Harrier Implements Process-Dedicated Chillers and Free Cooling for High-Volume Photo Printing
19/01/2026 ICS Cool Energy Ltd
Harrier is the UK’s leading business-to-business photo print fulfilment centre, with over 30 years of industry experience at its Newton Abbot site. Evolving from TRUPRINT, the UK's biggest direct to consumer photo processing brand, Harrier now produces millions of print-on-demand photo products annually for many of the most recognised retail and app-based photo services across the UK and Europe.
To meet the ever-increasing demand for rapid, high-volume production, Harrier partnered with ICS Cool Energy to future-proof its processes, implementing process-dedicated chillers alongside free cooling technology, supporting both efficiency and sustainability goals.
Challenge
As Harrier’s operations scaled to print up to two million photos a day and thousands of customised gifts - often dispatched within hours of order - temperature regulation in production zones and IT environments became increasingly critical. The company’s advanced digital print and server equipment is highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations, and any instability puts both throughput and product quality at risk.
Given Harrier’s sustainability-focused business approach, traditional chiller-only cooling could not deliver the combination of energy efficiency and environmental performance required. To maintain its industry-leading standards for efficiency and competitive pricing, Harrier needed a solution that would reliably support its demanding production schedule, minimise energy consumption, and align with its environmental objectives.
“Efficiency and sustainability are integral to our customer promise. Conventional cooling methods simply weren’t enough, we needed a solution that could keep pace with our rapid turnaround while also meeting our energy and environmental goals,” explained Jeremy Rawley of Harrier.
“High-volume fulfilment relies on dependable, process-grade temperature control. Our goal was to help Harrier achieve both operational reliability and measurable sustainability gains, aligning technical proficiency with their business priorities,” said Rod Avery, ICS Cool Energy project engineer.
Solution
ICS Cool Energy worked collaboratively with Harrier, analysing operational data and long-term cost models from the outset. Rather than defaulting to an all-chiller approach, ICS Cool Energy proposed a system design combining process-dedicated i-Chillers with additional free coolers. This flexible system automatically switches between mechanical and air-based cooling in response to changing outdoor conditions and production loads, optimising energy use throughout the year.
"Rather than defaulting to standard cooling methods, we worked with Harrier to model future savings and environmental impact. We detailed the potential savings over three-, five-, and seven-year horizons, helping Harrier weigh the initial investment against projected operational benefits,” said Rod Avery.
Throughout the process, Harrier received hands-on consultation, support with technical approval, and transparent insights for internal stakeholder review.
Results
The integration of process-dedicated chillers and free cooling delivered measurable improvements for Harrier. Energy consumption for cooling was significantly reduced, supporting the business’s cost savings and environmental responsibility goals. The process-dedicated cooling system keeps production areas and IT infrastructure stable, ensuring fast, error-free fulfilment even at peak capacity. The reduced reliance on mechanical refrigeration also aligned with Harrier’s desire to lower its carbon footprint and enhance equipment longevity.
"We’ve seen a real impact: the new cooling system has reduced our energy consumption and carbon footprint, while maintaining the reliability we need for fast turnarounds. It has set our facility up for long-term sustainable growth. The successful partnership with ICS Cool Energy highlights the value of proactive engineering and data-driven decision making for any business seeking targeted efficiency and sustainability improvements," concluded Jeremy Rawley, Harrier.
For more information on ICS Cool Energy and its complete range of process temperature control solutions, please visit www.icscoolenergy.com.
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ICS Cool Energy Ltd
ICS House
Stephenson Road
Calmore Industrial Estate, Totton
Southampton
Hampshire
SO40 3RY
Tel: +44 (0)23 8052 7300
Email: info@icscoolenergy.com
Web: https://www.icscoolenergy.com
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