Food company reduces compressed air costs

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Feb 9, 2007

CandL Industrial has assisted Green Isle Foods in reducing its compressed air related energy costs by approximately 25% by integrating a Boge SF 100 frequency-controlled screw compressor.

CandL Industrial has assisted Green Isle Foods in reducing its compressed air related energy costs by approximately 25% by integrating a Boge SF 100 frequency-controlled screw compressor into its existing compressed air system at the Portumna manufacturing site.

Green Isle Foods, a subsidiary of Northern Foods UK, is a leading manufacturer of frozen food products.

At its manufacturing sites in Ireland, Green Isle Foods produces brands such as Goodfella's Pizza and Donegal Catch.

John Grant, the Engineering Team Leader for the Plant Services at Green Isle Foods, recently called on the expertise of long-standing local compressed air provider CandL Industrial for advice on upgrading the existing compressed air system at the manufacturing site in Portumna, Galway.

Compressed air plays an integral role in the manufacturing process and is used within many stages of production from forming to filling and packing the final goods.

As production demands had increased so had the demand for compressed air prompting a system review.

A comprehensive audit was consequently undertaken.

In addition to meeting increased compressed air demand needs, Green Isle Foods was also keen to ensure the system was energy efficient.

CandL Industrial therefore proposed removing one of the smaller, ageing fixed-speed screw compressors and replacing it with a larger capacity Boge SF 100 frequency-controlled screw compressor.

Boge SF series frequency-controlled screw compressors work strictly in accordance with the compressed air demand by producing the exact volume of compressed air at the pressure required.

Frequency control minimises idling time and evens out air demand fluctuations.

This ensures that only the most economical and efficient use of the compressed air is produced regardless of peak or off-peak air demands or fluctuations in production levels.

John Grant already had first-hand knowledge of the Boge SF product in action having previously had a Boge SF 100 installed in the Green Isle Food manufacturing site in Longford some two years ago.

Coupled with the energy efficient needs of the new compressor, a Boge SF 100 frequency-controlled screw compressor was subsequently installed in the Portumna manufacturing site.

John Grant comments: "The new compressed air system is running perfectly".

"We have one final stage to complete (some system pipework) and we will then be able to qualify the energy savings created by integrating the frequency-controlled screw compressor".

"We anticipate that this will be in the region of a 25% reduction in our site compressed air related energy costs".

Northern Foods aims to reduce its overall energy use by 5% year on year from 2006/7 onwards by monitoring gas and electricity usage.

A corporate strategy introduced a War on Waste programme in late 2005/6 and early benchmarking showed a 3% reduction in electricity usage within this period.

John Grant concludes: "CandL Industrial continues to provide us with a high-quality maintenance support programme, covering all of our compressed air needs at both manufacturing sites".