PlastikCity on Tour: A Spotlight on Summit Process Cooling’s First Open House

PlastikCity’s Tour recently had the privilege of attending Summit Process Cooling’s inaugural Open House event, held over two days, 13th and 14th November 2024, at their headquarters in Tamworth. Jess Clarke and Will Clarke represented PlastikCity, joining a host of industry leaders, manufacturers, and experts to explore the latest advancements in process cooling and sustainability.

This innovative event marked a significant step for Summit Systems and Summit Process Cooling, part of the renowned Summit Group, in showcasing their innovation-driven approach to ancillary equipment and process cooling. Founded in 1989, Summit Systems has supplied over £250 million worth of equipment to the plastics industry, establishing themselves as a trusted partner for automation, cooling, and recycling solutions.

A Journey Through Summit’s Expertise

Summit Process Cooling, launched in 2018 as a dedicated division of Summit Systems, demonstrated its expertise in delivering tailored cooling solutions. While Summit Systems has supplied cooling equipment since the 1990s, their partnership with global process cooling pioneer Frigel in 2017 has taken their capabilities to new heights, as well as their acquisition of Total Process Cooling Ltd in 2018. Frigel, founded in Florence in 1960, is celebrated for its cutting-edge, sustainable engineering solutions, making them a key partner for Summit in driving innovation.

The Open Day highlighted Summit’s comprehensive approach to cooling, from offering free site assessments to crafting bespoke solutions that deliver tangible energy and cost savings. Nigel Hallett’s presentation underscored this with a compelling case study involving injection moulder Fisher Plastics. Summit’s team repurposed existing equipment and introduced an adiabatic cooling system, saving Fisher Plastics 357,000 kWh annually—equivalent to a £150,000 cost reduction and a 15-month payback period.

Innovating for a Greener Future

Sustainability was a recurring theme throughout the event. Summit’s presentations explored strategies to align cooling technologies with the plastics industry’s Net Zero goals. Key talking points included the benefits of “free cooling” solutions, reducing CO₂ emissions, and lowering operational costs for moulding businesses.

Beyond technical insights and demonstrations, the event offered a glimpse into Summit Systems’ ambitious growth strategy. With a new fabrication facility and plans to manufacture more in-house components, the company is evolving from a supplier to a manufacturer, bolstered by investments in graduate and apprenticeship schemes.

A Platform for Collaboration

The two-day programme featured talks from industry heavyweights, including Frigel’s Fabio Ferrari and Dr. Robin Kent from Tangram Technology, alongside Summit’s own leaders Mike Jordan and Matt Ross, and technical experts Shaun Lancaster and Nigel Hallett. Live demonstrations of Summit’s advanced process cooling systems provided attendees with hands-on experience, while networking sessions facilitated valuable connections.

For PlastikCity, the Open Day showcased the importance of knowledge sharing and innovative solutions in tackling the challenges faced by modern manufacturers. Jess Clarke remarked:

“Summit Process Cooling’s Open Day was an inspiring showcase of expertise, innovation, and sustainability. It’s encouraging to see such a proactive approach to reducing energy use while supporting manufacturers’ operational goals.”

Looking Ahead

With over 70 staff across the UK and Ireland and four specialist divisions within the Summit Group—plastics automation, process cooling, recycling resources, and dynamic solutions—Summit Systems is positioned to remain at the forefront of the industry. Events like this Open Day highlight their role not just as a supplier, but as a partner for businesses navigating today’s moulding and manufacturing challenges.

PlastikCity extends its thanks to Summit Process Cooling for hosting a fantastic event and looks forward to further collaboration in driving sustainability and innovation in plastics manufacturing. Due to the success of this event, we anticipate another open house next year, so keep your eyes peeled or contact Summit Process Cooling for further information.

To learn more about Summit Process Cooling, visit https://www.summitsystems.co.uk/process-cooling/.

Look out for the next edition of ‘PlastikCity on Tour’ to learn more about our excellent UK-based partners.

There are now well over 260 active partners represented on the PlastikCity site, many of which offer highly specialised products or services to our sector.

During our everyday course of business, we’ll be making a point of visiting as many of these partners as we can and using the time to better understand what they offer the market. We’ll then showcase them through this ongoing series of articles.

Maybe you can benefit from their services!

Read more news from Summit Systems here.

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