Radiant cooling and heating systems for Würth’s logistics centre in Riihimäki

Würth, a wholesale supplier of work equipment and other technical products, is expanding and modernising its logistics centre in Riihimäki. More than one hectare of new storage space will be constructed in the two-phase contract. The storage facilities will be cooled and heated with a system manufactured and supplied by Itula. Itula’s panels and other heating and cooling system components are included in first phase of the contract, which lasts until the end of June. Phase two will be launched immediately after phase one in July, and the whole contract will be completed in 2017.

The project’s excavation and heat distribution contract, whose main contractor is Jatke Oy, is implemented by Pistoke RES Oy. Cooling and heating are provided with Itugraf radiant ceiling panels. Itula’s graphite-filled panels have superior adjustment speed, which saves energy as the space is heated and cooled only when needed. The daily temperature differences in Finland are substantial, which commonly results in overheating or overcooling with conventional techniques.

"In large halls, radiant ceiling panels can save up to 30% of energy compared to forced-air heating solutions. In a space such as this, where radiant heating and cooling can be combined with geothermal heating, the cooling energy is actually free," says HC Engineering Oy Managing Director Mika Komulainen, consultant for using radiant ceiling heating systems.

The designer of the geothermal heating system for Würth’s logistics centre, Jouni Koivula of Pistoke RES Oy, also finds geothermal heating to be the most cost-efficient and environmentally friendly solution.

"One great advantage of a geothermal heating system is cooling, which only consumes the amount of energy needed to operate the circulation pump. By using radiators, the distribution of heating and cooling to the space is cost-efficient and user-friendly," Koivula says.

More information: www.itula.fi