About Us
Ernest West & Beynon Ltd Was Founded In 1909
By Ernest West And Herbert Beynon
As A Specialist Commercial Refrigeration Company
It Is Still A Privately Owned Independent Limited Company And
Was Purchased By The Present Owner’s Family In 1939.
Founded in 1909
Prior to mechanical refrigeration, food was preserved in ice, harvested in winter and stored in ice houses many of which can be seen today. Early commercial refrigeration plants produced ice blocks so that there was a ready year round supply.
Ernest West & Herbert Beynon set out in 1909 to produce small commercial direct expansion refrigeration plant utilising C02 refrigerant. The plant was very advanced for its time, it operated at 1-2C and circulated air over a cooling coil which they called their Pure Dry Air Process. It totally transformed the quality of stored meat which had up to this time been preserved in ice and salt and in concept its no different to what we do today.
Each system was sold with a handbook giving advice on how to construct a suitably insulated room using cotton silicate or cork insulation in a timber frame with timber cladding.
Todays Coldstores have highly efficient fire retardant foam panel systems, immune to attack attack from mould,mildew and vermin. Panels are clad in with Food Safe steel linings.
Marine Refrigeration
From the 1920,s provisions plants were produced for marine use.In the 1930,s Domestic Automatic Refrigerators (DAR) were developed for the Royal Navy.During WW II they formed together with the provisions plants the majority of the companies output.
(The models illustrated are state of the art circa 1938.)
Today’s highly efficient Provisions Plants are computer controlled with Diagnostic Screens and Remote monitoring facilities.
Cabinets feature removeable machinery modules designed For operation in ambient up to 45c.
In the 1950's
The first CFC Recovery Plants were developed for the Ministry of Defence.
Not to save the ozone layer, but to save money!
Early missiles used refrigerants blown to waste to cool their guidance systems when on test.
Today specialist recovery systems are designed for the complete recovery of all refrigerant types in low ambient conditions.
In the 1960's
EWB were one of the first UK companies to manufacture cascade Low Temperature Refrigeration systems.
Ultra Low temperature cabinets operating down to - 85° c are used extensively in Medical Research and Environmental Testing.
The product of over 25 years of continuous development our upright Ultra Low Temperature Cabinet is specifically designed to provide long reliable service with low running and maintenance costs. EWB were the first manufacturer to offer a 5 year parts and labour warranty.
Saving The Environment
The cabinet construction is unique in having a self supporting steel exterior shell which is separate from the insulation. This makes 90% of the cabinet fully recyclable.
