Reliable refrigeration control is a critical factor in the pharmaceutical distribution chain. In this context, an installation carried out by São Rafael, a traditional Brazilian manufacturer of cold rooms, received specialized technical support from Full Gauge Controls to ensure proper operation of the refrigeration system at the new distribution center of Grupo Santa Cruz in Paraná state, Brazil.

Grupo Santa Cruz is one of the largest pharmaceutical distributors in Brazil, with 33 distribution centers across the country. At the new logistics center, inaugurated in February 2026 in São José dos Pinhais, a set of 31 solutions from Full Gauge Controls was implemented for the new cold rooms, including electronic controllers and the Sitrad software, used for a complete refrigeration system management.

The facility has 12 condensing units, serving two frozen chambers, two chilled chambers, one loading dock and two climate-controlled areas. In total, the system has 18 evaporators, each equipped with an electronic expansion valve (EEV) controlled by the VX-1025E, responsible for superheat control and full refrigeration functions such as compressor activation, ventilation, and defrost.

The system also includes 12 MT-530E Super controllers, responsible for controlling environmental humidity. The facility’s management is performed through a CONV-32 converter, integrated with the client’s server and the Sitrad software.

During the final stage of the project, while system adjustments were being carried out, Full Gauge Controls provided on-site specialized technical support to ensure maximum system efficiency and reinforce its culture of close partnership with installers, integrators, and clients.

After a detailed on-site analysis, it was identified that one electronic expansion valve was allowing an unintended refrigerant flow, interfering with the proper operation of the pump-down process.

The issue was related to installation-stage conditions, such as the presence of impurities in the system or thermal exposure during welding procedures. These situations may occur in complex projects that require fine-tuning during the final stage of the project.

Replacing the component allowed the controller to resume normal operation, ensuring precise control of the temperature and superheat parameters defined for the application.

During the service visit, the Full Gauge Controls team, together with the installation team, also identified and corrected other issues, contributing to stabilizing the operation of the cold rooms and enabling the project delivery.

During system analysis, changes were also identified in some critical controller parameters. Through the Sitrad Event Log, it was possible to visualize when these changes occurred, and which parameters had been modified.

In large-scale facilities such as this, Sitrad becomes indispensable, as it allows real-time monitoring of all system variables, facilitating diagnostics and fine-tuning during startup and operation.

Using the software’s tools, it was possible to analyze the condensing units’ performance, adjust parameters to obtain the best performance from the equipment, and synchronize defrost cycles according to the client’s operational schedules, especially during goods receiving periods, ensuring a greater system efficiency.

In addition to recording all the performed interventions, Sitrad allows for complete remote facility management, with secure access via internet, real-time alarms, and continuous data history, significantly contributing to increased safety, traceability, and performance in refrigeration system operation.

The specialized technical support provided by Full Gauge Controls professionals, either on-site or remotely, is one of the defining characteristics of the company’s performance over its more than 40 years of history.

This close relationship with the market contributes to strengthening partnerships and ensuring that each facility achieves a high degree of reliability, performance, and operational safety, especially in critical applications such as the pharmaceutical logistics cold chain.