Energy savings in the food industry
A food plant pays for energy twice: on the bill, and whenever a voltage drop lasting a fraction of a second stops a line or spoils a batch. We combine micro-interruption protection with voltage optimisation and write the saving into the contract.
Energy challenges in the sector
Micro-interruptions in sterile areas
A loss of voltage lasting a fraction of a second is enough to stop a continuous line or damage electronics in a sterile area. The result is downtime, a restart and lost product.
Cooling and processes that never stop
Cold rooms, compressors and thermal processes run around the clock, so every percent of energy saved turns into a steady, predictable gain.
Power quality on lines with drives
Drives, inverters and lighting distort the current and draw reactive power, which loads the transformer and can trigger charges.
Measured results
Measured energy savings at food plants and wineries running the technology we offer:
Salumificio Sfreddo · sterile production
10.0% energy saving
Jermann · winery
9.1% energy saving
Cantina Valpantena
8.1% energy saving
Villani
6.4% energy saving
Morato Pane
6.2% energy saving
Salumificio Sfreddo: 10.0% saving, 2.2-year payback, 420 t less CO₂ a year. Voltage fluctuations reduced by 95% and power factor penalties eliminated.
At a tomato processing plant in Italy, a single ICO-M500 protects the sterile area: in August 2025 it compensated 9 micro-interruptions, and none has caused a stoppage since installation.
Frequently asked questions
Does ICO-M replace a UPS in a food plant?
Not where minutes of autonomy are needed. ICO-M handles short events, up to one second at full load, while a UPS covers longer outages. On many sites the two work together, and ICO-M spares the UPS batteries.
How much energy can a food plant save?
We guarantee 5–9% of active energy in the contract. At the food plants described here, measured savings ranged from 6.2% to 10%.
How is the saving measured?
Under the international IPMVP protocol, Option A or B, with monitoring in Schneider Electric PME. If the result falls short of the contract, we pay the difference.