Imperial Meats invests in optimizing its refrigeration system

Continuous improvement of industrial processes

Imperial Meat Products is a leading player in the food industry, where operational reliability, food safety and energy-intensive processes are crucial for continuity and growth. As part of its strategy to optimize and continuously improve its value chain, Imperial Meat Products invested significantly in the modernization of its refrigeration systems. Furthermore, this modernization is fully aligned with the new F-gas regulations, helping to ensure long-term operational continuity. For Imperial, cooling is not a supporting technology, but core infrastructure. Therefore, the key challenge was to implement this project without causing any disruption to its operations. Encon helped the company design cooling concepts, critically compare contractors or assess the financial impact over the entire lifespan.

Concept-driven guidance from design to tendering

Throughout the entire process, Encon acted as an extension of the management of Imperial Meat Products and guarded the interests of the customer with due care. Encon started with a thorough concept analysis, in which various cooling solutions with natural refrigerants were calculated technically and financially. This not only looked at the investment cost, but especially at total cost of ownership, energy consumption, maintenance, reliability and future-proofing. In this phase, Encon helped Imperial to identify optimisations such as heat recovery, which offered both energy and financial added value. Based on the chosen concept, Encon developed a detailed preliminary design and performance specifications. Encon then supported the company through the entire tendering and negotiation with contractors. Quotations were critically analysed, designs were adjusted and prices were negotiated sharply.

An optimized business investment

As part of its long-term investment strategy, Imperial Meat Products completed a refrigeration modernisation project valued at more than €10 million, working closely with Encon throughout the process.

Through optimizations in the design phase and sharp tendering, a cost saving of 5 to 10% on the investment cost was achieved, good for a considerable absolute saving. In addition, more than 200,000 euros in subsidies were secured for the use of natural refrigerants and heat recovery.

The new refrigeration installations improve energy efficiency, support long-term operational performance and fully align with current and anticipated regulatory requirements. Beyond delivering environmental benefits, the investment also reduces operating costs and provides a modern refrigeration infrastructure designed to support the company's future growth.

Through close cooperation between Imperial Meat Products and Encon, what began as a planned infrastructure upgrade became a strategic investment that delivers long-term operational and financial value.