What changed?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the phasedown schedule (above) for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which is mandated by the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (AIM Act). There were no changes between the proposal and the final rule. The schedule still calls for a segmented reduction in HFCs produced and consumed, ending in an 85% reduction by 2036.
The finalized rule includes an allocation and trading program, which determines the amount of refrigerant that may be produced and consumed. There were no changes between the proposal and the final rule.
Who is impacted?
- Refrigerant Producers: Companies that produce, import, export, destroy, reclaim, or recycle HFCs are issued allowances by the EPA on October 1 of each year. These allowances are relative to the phasedown schedule.
- End Users: Companies that use refrigeration equipment—such as retailers, cold storage warehouses, and industrial process facilities—will feel an indirect impact because HFC refrigerant will be less common and more expensive.
We know from the recent phaseout of R-22 that this phasedown will cause refrigerant prices to rise. HFC refrigerants that are manufactured will primarily be used to service leaks in existing systems, plus HFC refrigerants are shared with other industries, such as air conditioning and foaming processing. This could impact cost and availability of refrigerants to retailers and industrial end users, meaning that budgets for repairs will need to increase.
What should retailers and other end users do?
To counteract this, Zero Zone recommends that future orders for refrigeration equipment should be switched to alternative refrigerants sooner than later, such as natural refrigerants and low-GWP HFO-based refrigerants. This will make service costs better in the long run. Plus, it will prepare end users for upcoming EPA rules that will further regulate refrigerants.
What other rules are coming?
The refrigeration industry awaits three more final EPA rules.
1) The EPA proposed a rule that will establish limits by 1/1/2025 on the global warming potential (GWP) of refrigerants. This rule must be finalized in October 2023. Below are the current GWP restrictions proposed.
These GWP limits will end the use refrigerants such as R-404A (GWP of 3943), R-407A (GWP of 1923), R-410A (GWP of 1924), R-448A (GWP of 1273), R-449A (GWP of 1282), and R-507 (GWP of 3985) in new equipment. Going forward, refrigeration equipment will need to use natural refrigerants, such as CO2 (GWP of 1), ammonia (GWP of 0), and HFO-based refrigerants with GWP less than the limits.
2) The refrigeration industry also awaits the release of EPA Rule 26, which will allow for the use of A2L refrigerants in commercial and industrial applications. “A2L” refers to an ASHRAE classification of refrigerants that are mildly flammable. Rule 26 would also increase the allowable R-290 (propane) charges for self-contained equipment.
3) The EPA will be updating Section 608 of the EPA Clean Air Act (CAA), which regulates handling, recovery, reclamation, and recycling of refrigerants. They are updating the rule for how service technicians can handle refrigerants and how refrigerant use is reported by store owners.
Further Reading
For more information about upcoming EPA regulations: “The National Plan for Refrigerant Regulations.”
For more information about current state regulations: “The State of Refrigerant Regulations.”
If you have questions about these regulations, please contact Zero Zone and ask to speak to our Director of Regulatory Compliance & Refrigeration Technology. If you want to learn about our offerings and plan for these regulations, contact our sales team.
Press Release
Mukwonago, WI—July 12, 2023
Zero Zone has opened their new 183,200 square foot warehouse in Mukwonago, Wisconsin, which reflects the growth of the manufacturer and their customers. This warehouse will serve as a space for finished refrigerated display cases before they are shipped to retail stores across the United States.
“Our customers are growing, and we are proud to grow alongside them,” said Chief Executive Officer Glenn Kormanik.
Zero Zone builds all of its display cases at nearby production facilities in Waukesha and North Prairie. The finished display cases are moved to Mukwonago, and then the team in Mukwonago ships the display cases to supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, dollar stores, and drug stores.
“We appreciate being able to triangulate and have a third facility close by our production facilities,” said vice president and general manager Don Klenk. “This gives us an opportunity to be more efficient and responsive to our customers.”
This new facility marks the latest in a story of consistent growth. From humble beginnings in a rented dairy barn in 1961, Zero Zone has grown and now occupies four production facilities and a distribution warehouse. Ground broke in September 2022, and the new warehouse was completed in March 2023. After months of diligent work, Zero Zone houses their entire warehousing operation in this expanded facility, which is a grand total of 183,200 square feet.
Kormanik described this building as a “significant milestone. Zero Zone is in the business of preserving customer valuables through refrigeration. Most of the time, this involves making products cold or frozen, whether that be from systems in the back room or display cases that shoppers like you and me grab food from every day. But it also involves preserving other resources, like their time, their schedule, their capital, and their precious human resources. We have industry-leading 12-week lead times for display cases and industry leading 97% on-time delivery. This facility allows us to respond to the needs of our customers, maintain their schedules, save their money, and save their resources by delivering when we say we are going to deliver. This is another tool in our toolbox to deliver on that promise to our customers.”
About Zero Zone
Established in 1961, Zero Zone is a respected manufacturer of refrigeration systems and display cases with facilities in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. Zero Zone products serve retail customers such as supermarkets, drug, dollar, and convenience stores, and Zero Zone sells equipment to industrial customers such as cold storage warehouses, food processing facilities, distribution centers, blast freezers and chillers, food and beverage production, ice arenas, and pharmaceutical and medical storage. Zero Zone employees are committed to preserving customer valuables through refrigeration. Visit www.zero-zone.com.
Press Release
North Prairie, WI—March 1, 2022—
David Morrow has announced his retirement as CEO/President of Zero Zone after 25+ years as leader of this Midwest-based manufacturer of refrigerated display cases and refrigeration systems. Well-regarded in the retail food industry, Morrow has skillfully navigated the restructuring of company ownership, the acquisition and integration of the refrigeration systems business, many successful product launches, and oversaw expansion opportunities which resulted in a tripling of company value.
Effective today, Glenn Kormanik will become Chief Executive Officer and Dan O’Brien will become President of Zero Zone.
Kormanik has been with the company for over 10 years, serving as VP/General Manager of the Display Case Division and, most recently, as Executive Vice President of Operations for both corporate divisions. Prior to joining Zero Zone, Glenn held a variety of management positions in Midwest companies, including Falk Corporation, Service Heat Treating, and Construction Forms, Inc. Glenn holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University.
O’Brien has been with the company for over 25 years, starting in engineering and moving on to become National Sales Manager and Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. Dan’s earlier years were with Systematic Refrigeration, a refrigeration systems company acquired by Zero Zone in 2002. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University and an MBA in Sales & Marketing from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management.
“We wish Dave well on his well-earned retirement,” remarked Glenn Kormanik. “He has led us through some difficult times and brought about a transformation of the company that positions us well for future growth. We can’t thank him enough for the heart and soul he has put into making Zero Zone a world-class manufacturer and one worthy of being called The Responsive Company. Dan and I will do our best to continue his legacy as we live up to our promise of protecting and preserving the freshness of food and pharmaceuticals throughout North and South America.”
About Zero Zone
Established in 1961, Zero Zone has display case facilities in North Prairie, Pewaukee, and Waukesha, WI, and refrigeration systems plants in Ramsey, MN and Dyersville, IA. Zero Zone is a leading manufacturer of refrigerated glass door display cases, multi-decks, and commercial refrigeration systems for supermarkets, drug, dollar, and convenience stores, and manufactures industrial refrigeration systems for cold storage, food processing, ice arenas, and the pharmaceutical/biomedical industry.
Coming Soon to the Dyersville Community!
Zero Zone brings the CHILL… We design refrigeration systems that keep fresh food cold, pharmaceuticals safe, and ice rinks frozen!
Now, you can be part of our COOL Team. Zero Zone is expanding our refrigeration systems manufacturing to Dyersville, Iowa! We need enthusiastic people for our new facility and are offering competitive wages and a collaborative environment to those who want to grow with our company! Become part of a skilled labor force where variety, cross-training, and advancement opportunities are the norm (not monotonous assembly work). Whether you’re interested in management, engineering, or manufacturing positions, now is the time to take action. Come grow with us. We have Midwestern values and a genuine do-it-right-the-first-time work ethic. If you do too, see available positions and APPLY NOW at: /careers/ or email careers.ia@zero-zone.com.
Zero Zone Systems Division, based in Ramsey, Minnesota, is a respected manufacturer of commercial and industrial refrigeration systems and chillers for retail food stores, cold storage, food processing, pharmaceutical/biomedical manufacturing, and ice arenas.
The Systems Division is part of Zero Zone Inc., headquartered in North Prairie, Wisconsin. From three facilities in Wisconsin, its Display Case Division has been manufacturing commercial coolers and freezers for supermarkets, grocery, convenience, dollar, and drug stores for over 60 years.
Zero Zone Systems Division designs and builds some of the finest refrigeration systems in North America from its main manufacturing facility in Ramsey, Minnesota and, now, from its new manufacturing location in Dyersville, Iowa.
Press Release
North Prairie, WI—June 8, 2021—From humble beginnings in a rented dairy barn in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, three refrigeration experts decided to strike out on their own and pursue their bold dream of making “the best freezers in the business at a competitive price.” George Johnson, Duke Wegner, and K Hirata would build their freezers and peddle them to local grocery stores until they had made a name for themselves for the quality of their work and their steadfast resolve to always put the customer first.
60 years from the incorporation of Zero Zone on June 8, 1961, the company is now the third largest manufacturer in their marketplace of commercial freezers, coolers, and the refrigeration systems that keep them cool. Their customer list includes some of the largest supermarket chains, major dollar stores, drug stores, and leading convenience stores in North America. They are also proud of their roster of smaller, independent foods retailers, who rely on their guidance and refrigeration expertise to help them navigate the myriad regulations in place to assure food freshness while protecting the environment.
Three facilities in Wisconsin are responsible for engineering and manufacturing their display cases, which are now renowned for their elegant appearance and energy-saving design. A large plant in Minnesota designs and manufactures the commercial refrigeration systems for grocers and is also sought out for their industrial refrigeration racks used in food processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, cold storage, and ice arenas.
The three founders would be proud of the way their company has grown and that all their equipment is proudly assembled in the USA from domestic and foreign-sourced components. Most of all, they would be happy to know that it is still the responsiveness of Zero Zone employees that differentiates Zero Zone from their competitors. Keeping food fresh and helping industry keep its cool is what Zero Zone is all about. Here’s to the next 60 years and the exciting developments it will bring.
For more information about Zero Zone and their product lines, visit www.zero-zone.com.
About Zero Zone
Established in 1961, Zero Zone has display case facilities in North Prairie, Pewaukee, and Waukesha, WI, and a refrigeration systems plant in Ramsey, MN. Zero Zone is a leading manufacturer of refrigerated glass door display cases, multi-decks, and commercial refrigeration systems for supermarkets, drug, dollar, and convenience stores, and manufactures industrial refrigeration systems for cold storage, food processing, ice arenas, and the pharmaceutical/biomedical industry.
Bruce Hierlmeier PE, the Director of Regulatory Compliance & Refrigeration Technology for Zero Zone, was announced as a recipient of the Richard C. Schulze Award at the 2020 Air-Conditioning, Heating, & Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) Virtual Leadership Forum. The Richard C. Schulze Award is presented at the opening session to 3 individuals whose contributions influenced both AHRI and the industry as a whole. Zero Zone is incredibly proud of Bruce Hierlmeier’s contributions to the refrigeration industry.
In the presentation, Hierlmeier was recognized for his dedication to commercial refrigeration, both through AHRI and the Commercial Refrigerator Manufacturers Association (CRMA), which later merged with AHRI. Hierlmeier was credited for being instrumental to the growth of the refrigeration sector of AHRI during his service as the inaugural chair of the Refrigeration Regulatory Committee. He contributed to major revisions as chair of the Safety Standards Committee, accomplishing those revisions in less than a year to allow the safe use of flammable, low-GWP refrigerants in refrigeration systems. Hierlmeier was also regarded as an expert in regulatory compliance whose valuable input helps others understand EPA SNAP regulations and state regulations.
Additionally, Hierlmeier served as the engineering chair and later the section chair for the AHRI Commercial Refrigeration Division after the merger with CRMA. He also served as the section chair for the compressor and condensing unit section.
Bruce Hierlmeier’s contributions to the refrigeration industry extend far beyond AHRI. Hierlmeier has been a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) since 1993 and the International Institute of Ammonia Research (IIAR) since 2016. Hierlmeier has authored and contributed to sections of the ASHRAE Handbook on Refrigeration in 2014 and 2018, a handbook that is published every 4 years and drives industry requirements. For IIAR, he served as chair of the chapters 5 & 6 subcommittees for the CO2 Handbook. He has also authored or professionally commented on sections within UL Standard 471, NSF Standard 7, DOE regulations for commercial refrigeration, and CARB regulations.
Hierlmeier’s background includes an MBA from UW-Milwaukee in 1993 and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from UW-Platteville in 1983. He has earned and maintained his professional engineer (PE) license since 1988, and he has belonged to the Order of the Engineer since 1983. He also holds a patent for an innovative air duct design that assures uniform product temperature inside Zero Zone Crystal Merchandiser™ coolers.
After being selected for the 2020 AHRI Richard C. Schulze Award, Bruce Hierlmeier was approached by his peers, who complimented his efforts and congratulated him for winning the award. Everyone at Zero Zone extends the same enthusiasm and appreciation.
Zero Zone is incredibly proud of the hard work and expertise that John Collins, Industrial Sales Manager – East for Zero Zone, displayed in researching, writing, and presenting his technical paper, “Analysis of Package Chiller Systems – Comparison of Natural (NH3 & CO2) and HFC Refrigerants.” He presented it at the International Institute for Ammonia Research (IIAR) 2020 Virtual Conference, and he was awarded the well-deserved IIAR 2020 Award for Presentation Excellence – Food/Retail Refrigeration.
Collins thoroughly analyzed the data from 3 ice arena chillers that used different refrigerants in order to demonstrate statistically and strategically the advantages afforded by each refrigerant. Collins applied his study by presenting his findings as practical criteria that can help buyers choose a refrigerant that matches their goals and priorities for safety, cost, sustainability, serviceability, and more.
Collins also thanks his colleagues, Global Refrigeration Manager Masood Ali and Systems Engineering Manager Adam Ciesielski, for their insight and assistance in developing and reviewing the manuscript, and Zero Zone gratefully acknowledges their collaboration.
Click here to read the full paper for yourself: “Analysis of Package Chiller Systems – Comparison of Natural (NH3 & CO2) and HFC Refrigerants”
Not even refrigeration regulations are simple after 2020. Refrigerant regulations are changing, and getting new refrigeration equipment is complicated. This adds more challenges to stores, cold storage warehouses, pharmaceutical plants, and more.
Here is the brief summary of recent refrigerant regulations. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued SNAP Rules 20 and 21 in 2015 and 2016 to eliminate the use of refrigerants with high global warming potential (GWP), but those rules were vacated by the D.C. circuit court in 2017 and 2019. Since then, individual states have taken responsibility for issuing their own regulations. So far, most state regulations target the same high GWP refrigerants, but they have different effective dates and even define the effective dates differently. This creates a challenge for both buyers and manufacturers who need to know whether their new equipment will be compliant.
Zero Zone wants to help by providing the effective dates and a map so it is clear whether your state has any regulations. Check out our article about The State of Refrigerant Regulations. Please note that we recommend that our customers contact their state’s environmental regulatory department to clarify the nuances, but our research will be a valuable starting point.
Press Release
North Prairie, WI—June 7, 2020—Zero Zone, a leading manufacturer of refrigerated display cases and refrigeration systems, announces the introduction of the Zero Zone Reveal Merchandiser® with Doors display case product line.
Food retailers have long expressed their love of the original Reveal Merchandiser® open multi-deck cases for their horizontal merchandising platform and easy access to products. They have increasingly asked for a closed-case version with glass doors for certain applications in order to help control their burgeoning energy costs. The Reveal Merchandiser® with Doors gives them the best of both worlds: as much as 71% energy reduction (compared to open multi-decks) and the ability to merchandise their products either in a 48-inch horizontal planogram or in a 24-inch vertical planogram.
According to Dan O’Brien, VP of Sales & Marketing for Zero Zone, “the Reveal Merchandiser® with Doors complements its other Zero Zone display case counterparts, creating a sleek, consistent appearance throughout the store. Choosing Zero Zone merchandisers helps retailers pull together the look of their entire store design.”
The Reveal Merchandiser® product line has flourished and grown since its introduction in 2017, adding Tall, Meat Exclusive (MX), Produce Exclusive (PX), Hybrid™, and now Reveal™ with Doors. Whatever the case may be, the Reveal Merchandiser® with Doors is the open and shut case for merchandising flexibility and energy savings.
Learn more about the Zero Zone Reveal Merchandiser® with Doors line of products.
About Zero Zone
Established in 1961, Zero Zone has display case facilities in North Prairie, Pewaukee, and Waukesha, WI, and a refrigeration systems plant in Ramsey, MN. Zero Zone is a leading manufacturer of refrigerated glass door display cases, open multi-decks, and commercial refrigeration systems for supermarkets, drug, dollar, and convenience stores, and manufactures industrial refrigeration systems for cold storage, food processing, ice arenas, and the pharmaceutical/biomedical industry.
Reveal Merchandiser® is a registered trademark of Zero Zone, Inc. in the United States.
Press Release
North Prairie, WI—July 10, 2019—Zero Zone is proud to introduce a new product from the Reveal Merchandiser® line of cases, the Zero Zone Reveal Merchandiser® PX, designed exclusively for the display of fresh produce.
This new open multi-deck will give retailers a competitive edge. The angled, tiered shelving and the product temperature is specifically set to improve the shelf life of produce. ChillBrite® LED lighting provides bright and reliable illumination to enhance the natural appeal of produce and catch the eyes of shoppers. Its open display allows for higher product visibility and easy shopping.
“I’ve been in the grocery business for 51 years, and I think this is one of the best produce presentations I’ve ever seen,” said a store manager of a Wisconsin retailer.
Not only does it provide optimal accessibility for shoppers, but it also saves time for retailers. It is easy to install, easy to maintain, and easy to fill, allowing store owners to cut back on stocking times.
Retailers can choose between 80″ or 82″ tall cases with either low or medium sills, allowing them to customize the display depending on their needs. Glass fronts are also available as an option, as well as angled end frames with windows.
Zero Zone provides innovative products made with the highest quality materials to ensure performance and durability. The new Reveal Merchandiser® PX reflects the Zero Zone commitment to listening to the needs of their customers and providing a solution that is both stylish and energy efficient.
Learn more about the Reveal Merchandiser® PX display case
About Zero Zone
Established in 1961, Zero Zone has display case plants in North Prairie and Waukesha, WI, and refrigeration systems facilities in Ramsey, MN. Zero Zone is a leading manufacturer of refrigerated glass door display cases, open multi-decks, and commercial refrigeration systems for supermarkets, drug, dollar, and convenience stores, and manufactures industrial refrigeration systems for cold storage, food processing, and ice arenas.