Inside the Cold Room: Chris Kelly – Senior Commissioning Engineer
When did you join Lightfoot and what do you do in your own time?
My Name is Chris Kelly; I joined the Lightfoot team in February 2014. I am a keen guitarist, I love to watch my children play football – who Lightfoot sponsored the kit for, AFC Totton U14 girls’ team (UP THE SIKAS!!!) and I love to cook a curry.
WHAT DOES YOUR ROLE INVOLVE?
My Role within Lightfoot is very diverse, from Design of new systems, giving technical advice, supporting our maritime customers to maintain availability of their vessels, manufacturing and rebuilding of Lightfoot’s’ low magnetic signature compressors, building and installation new systems. I think that’s it!
WHAT’S YOUR CAREER BACKGROUND?
I have spent my entire career in the refrigeration industry, having started straight from school in 1987 when I began a four-year apprenticeship.
The first 12 years of my career were predominantly spent installing and commissioning bespoke air conditioning systems for outside broadcast television vehicles and Formula 1 hospitality units. This role took me all over the world. It sounds glamorous, but in reality you tend to see little more than the workplace and the hotel. That said, I was fortunate enough to receive full paddock passes for many Formula 1 Grand Prix events, which certainly helped make up for it.
During this period, I developed a strong understanding of electrical control systems, an essential skill for any refrigeration engineer. I was also heavily involved in research and development, investigating and developing new refrigeration concepts and technologies.
The remainder of my career, prior to joining Lightfoot, was focused primarily on the service and commissioning of chilled water plants and air conditioning systems, further broadening my technical expertise across a wide range of cooling and HVAC applications.
What are the most rewarding and challenging parts of your role?
The most rewarding part of my job is customer satisfaction, knowing that you achieved the best outcome that you can, if the customer is happy, the ship is sailing, then you have done a good job. The most challenging is having to spend time away from my family.
WHAT’S ONE THING PEOPLE MIGHT BE SUPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR JOB?
That’s a difficult one – I don’t think they would be surprised about anything.
WHAt’S A PROJECT OR ACHIEVEMENT YOU’RE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF?
There are two things, and as it happens, both have been with Lightfoot. The first being just after I Joined, working with Steve (Buck) Rodgers who is now the MD. We were working on the R245fa reclaim machine, after many attempts failing to get the right purity we never gave up, making many tweaks and system changes, we finally got that 99.9% purity and it was a good feeling. It’s a great system and saves a lot of R245fa being wasted/incinerated, not to mention the positive effect to the environment.
The second thing is the Lightfoot LIDSS system, taking this from firstly a wooden prototype to finally the finished product which is now in use with the RAF Typhoon fleet and several other air forces around the world.
WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN (WORK OR PERSONAL)?
My Father (God Bless His Soul) always taught that it “costs nothing to be nice.”
WHICH BOOK, PODCAST OR PERSON HAS INFLUENCED YOU RECENTLY?
I would have to say Vylodymyr Zalenskyy – His resilience and commitment to the Ukrainian people is commendable.
