Zernike Klima ageing and curing cabinets

Buying Zernike

Zernike designs and builds the Klima range in Italy. Each Klima is a refrigerated cabinet that holds temperature, humidity and airflow to a programme you set, phase by phase. That lets a kitchen or shop age food on the premises instead of buying it in ready aged. The chamber is AISI 304 stainless steel, and the walls are insulated with cyclopentane. A patented air system, which Zernike calls V-O, uses a perforated rear panel. It channels air across and down the chamber. Zernike states this keeps conditions even in every corner, so nothing needs moving during a cycle. The cabinets are made for restaurants, steakhouses, butchers, fishmongers, small farms, dairies and supermarkets. All models run on a single-phase 230 V supply, and dimmable LED lights show the product without warming it.

There are three types, and each comes in two series. Klima Aging cures salami, coppa, pancetta and sausages, and refines cheese, including soft cheese with an optional humidity kit. Klima Meat dry-ages cuts and loins, with the OxigenKLIMA active-oxygen system fitted to every model. Klima Fish matures whole fish and cures seafood charcuterie such as bottarga in the same chamber. The Easy series has a digital display and the basic set of racks, rails or frames. The System series has a 10.1 inch colour touch screen with step-by-step icons, and it ships with more accessories. The 700 is 740 mm wide, the 900 is 920 mm and the 1500 is 1460 mm. The compact 500 is Easy only, in black. Vision is a lower model for Meat and Fish that can sit on a counter.

Settle a few things before you ask for a quote. Space: the 700, 900 and 1500 lines stand 2115 mm tall. The 1500 is also 1460 mm wide, so check ceiling height and the route in. Load: capacities are suggested working loads, so choose the line by what you will hang at once. Finish: stainless steel, black metal, or black with a rear glass panel for display to customers. Water: the Kit.FOMO humidity generator for soft cheese needs a water connection and a filter cartridge. It is System only on Klima Aging. Wi-Fi: remote control is an optional interface kit, and on Klima Aging it is also System only. Warranty: see the FAQ below.

Zernike: common questions

How does ageing work in a Klima cabinet, and how long does it take?

The cabinet holds the chamber at the temperature, humidity and fan speed you set for each phase of a programme. The patented V-O air system pushes air through a perforated rear panel. Air moves across and down the chamber, so every shelf dries at the same rate. Klima Meat includes OxigenKLIMA, which doses active oxygen into the chamber to limit bacteria, mould and odour. Zernike states Klima Fish uses the same system. Klima Aging adds stand-by pauses and air changes, so casings dry evenly and noble moulds stay oxygenated. Fish takes days rather than months. The maturing steps below give the typical cycle length. Klima Meat owners quoted by Zernike report ageing of 100 days, 200 days and a year.

Should I choose the Easy or the System series?

Both series share one cabinet body, so sizes and capacities match. Easy has a digital display and the basic set of included accessories. System has a 10.1 inch colour touch screen that guides each step with icons. It can be set to other languages. System also ships with more hardware. Klima Aging 700 and 900 get three hanging frames instead of two. Klima Meat gets stainless racks and a filter kit. Klima Fish gets extra racks, hook systems and rails. On Klima Aging, the Wi-Fi kit, the Kit.FOMO humidity generator and the OxigenKLIMA option are only offered on System. Choose Easy if you do not need those options. Choose System for guided set-up.

Which size do I need?

Pick the line by the load you will hold at one time. Capacities are suggested working loads, not hard limits. Klima Meat holds 50 to 100 kg on the 500 and 50 to 130 kg on the 700. The 900 takes 60 to 180 kg and the 1500 takes 100 to 260 kg. Klima Aging holds 30 to 50 kg on the 500, rising to 80 to 140 kg on the 1500. Klima Fish holds less in the same body. It takes 20 to 40 kg on the 500 and Vision, and 60 to 100 kg on the 1500. Tell us what you plan to hang and we will size it with you.

What does a Klima cabinet draw in electricity, and which refrigerant does it use?

Every model runs on a 230 V single-phase supply, so no three-phase feed is needed. Klima Meat Easy and Klima Fish draw 0.4 kW on the 700 and 900 and 0.7 kW on the 1500. Klima Aging draws 1 kW on the 700 and 900 and 1.8 kW on the 1500. Klima Meat System is rated higher, at 1.5 kW and 1.9 kW. Each cabinet has a monoblock refrigeration unit, tropicalised to climate class 5, running on R290 refrigerant. Zernike says it chose R290 for low energy use and low environmental impact. Defrost is by hot gas, and the cyclopentane insulation keeps heat gain down.

How do I clean and sanitise the cabinet?

The chamber is AISI 304 stainless steel, and the stainless rails are simple to remove. On Klima Meat, OxigenKLIMA sanitises the chamber with active oxygen rather than chemicals. Zernike states it reaches the ventilation ducts and the refrigeration parts, and it runs as a programmed cycle. Zernike says Klima Fish is fitted with the same device. On Klima Aging it is an option for System models. One Klima Meat owner quoted by Zernike describes two routines: a quick manual clean and an automatic cycle. The optional evaporation kit collects condensate in a heated tray. A data logger records cabinet conditions, and you can download the log in Excel for HACCP records.

What warranty comes with a Klima cabinet?

Every Klima cabinet supplied by Lordwell carries a 5-year parts and labour warranty in the UK. With the optional Wi-Fi kit, the cabinet can take software updates and remote technical help. Zernike says this reduces site visits. It also sends alarm notifications over Wi-Fi. Keep the data logger records, as they show how the cabinet has run. Tell us the model code when you ask for a quote and we will confirm the cover with you.