RS Kälte-Klima relies on Wurm Systems
RS Kälte-Klima has relied on Wurm systems for years. In the interview, Managing Director Nico Braun explains how remote data transmission, FRIGODATA XP and the FRIDA app improve service efficiency and why the technology excels in daily operations.
During a visit to Riegelsberg, TEKO recently conducted an exciting interview with Nico Braun, who is the co-owner of RS Kälte-Klima GmbH along with Frank Redda. In the conversation, Braun explained the advantages of Wurm systems for the efficient monitoring and control of building and plant technology in supermarkets.
Once Wurm, always Wurm. I am a big fan.
Hello, Mr. Braun. Thank you for taking the time for this conversation. Could you first tell us what exactly RS Kälte-Klima GmbH does and what services you offer?
Hello! I'm glad that TEKO is visiting us. RS primarily operates in the commercial refrigeration sector, particularly in supermarkets. We are responsible for the installation and maintenance of refrigeration systems and refrigerated display cases in numerous supermarkets, including well-known names like REWE, PENNY, WASGAU, and Alnatura.
A significant portion of our revenue also comes from trading refrigerated display cases. While climate technol-ogy is not the main focus of our business, we are happy to install it as part of a project. In addition to serving our supermarket clients, we also work with a hospital in Saarbrücken with multiple locations where we maintain all refrigeration and air conditioning systems. Furthermore, we provide services to some industrial clients and warehouses.
That sounds like a wide range of activities. How many employees does RS currently have?
Currently, we have 50 employees at the Riegelsberg location. In addition, we have two sales representatives specifically for the refrigerated display cases segment.
How many supermarkets do you service in the commercial refrigeration sector
RS offers nationwide support for refrigeration planning and installation. Additionally, from our location in Riegelsberg, we also provide service for approximately 400 supermarkets across the entire country.
Green technology is becoming increasingly important, not only due to legal requirements. What percentage of your customers are already using natural refrigerants?
In the construction of new supermarkets, 99% of our customers are using natural refrigerants. Supermarkets have been pioneers in this area in my opinion.
Which control systems do you use for your commercial customers?
For more than 90 % of our customers, we use Wurm control systems. RS works closely with TEKO and Wurm and has chosen Wurm's technology many years ago. The control systems are not only easy to handle due to RS's expertise, but also because of their user-friendliness. Wurm's technology is intuitive and efficient in its application.
What distinguishes the Wurm systems in your facilities? How does Wurm make it easier for you to work with CO2 systems?
We chose Wurm primarily for its Remote Data Transmission (RDT). This al-lows us to monitor and interact with our systems from our office or even from a home office without the need for a service technician to visit the customer directly. Through centralized control via the FRIGODATA XP tool, we have everything in view and can quickly respond in case of malfunctions. FRIGODATA XP continuously and regularly collects and logs system data. Without Wurm's RDT, we would not be able to serve the multitude of our customers. For RS, it is easy to monitor markets nationwide at any time – whether in Hamburg or Munich. The reliability of Wurm is outstanding.
Furthermore, the seamless integration of Wurm systems into our customers' building technology enables a more efficient workflow and minimizes downtime. The tech-nology comes from GTM Gebäudetechnik Management GmbH, a subsidiary of Wurm, based on the same hardware. This allows us to quickly respond to issues and monitor the systems optimally to ensure smooth operation. A key advantage of GTM in conjunction with Wurm is that despite different trades and potentially different owners, only one gateway is required for fault transmission, remote diag-nosis, historical data collection, and remote service. The Multigate behaves externally like two separate gateways: Building technicians and us as refrigeration technicians only have access to data from their respective areas of responsibility, while the operator can view the entire system through the FRIGODATA Online software. A significant advantage of this integrated solution is the ability of both systems to communicate with each other despite data separation and access permissions. This allows for very efficient synergy effects, for example in heat recovery systems.
What is the average lifespan of the systems you build and maintain?
RS requires replacement parts extremely rarely, reflecting the exceptionally high product safety and durability of the products. Through collaboration with Wurm and TEKO, we always have access to an extensive spare parts inventory. This allows us to carry out repairs immediately without having to wait for the delivery of spare parts. We have systems that have been in operation for 20 years, and even here we have no difficulties sourcing spare parts. Additionally, Wurm control technology is almost always backward compatible, meaning that new components can easily replace older ones without the need for complex rebuilding or replacement of the system. This ensures that our systems equipped with Wurm control technology have a long lifespan.
Regarding our oldest system, I can tell you that we have a refrigeration system in a supermarket that has been function-ing flawlessly since 1999. This underscores the longevity and reliability of the Wurm systems. Even when implementing new control technology in this system, no problems arise.
Every refrigeration system generates waste heat. How can you make use of it?
For many of our cus-tomers, the use of waste heat is becoming increasingly important. Through our experience, we have found that we are able to heat a super market up to 90% using waste heat, without the need for fossil fuels or an additional heat pump. Given the rising energy costs, heat recovery unit (HRU), plays a crucial role in increasing efficiency.
Heat recovery is not only economically viable, but also an important contribution to sustainability. By effectively utilizing existing waste heat, we reduce the need for external energy and help to reduce CO2 emissions. This is par-
ticularly relevant in times when environmental protection and sustainability are becoming increasingly important.
There is often talk of a shortage of skilled workers. What measures are being taken at RS to find skilled employees?
Our industry has been affected by a shortage of skilled workers for years, this is not a new issue for us. Unfortunately, there is a lack of young talent in our field, which makes it difficult to find qualified professionals.
Therefore, we actively engage with the public to establish ourselves as an attractive employer. In recent years, we have taken various measures to strengthen our presence. This includes, for example, producing trailers that were shown before movie screen-ings. Our image video, about 30 seconds long, was pres-
ented before the start of the film in a total of 12 cinemas. It is important to us that the videos are produced in collaboration with our employees and authentically represent their work. Additionally, we have produced an image film for our website and our advertisements can be seen on public transport buses in the Saarbrücken area. We also support various sports clubs in our region.
A good working environment is very important to us, which is why we maintain open, respectful communication with our employees. We are currently training four apprentices to counter the shortage of skilled workers and support the development of qualified young talent.
How are new employees introduced to the topic of natural refrigerants?
Our technicians always work in teams. Especially in supermarkets, where distances are long and time is limited, working as a two-person team has proven effective.
RS regularly takes advantage of training opportunities offered by TEKO and Wurm. The continuous exchange with experts keeps us up to date and motivates our employees. In case of complex issues or technical challenges, we can always rely on the expertise of Wurm and TEKO. This partnership sig-
nificantly contributes to our ability to provide our custom-ers with excellent service and to be successful in demanding projects.
You mentioned that you have 50 employees. How do you manage to offer your customers a 24/7 service?
Thanks to the Remote Data Transmission (RDT) from Wurm, we can serve 400 supermarkets nationwide with just 8 service employees.
Through the software FRIGODATA XP, we can analyze each individual store disruption directly and avoid unnecessary deployments on weekends or at night. For example, we can detect issues such as an open refrigerator door and forward this message to the customer without requiring an RS employee to be on site.
How does that work exactly?
The data is reported to RS via the secure proxy server of Wurm through the monitoring tool FRIGODATA XP. The fault notification is then sent to three emergency service mobile phones in our office as an SMS (24 hours). This way, multiple employees are informed about the errors and can adjust the service plans accordingly.
In addition, we use the Wurm app FRIDA. With FRIDA, all of our service technicians have all the important functions of FRIGODATA XP on their display at all times and can analyze a project down to the deepest detail level and change adjust-able values if needed without having to be on site.
The backward compatibility of FRIDA allows for monitoring even older refrigeration systems, which provides significant benefits for customers. This means they do not necessarily have to upgrade or replace their entire system in order to benefit from the advantages of modern monitoring technology.
Does this mean that RS has access to all supermarkets? Do you have your own IT department?
No, we do not have an extensive IT department, as everything is managed through the proxy server from Remscheid. Wurm takes care of service and maintenance for the encrypted VPN connection.
The security measures are extremely high – users are bound to their identity at a security center via One ID. During remote access, users are authenticated based on their permissions and company affiliation. Additional security measures such as the ability to remotely lock devices, different password levels for different trades, and secure VPN connections defined together according to the operator's security stand-ards enhance security. As customers, we utilize this secure infrastructure and do not have to worry about it, allowing us to focus on our core competence in refrigeration and building technology.
How has your daily work routine changed with the Wurm app FRIDA? How do your employees rate its user-friendliness?
Our employees regularly confirm that the FRIDA app is very intuitive. Even large parameter sets are displayed in a clear manner. With online access to all technical information, our technicians can prepare optimally for their service assignments. This allows them, for example, to identify and take along spare parts in advance, saving time and costs. FRIDA is a modern tool for our technicians that enables them to work independently.
Thank you for your time and the interesting information, Mr. Braun.
A big thank you goes to TEKO as well! We are looking forward to further successful projects together and are excited to see what the future holds.
RS is an expert in the field of refrigeration and air conditioning technology, supporting its customers from advice and installation to maintenance and customer service.
The company focuses on commercial and industrial projects and is reliably available to its customers for all matters relating to refrigeration systems.