Case Story
Sabroso – Rethinking and Reducing CO2 Usage in the Restaurant Industry
Chapter ONE
Supply Chain Struggles and Rising Costs
Restaurants depend on beverage sales, which often have higher margins than food. However, the carbon dioxide (CO2) necessary for carbonation and syrup pumps creates substantial challenges for our customers. Increasing CO2 costs, supply chain disruptions, and even theft of CO2 tanks can result in lost sales and unhappy customers. Due to their tight operating margins, these issues are especially burdensome for small, community-focused establishments like Sabroso in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
Furthermore, the cumulative environmental impact of CO2 emissions across thousands of restaurants conflicts with Gast’s sustainability goals as a manufacturer dedicated to efficient, eco-friendly equipment.
“A few months after installing a CO2 tank outside, we came one day and the tank was gone. It was a lot of money. If we run out of CO2, we’re going to have a lot of angry customers, and we don’t want that because we’re going to lose them.”
Chapter TWO
Innovating for Community and Environment
At Gast, also located in Benton Harbor, we recognized an opportunity to tackle these issues directly, aligning with our commitment to supporting our community and minimizing environmental impact. Our team witnessed the CO2 supply chain challenges firsthand during a visit to a local restaurant. This experience fueled our drive to develop a solution that would benefit restaurant owners and the planet. By focusing on non-essential CO2 usage, like in syrup pumps for beverage dispensers, our goal was to reduce costs, eliminate supply risks, and lower emissions without compromising operational efficiency.
Chapter THREE
The Solution – The 87R Compressor
Gast developed the 87R compressor, a compact, plug-and-play system that replaces CO2 with compressed dry air in non-essential beverage applications. The 87R integrates seamlessly into existing CO2 delivery systems, connecting just in front of bag-in-box (BIB) syrup pumps to push syrup to dispensing machines using free, abundant air. Key features include:
- Quick Installation: The system can be installed in as little as 20 minutes without infrastructure changes.
- Minimal Maintenance: With a 5–10-year service life and simple annual filter changes, the 87R is nearly maintenance-free.
- Space-Efficient and Quiet: Designed for space-constrained restaurants, it operates quietly in the background.
- Reliable Performance: Unlike competing compressors, the 87R delivers clean, dry air at the required dew point, preventing downstream issues.
“We mounted the compressor on the wall, plugged the system in, and switched over from CO2 to air. We were in and out in about 20 minutes. The customer didn’t even feel the difference.”
Chapter four
Savings, Reliability, and Sustainability
The 87R compressor has delivered transformative outcomes for restaurants like Sabroso. By using compressed dry air instead of CO2 for syrup pumps, owners have achieved:
- Significant Savings: Up to 40% or more reduction in CO2-related costs, including purchases, transportation, and downtime losses.
- Enhanced Reliability: Compressed dry air eliminates the risk of running out of CO2, ensuring uninterrupted beverage service.
- Environmental Impact: A 40% reduction in CO2 emissions, supporting Gast’s sustainability goals and helping restaurants contribute to a greener future.
The 87R’s scalability suggests widespread adoption could significantly reduce costs and emissions across the restaurant industry.
“With compressed dry air, it’s all around us, and you don’t run the risk of running out of CO2. It allows you to have less downtime.”
Chapter Five
Why Gast – Leading in Operations and Sustainability
Gast’s 87R compressor sets a new standard in the beverage industry through operational excellence and sustainability leadership. Its advantages include:
Operational Excellence:
- 50% faster installation time compared to traditional systems.
- 40% reduction in operational costs.
- Plug-and-play integration for easy adoption.
Sustainability Leadership:
- 40% reduction in CO2 emissions.
- Energy-efficient pneumatic systems.
- Alignment with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals.
- Elimination of direct emissions from non-essential CO2 usage.
Our 87R compressor demonstrates our commitment to addressing industry challenges with innovative solutions that benefit businesses, communities, and the environment. By replacing CO2 with compressed dry air, we have helped restaurants like Sabroso reduce costs, enhance reliability, and promote sustainability. This aligns with Gast’s mission to “Move With Purpose,” providing trusted solutions that improve lives and drive meaningful change in the restaurant industry.
Pump Up Your Potential
Whether you need technical support, product recommendations, or innovative solutions for your unique challenges, our pneumatic experts are ready to power your progress.
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