Tefcold CW5 Drop-In Chilled Buffet Display Unit 170 Ltr

The Tefcold CW5 is a drop-in refrigerated well designed to sit flush within a buffet or servery counter, presenting chilled food at safe serving temperatures without the bulk of a freestanding unit. It is built for operations where the counter itself forms part of the food display — hotels, function venues, staff restaurants, and catering establishments running extended buffet service.

The unit uses static cooling to maintain a consistent temperature across the well throughout service. Static systems are well regarded in buffet applications because they operate quietly and avoid the airflow that can dry out uncovered food. Recovery after loading is measured rather than rapid, so it is best suited to pre-chilled gastronorm pans rather than warm or ambient product. Loading chilled food from the outset will help the unit maintain safe temperatures with less effort.

From an operational standpoint, the practical advantages are straightforward:

• Integrates cleanly into a custom or modular counter without a visible footprint
• Digital temperature display gives front-of-house staff a visible check at a glance
• Compatible with standard gastronorm pans, so no specialist servingware is needed
• Stainless steel construction stands up to daily cleaning and heavy service use
• 170-litre capacity accommodates a broad spread of dishes simultaneously

Installation requires a prepared counter aperture sized to the unit’s dimensions and a nearby mains power supply. Because the unit drops into a counter void, adequate clearance beneath the counter for the refrigeration components and ventilation is important — this should be confirmed before fabrication or modification of the counter begins. The unit is not suitable for installation in an enclosed, unventilated void.

The CW5 is well suited to hotels, leisure venues, and contract caterers running regular buffet service where presentation and food safety compliance both matter. Smaller operations with lighter buffet requirements may find a lower-capacity drop-in sufficient, while high-volume venues running multiple stations may benefit from a larger or multi-well configuration.

If you are planning a counter build or refurbishment around this unit, it is worth having a conversation with us first — getting the void dimensions and ventilation right at the design stage saves complications later.