In any foodservice operation, the final plate is only as good as the systems that support it. For decades, American Panel has been behind the scenes making sure those systems — especially when it comes to cold storage and food safety — are doing their job right.
From fully custom walk-ins to its industry-leading HURRiCHILL blast chiller line, American Panel’s mission is clear: protect the menu, ensure safety, and make kitchen workflows better.
“Our products aren’t just built for today’s food safety standards — they’re designed to exceed them,” said Jesse Erskin, national sales manager. “From preserving freshness to reducing labor stress, high-performance chilling is a game-changer in the modern kitchen.”
American Panel stands out in a crowded market for its commitment to engineering excellence and product flexibility. The company’s walk-ins are 100% U.S.-made in Ocala, FL, using a foam-in-place process that delivers consistent insulation and structural integrity.
American Panel also fully assembles every walk-in job in their shop before sending it out to the customer. This allows for quality control to provide a final look at every walk-in before it heads out the door, ensuring superior quality and makes on-site assembly easier.
American Panel also offers the most comprehensive lineup of blast chillers in the industry. Through its longstanding partnership with established engineering partners in Italy – and final assembly and testing in the U.S. – the company delivers blast chilling solutions that combine top-tier performance with practical affordability.
Erskin explains “They’ve been doing this for decades, and we bring that expertise together with our U.S. manufacturing to lead the market in both design and function.”
This collaboration has led to a product lineup that performs across the board, from compact three-pan units to massive triple-cart systems.
No matter the size, every HURRiCHILL unit is engineered to rapidly bring hot food from 160°F to 38°F in as little as 90 minutes— well below HACCP compliance windows. That consistency across all units helps kitchens of every size maintain safety, reduce waste, and improve prep efficiency.
Earlier this year at the NAFEM Show in Atlanta, American Panel introduced a suite of updates to its walk-in and blast chilling lines. On the walk-in side, the new AP Chill Cloud now delivers live temperature monitoring integrated directly into its IC Plus controller system — no third-party add-ons or costly subscriptions required.
A new 15’ self-supported ceiling panel option for walk-ins was also launched, requiring no additional roof support spanning up to 15’ 5”, which gives architects and consultants more flexibility in their design specs.
In blast chilling, American Panel rolled out its next-gen self-contained R290 refrigeration system units, a more eco-conscious option that doesn’t compromise their traditional HURRiCHiLL performance.
“These are not minor upgrades — they’re tools that make foodservice kitchens safer, smarter, and more adaptable,” Erskin noted.
While warranties are an important part of any equipment sale, American Panel has taken post-sale support far beyond the industry standard. Every HURRiCHiLL unit now comes with a three-year parts and labor warranty.
“We tripled our warranty – not because we had to, but because the data showed we could,” Erskin noted when talking about the durability and reliability of the HURRiCHiLL line of blast chillers. More importantly, there is an entire service support system that stands behind it.
Notably, American Panel is preparing to launch a live video troubleshooting platform to support service technicians in the field. The idea? Real-time walk-throughs with in-house experts to diagnose and fix issues faster, minimizing downtime and ensuring food safety isn’t compromised during repairs.
“It’s about speed, clarity, and getting systems back online without guesswork,” Erskin added.
This isn’t about shipping equipment and calling it a day. From pre-construction to commissioning to service calls years down the road, American Panel is in it for the long term. “Nothing we do is short-term,” Erskin concluded. “That’s why when operators open their next location, we want American Panel to be the first name they think of.”
Customization is the hallmark of American Panel. Whether it’s shaping a walk-in to fit an unusual architectural space or integrating advanced monitoring tech into a consultant’s spec, flexibility is baked into every project.
That hands-on approach extends throughout the planning, installation, and support process. “Our goal is to make it easy for the consultant to spec us, simple for the dealer to install us, and seamless for the operator to run us,” Erskin outlined.
Operators, consultants, and dealers can get detailed information on American Panel’s walk-in and blast chilling solutions by visiting their website. There you’ll find spec sheets, instructional videos, and direct contact info for your local rep.
You can also call their main office at 1-800-327-3015 to speak directly with a territory manager. Whether you’re planning a new kitchen or upgrading your cold chain strategy, American Panel is ready to help you do it right — and keep it safe.
