olympics.
CO2-based Multiplex beverage systems offer beverage dispensing and energy performance comparable to existing units with the added benefit of using no HFC-based (hydrofluorocarbon) refrigerants. By replacing HFC-based refrigerants with naturally-occurring carbon dioxide, the units reduce the environmental footprint of the beverage systems; eliminate the need for special handling and capture of ozone-depleting refrigerants; and contribute to a “greener” facility. Working closely with a key customer, Manitowoc accelerated development and manufacturing of the CO2-based beverage dispensing equipment for use in Beijing. The Multiplex units have been verified to meet and exceed EC standards for refrigeration and environmental performance, among the most advanced and detailed standards in existence globally. “As an innovation leader in refrigerated equipment and beverage, Manitowoc is pleased to work on this pioneering initiative,” said Mike Kachmer, president of Manitowoc Foodservice. “Globally, we see a bright future for CO2-based beverage equipment and for accelerating a broader introduction of other ‘green’ technologies across the full spectrum of our foodservice equipment lines.” Manitowoc anticipates a broader release of the CO2 dispensing equipment to other global customers in the future. Manitowoc also expects to produce a broader range of CO2-based or other alternate refrigerants in equipment manufactured under the Manitowoc brand and its other leading brands. Additional Multiplex CO2 units will be provided for long term field testing in European and Asian locations. | 
