Ardo, a leading producer of frozen vegetables, fruits, and herbs, is strongly committed to sustainability. This commitment is a driving force behind their participation in Rethink Energy 4 Food, a four-year research project aimed at accelerating the energy transition within the Flemish food industry.
Through the project, Ardo discovered that POM West-Vlaanderen provides smart measurement cases for businesses. Jonas Soetaert, utilities & energy engineer at Ardo Koolskamp, states: "We eagerly jumped on board to be the first to use the energy measurement case." These mobile tools, launched in collaboration with Howest, UGent, and Sirris, help production companies in West Flanders improve their processes.
From April to June, Ardo utilized the energy measurement case to accurately map the electricity consumption of cooling units with various fan types in four freezer rooms. The measurements accounted for seasonal factors such as ambient temperatures and usage variations. The results indicated that more recent fans consume significantly less energy.
The main advantage of the measurement case is its mobility and ease of integration, according to Soetaert. The case can be connected to installations without requiring a temporary shutdown. The collected data is sent via a built-in SIM card to an online portal, enabling continuous monitoring and analysis. This reliable practical data will assist Ardo in future decisions regarding fan replacement.
POM West-Vlaanderen offers a total of seven variants of these smart, mobile measurement cases for production companies. These modular tools, including the energy measurement case, flow case, and cybersecurity measurement case, enable entrepreneurs to substantiate insights with data and implement targeted improvement actions.
