Utility Solutions for the Food Industry

For an industry that has traditionally dealt with razor-thin margins, rising energy costs pose a triple threat. Clearly, the higher price of oil means it costs more to run plants and move goods to market. But higher oil also means a premium on PET resin, used in plastic packaging. What’s more, some raw material costs are moving higher.

Armstrong recognizes that none of this is good news for an industry struggling with the effects of successive consolidations and shrinking resources. We understand that life in the trenches means wearing many hats and that doing more with less has become a way of life. And as one of the first companies to link energy with concern for the environment, Armstrong has learned how to bring energy down to earth, so to speak. We can help you safeguard food while protecting the environment by reducing energy consumption and, therefore, emissions.

Food for thought—how Armstrong is helping the food industry

For more than a century, Armstrong has been helping our partners around the globe optimize their utility systems. We provide the talent needed to recognize utility system inefficiencies and the manpower to implement the project ideas. We can help with the financing to fund the work necessary to optimize a system.

Some food utility plants tie up as much as 40 percent of their operating costs in energy. By optimizing steam, air and hot water systems, you can dramatically reduce energy consumption. Poorly operating steam/condensate systems and/or inaccurate temperature control of process hot water can also have a negative impact on your product. Armstrong has solved these utility problems at many food facilities.

Most food processors find our experience and expertise in these areas to be most valuable:

• Steam systems—overall design, heat and flash steam recovery, true best-practice system testing and monitoring with Armstrong’s exclusive SteamEye^® and SteamStar^™ software
• Condensate improvement—removal, retrieval, dealing with contaminants and safety issues
• Compressed air systems—overall design and efficiency
• Hot water systems—heating and temperature control of process, sanitary and safety water
• Process air systems—optimizing temperature output from process air dryers
• Service solutions—including energy audits/engineering studies, turnkey installation, operation and maintenance, financing, system assessments
• Insect heat treatment—providing a cost-effective alternative to chemical treatment

After years of experience, we know how to help the food industry. But we won’t know exactly how we can help your facility until we conduct a proprietary needs evaluation. Specialists from Armstrong can visit your location for walkthroughs and follow up with comprehensive system assessments.

While there may be more than one course of action for you, we will recommend and—if you choose—implement the one(s) that will deliver the greatest benefit. The customized, site-specific solution will improve the efficiency of utility systems today and continue to pay dividends for years to come.

Two million reasons why one Fortune 500 food company is grateful

Here’s an example of how we’re helping. Armstrong placed six employees on site at one Fortune 500 food processor. As a result, the company saw its overall utility costs decline in the face of rising energy costs, and it avoided $2 million in capital upgrades. Armstrong is a true partner, taking responsibility for the utility system’s efficiency, reliability and reporting. To review other food industry stories, consult our Partnership Profiles.

To learn how Armstrong is helping food processors around the world with a full range of product, service and training solutions, go to the menu above. Or click this link to arrange a system assessment.