The poultry sector has experienced significant growth within the food and beverage industry, a trend expected to continue with projections estimating a 6% annual increase through 2028. This is one of several burgeoning areas, including pet food and plant-based foods, that highlight the necessity for food and beverage producers to enhance productivity and efficiency to meet increasing consumer demand and capitalize on new market opportunities.
While discussions about optimizing efficiency in the food and beverage automation space often focus on industrial enclosures designed to maintain high hygienic standards, energy-efficient climate control units also play a pivotal role. These units facilitate more precise and targeted cooling, helping manufacturers reduce energy usage and costs.
Why Energy-Efficient Climate Control Units Matter
1. Facilitating Diverse Production Lines
The food and beverage industry continues to diversify, with the growing popularity of plant-based meat alternatives, dairy-free milk, gluten-free snacks, and other product categories. Traditional food and beverage producers are now expanding their offerings to include these alternatives while maintaining production volumes for existing products.
This concurrent production of diverse product lines within the same facility requires cooling systems that can handle multiple lines efficiently. Manufacturers need solutions that offer configuration flexibility and reduce the automation footprint.
Rittal’s new Blue e+ S smart enclosure cooling unit is designed for superior deployment flexibility, providing precise, highly targeted cooling outputs. Available in lower output categories of 0.3 kW, 0.5 kW, and 1 kW, these units help reduce energy consumption and costs. Innovative heat pipe and inverter technology eliminate the need for a compressor or expansion valve, significantly cutting the energy required to operate the unit by up to 75%.
Evaluating current climate systems to identify deficiencies or liabilities is the first step towards better understanding the cooling unit infrastructure needed for multiple production lines. A Rittal climate control efficiency analysis can consolidate the number of cooling units without sacrificing performance or output.
2. Aligning with Sustainability Initiatives
A survey by the International Data Corporation revealed that 40% of food and beverage manufacturers prioritize sustainable manufacturing. This mirrors consumer expectations for eco-friendly processes and presents opportunities for manufacturers to use natural resources more efficiently.
One way to reduce environmental impact is by eliminating harmful components or chemicals commonly used in industrial cooling units. This aligns with the UL/CSA 60335-2-40 Standard, mandating the elimination of environmentally damaging chemicals by January 1, 2024, for products certified to UL 1995.
The Blue e+ S series incorporates engineering innovations that significantly reduce carbon emissions by using a refrigerant with a 56% lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) compared to similar units. Additionally, these units feature a fully integrated IIoT interface for digital monitoring and condition reporting, allowing manufacturers to monitor their cooling units 24/7.
Remote monitoring, alerts, notifications, and user-friendly LED displays enable precise temperature adjustments based on cooling requirements, reducing energy waste and supporting sustainability compliance.
3. Enhancing Sanitation
Energy-efficient enclosure cooling units can also enhance sanitation and hygiene in food and beverage production facilities. The Blue e+ cooling unit not only reduces energy costs by up to 75% but also features hose-proof hoods that protect against water or chemical ingress during washdowns. The hood design minimizes liquid pooling, reducing the risk of bacterial contamination.
Our air-to-water heat exchangers come standard with a 30° angled roof design, water-resistant and joint-free seals, flexible water connections, and smooth external surfaces to reduce dust buildup. This is particularly beneficial for facilities processing nuts used in dairy and meat-free products.
Conclusion
Rittal’s energy-efficient enclosure cooling units enable food and beverage manufacturers to think outside the box when designing automation systems. Our units support a more energy-conscious approach to manufacturing while optimizing processes, enhancing sanitation, and aligning with sustainability initiatives. By adopting Rittal’s innovative solutions, manufacturers can meet the demands of a diverse and growing market efficiently and responsibly.
