Walton producing extensive electricity saving fridges

Milton Ahmed: Local electronics giant Walton is manufacturing and marketing extensive electricity saving Inverter Technology based fridges.

Besides, environment friendly R600a gas is being used on compressors of fridges. An estimated of Tk 3.6 billion of the customers will be saved annually as well as the huge gap between the demand and supply of electricity will lessen if they use Inverter Technology fridges.

Walton has recently started manufacturing and marketing of over 30 models of frost and non-frost fridges that use HCFC and CFC free R600a gas. Among the models released in the local market are intensive electricity saving Intelligent Inverter Technology based 430, 467, 512, 520, 526, 555, 575 and 585 liters 15 models of non-frost fridges. Besides, 50, 115, 165, 218, 312, 337, 348 and 358 liters 10 models of frost fridges along with 8 models of non-frost fridges are on the market. More 3 models of Inverter Technology based R600a gas non-frost and 3 models of frost fridges are going to be released on the market.

Analysis of the market of electronics products shows that the demand and use of the electronics products have increased due to the growth of per capita income, electricity supply and the availability of the technology based products. Specially, the use of fridges is seen in the houses of all profession and class for the expansion of local industries. People are more interested in using environment friendly and electricity saving fridges.

Inverter which is used in compressors of fridges is the latest technology of European Union. The technology controls the speed of compressors through a motherboard. Power is used when it is necessary saving up to 50 percent electricity. Moreover, the Inverter Technology compressors consume 8-10 percent less electricity while starting. They also run in low voltage.

Dr. Abdul Hasib Chowdhury, Associate Professor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), said, Inverter is the latest technology in the world. The motors which use Inverter Technology are more effective but save energy. For which Inverter motors are being used in the machineries of factories of major industries. Besides, the technology is being used in the compressors of fridges and air conditioners.

Explaining how Inverter Technology saves up to 50 percent electricity, Tapash Kumar Mojumder, Head of Walton R&D Department, said, the speed of the compressors of Inverter Technology is controlled through a motherboard according to the temperature of the room or the quantity of the foodstuff inside the fridge. The compressor does not run if there is no necessity which helps consuming less electricity. However, the quality and taste of the foodstuff inside the fridge are retained as Inverter Technology does not affect the cooling performance. The efficiency of Inverter compressors is double than induction compressors as they run only when necessary. 

Engineer Ashraful Ambia, Executive Director of Walton Sourcing Engineering Department, said, R600a is an environment friendly gas for refrigerators. The gas helps to save highest 10 percent electricity. But it is Inverter Technology which is only able to save a huge amount of electricity. Highest security measures have to take during the use of R600a gas in compressors. A very tiny leakage in compressor might cause devastating explosion or fire as the gas is very inflammable.

He claimed that only Walton has set up fridge production line using R600a gas in their own factory in Bangladesh with the financial assistance and supervision of UNDP, USAID and Department of Environment. The Walton fridges are being manufactured following world standard and highest security measures using huge electricity saving and environment friendly R600a gas.

Analysis shows that a fridge generally draws monthly electricity bill of Tk 300 and Tk 3,600 a year. Nearly 20 lakh pieces of fridges were sold across the country last year. If all the fridges were of Inverter Technology, then up to 50 percent electricity would be saved. A single piece of fridge will annually save electricity of Tk 1,800. Which means the 20 lakh of fridges will annually save electricity of Tk 3.6 billion (360 crore).


risingbd/Dhaka/Mar 23, 2017/Milton Ahmed/Nasim