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Is Seasonal Chiller Hire the Right Solution for Your Business?
As temperatures rise and production demands shift throughout the year, many manufacturers find themselves under increasing pressure to manage internal cooling effectively. For industries such as food production, plastics processing, and general manufacturing, peak workloads often align with warmer weather—bringing with them new risks, including overheating, reduced efficiency, and compromised product quality. At Newsome, we work with companies across the UK to provide tailored, scalable seasonal chiller hire solutions. Whether you’re battling the summer heat in a dairy facility or ramping up output in a plastics factory, having additional cooling capacity in place when you need it—and only when you need it—can be the most cost-effective, reliable and flexible approach.
But is seasonal chiller hire the right fit for your operation? What are the benefits, scenarios, and technical considerations to help you decide?
Understanding Seasonal Cooling Demand
Cooling requirements aren’t always consistent year-round. Many businesses experience fluctuations in demand that are seasonal by nature:
Food manufacturers may see increased output in summer to meet demand for chilled, fresh, or ready-to-eat products.
Plastics and rubber processors face longer cooling cycles due to higher ambient temperatures, slowing down production if cooling capacity is inadequate.
Many businesses also face additional heat generated by solar gain through building fabric and roofing during the summer period. In these circumstances, even the most robust fixed cooling systems can struggle to keep up. That’s where temporary, scalable chiller hire becomes a highly valuable tool in maintaining performance and compliance without committing to permanent infrastructure upgrades.
The Business Case for Seasonal Chiller Hire
When managed correctly, seasonal chiller hire offers several advantages:
Cost Efficiency
Hiring equipment only when it’s needed helps avoid the capital outlay of purchasing additional chillers that may sit idle for large parts of the year. Seasonal hire contracts can be structured around your specific production schedule—providing cost-effective cooling for summer months, while eliminating the burden of year-round maintenance and storage.
Operational Flexibility
Seasonal cooling needs vary not just by time of year, but by production volume, line changes, and factory layout. Newsome’s modular chiller hire fleet allows you to scale capacity up or down based on demand. Whether you need one 50kW unit or a fleet of 500kW chillers, we provide tailored packages that align with your operational strategy.
Rapid Deployment
All Newsome chillers are pre-tested, delivered, and installed by our experienced engineers, with setup times typically within 24–48 hours. This makes seasonal hiring ideal for businesses that require fast mobilisation—particularly when dealing with a narrow window between planning and peak operation.
Avoiding Over-Specification
Installing a permanent chiller based on worst-case seasonal heat loads can lead to system oversizing, which increases running costs and can cause control issues in the off-season. Hiring seasonally helps ensure your base system is right-sized for the majority of the year, while temporary chillers supplement cooling only when necessary.
Common Use Cases by Industry
Food Processing
Many chilled and high-care food products require strict temperature control throughout production, packaging, and storage. During summer, heat ingress and additional moisture from washing and processing can raise humidity and temperature levels quickly. Seasonal chillers can support:
- Cold rooms and prep areas
- Process cooling for jacketed vessels or inline chillers
- Dehumidification systems where condensation is a risk
- Supplementing central plant during peak periods
Plastics and Rubber
In injection moulding or extrusion, controlling cooling speed is critical to product accuracy, finish and cycle time. Warmer air and cooler water temperatures can impact production consistency, leading to warping or increased scrap rates. Supplementary chillers can be deployed seasonally to keep flow temperatures stable across mould tools and process circuits.
General Manufacturing
From electronics to packaging to automotive components, many manufacturers operate temperature-sensitive machinery. Summer heat can cause unexpected shutdowns, reduce efficiency, or increase the risk of overheating. Hiring chillers seasonally ensures uptime without investing in oversized permanent systems.
Integrating Seasonal Hire into Your Cooling Strategy
Newsome doesn’t just supply equipment—we deliver integrated solutions. When planning for seasonal hire, our engineering team carries out a detailed assessment of your existing infrastructure and production profile. This helps us determine:
- The correct cooling capacity (kW) needed
- Flow and return temperatures for optimal performance
- Electrical supply and pipework requirements
- The best location for temporary plant and connection routes
Our goal is to make the installation seamless, with minimal disruption to your operations. We also offer full commissioning, technical support, and decommissioning at the end of the season, giving you peace of mind throughout the hire period.
Is It Right for You?
Seasonal chiller hire is an ideal solution if:
- Your production output increases significantly in summer.
- You’ve experienced cooling issues during past heatwaves.
- You want to avoid capital investment in additional fixed equipment.
- Your current system lacks the flexibility to meet varying cooling loads.
- You need temporary support during planned maintenance of your permanent chiller.
With the unpredictability of UK weather and the ongoing challenges in energy efficiency and supply chain stability, more businesses are adopting seasonal hire as a strategic cooling solution, not just an emergency fix.
Partnering with Newsome
With over 40 years of experience in process temperature control, industrial chiller hire, and HVAC support, Newsome is trusted by manufacturers across the UK to deliver dependable cooling solutions at speed.
Our seasonal hire packages are built around your business—combining engineering insight with hands-on service to ensure your systems perform at their best, no matter the weather. Whether you need short-term hire, long-term seasonal support, or backup cooling for high-risk areas, we can help.
Plan Ahead for Summer 2025
Don’t let seasonal heat catch you off guard. Now is the time to review your cooling systems, assess future demand, and prepare for peak season with confidence.
Contact Newsome today to discuss your seasonal chiller hire options and discover how we can help you stay productive, efficient, and cool—whatever the temperature.