Cooling Tunnel Finance

Q: Do I need a refrigerated tunnel or will an ambient one do?

This depends on what you're cooling. A product that simply needs time to cool before packing, such as a baked good coming out of the oven, can often use an ambient tunnel, while a chocolate-coated product usually needs a refrigerated tunnel to set the coating properly at the right temperature and achieve a good finish. Your enrober or production line supplier will usually specify which type your product needs.

Q: Should the tunnel be bought as part of the same order as the enrober or oven?

Yes, this is strongly recommended, since tunnel length and belt speed need to be matched to the throughput of the equipment feeding it. Buying and financing them as one project from the same supplier avoids a mismatch between how fast product is produced and how long it has to cool before packing.

Q: Can I finance a used cooling tunnel?

Yes, most lenders will finance a used tunnel from a reputable dealer, provided it's in working order and, for a refrigerated unit, the refrigeration system has been checked. It's worth confirming belt width and length compatibility with your existing or planned production line before buying used.

Q: How quickly can cooling tunnel finance be approved?

Most applications are approved within 24 hours, and purchases under £20,000 are often approved the same day given a clean credit history and a clear supplier quote. Larger refrigerated or multi-pass tunnels typically take a little longer to approve, particularly where the tunnel is bundled with an enrober or baking line on the same agreement, since the lender will want to review the full specification of the paired equipment.

Spread the cost of a bakery or confectionery cooling tunnel from £5,000 to £50,000+ with flexible finance options: HP, lease or refinance. Compare rates from 40+ lenders.

Can you finance a cooling tunnel?

Yes, cooling tunnels are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £5,000 to £50,000, and most deals are written over 24–60 months with a deposit of around 10–20%. Decisions typically take 24 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

Typical Cost

£5k – £50k

Approval Speed

24 hours

Same-day for < £20k

Rates From

6.0% APR

What would a cooling tunnel cost per month?

Cooling Tunnel price (ex VAT) £18,000

Deposit 10%

Agreement term 60 months

Annual interest rate 9%

Balloon payment £0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical cooling tunnel price. Indicative only, not a quote.

Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate: From 6.6% APR
Term: 24–60 months
Deposit: 10–20%
Ownership: Yours at the end
Best for: A bakery buying a cooling tunnel to match a new enrober or baking line

Finance Lease

Rate: From 6.0% APR
Term: 24–60 months
Deposit: None required
Ownership: Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for: Bundling the tunnel with the enrober or oven it's paired with into one deductible payment

Operating Lease

Rate: From 6.9% APR
Term: 24–36 months
Deposit: None required
Ownership: Return at end
Best for: Producers scaling cooling capacity alongside a growing coated or baked product range

Representative example

On a purchase price of £18,000: a 10% deposit of £1,800, then 48 monthly payments of £380 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £20,040, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification	Guide price	Type
Ambient Cooling Tunnel (short belt)	£5,000 – £14,000	Ambient Belt Cooling Tunnel
Refrigerated Cooling Tunnel	£15,000 – £30,000	Refrigerated Cooling Tunnel
Extended Multi-Pass Cooling Tunnel	£30,000 – £50,000	High-Throughput Cooling Tunnel

Tax benefits

Cooling tunnels qualify for the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), letting you deduct the full cost from taxable profits in the year of purchase, subject to the AIA limit in place at the time. HP agreements allow capital allowances. Lease payments are fully deductible from profits as they're paid. Refrigerant servicing and energy costs for a refrigerated tunnel are ongoing and sit outside the equipment finance agreement.

Market context

Cooling tunnels are bought by bakeries and confectionery producers that need product to cool or set at a controlled rate before packing, most often paired with an enrobing machine, a baking line, or a depositor producing filled or coated products. An ambient tunnel suits products that just need time and airflow to cool, while a refrigerated tunnel is needed where a coating, such as chocolate, needs to set at a specific temperature to get the right finish. Tunnel length and belt speed are matched to the line it's paired with, so a cooling tunnel is almost always specified and bought as part of the same project as the equipment feeding it rather than as a standalone purchase.

Bad credit?

Several of our 200+ lenders specialise in businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options exist. Checking your options here does not affect your credit score, because we do not run a credit search to match you. A lender will run their own checks only if you decide to apply.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a refrigerated tunnel or will an ambient one do?