SKIERS and snowboarders hoping to brush up on their technique can do so at the UK's biggest indoor ski village thanks to Derby-based refrigeration specialists Cryotech Systems.
The recent opening of 'Chill FactorE' in Manchester marks the successful completion of Tyco Flow Control's third project with refrigeration specialists, Cryotech.
The £31m development will include the UK's longest and the world's widest real snow indoor ski slope (180 metres long and 100 metres wide at the base), as well as a luge run and a children's winter wonderland.
A range of Keystone valves and actuators, chosen because of their certification to operate at temperatures as low as -15.5 degrees C, are at the heart of the UK's biggest indoor, real snow Alpine Ski village.
The package of nearly a hundred Keystone valves comprises F320 butterfly valves controlled by Premitork electric actuators, F40 commissioning valves and F85 check valves.
These products perform an important role in the operation of the blast coolers which are positioned around the slopes.
At night, when the ambient air temperature within the closed complex is lowered to -6 degrees C, a mixture of compressed air and chilled water is fired into the air which then falls as snow. During the day when the centre is open the temperature is maintained at around -1.5 degree C.
Typical snow depth on the slopes is around 400mm.
Tyco Flow Control was able to document the products' compatibility with low temperature operation as a matter of course - something that a number of other potential suppliers were unable to do.
Proficient skiers and snowboarders as well as beginners seeking tuition and a first time experience, will all find just what they are looking for.