Hanlon’s Gala in Longford, Ireland, has become the first retail site to install the AirDoor Curve, a new airflow-based refrigeration technology designed by Wirth Research — demonstrating how advanced engineering can deliver both energy savings and commercial impact
The AirDoor Curve applies aerodynamics and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to create an “invisible door” of air that separates the chilled environment of a walk-in beer fridge from the ambient store. By using carefully controlled airflows, the system prevents warm air and humidity ingress while retaining cold air inside.
Key technical and commercial outcomes include:
- 35 per cent increase in year-on-year beer sales since installation
- No additional energy costs, as the system replaces traditional cooling/heating elements with low-energy fans
- Reduced condensation and frost build-up, protecting both stock and equipment
- Improved customer comfort through a door-free design
Nick Wirth, Founder of Wirth Research and former F1 engineer, said: “It takes early adopters like Hanlon’s Gala to show that these types of products deliver such a solid ROI. Refrigeration remains a major source of energy usage for retailers. We want to prove that we can create products that use less energy and also improve customer comfort, and ultimately sales.”
The AirDoor Curve highlights how engineering principles originally developed for Formula One aerodynamics can be adapted to reduce one of retail’s biggest energy loads — refrigeration — while simultaneously improving customer experience and revenue potential.
For more information, visit https://wirthresearch.com/
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