To meet the growing demand for packaging sliced meats and other perishable foods, companies are replacing multiple small vacuum pump systems with centralised vacuum solutions to help reduce oil exhaust and noise levels in production facilities.
Finnish meat processor HKScan has turned to Pneumofore vacuum solutions for their production site in Świnoujście, Poland. The first installation dates back to 2005, when the company introduced a centralised double-stage vacuum system consisting of three UV16 vacuum pumps. These machines are coupled with a roots pump at the second stage and achieve an absolute pressure level of 0.05 mbar(a). The silent operation and exceptionally clean exhaust of the UV Series pumps, along with the use of H2-class food coolant that meets NSF standards, have fully satisfied the customer's expectations and specific application needs. As a result, two years later, the company upgraded the vacuum system by adding another double-stage UV30 unit to meet increasing production demands. All four Pneumofore units have been running smoothly since their installation.
Other companies in the food packaging sector have also opted for Pneumofore systems to enhance their packaging processes, most of which occur in cooling rooms. Located near Venice in Northern Italy, the food manufacturer Franzin Carni relied on UV Series vacuum pumps to improve packaging speed, eliminate oil mist, and reduce heat generation, along with excessive noise from the previous system. This earlier system consisted of four units with a capacity of 250 m³/h each and two units with a capacity of 170 m³/h, all installed inside a 2°C cooling room. In 2002, Pneumofore replaced them with a centralised system made up of one double-stage UV16 vacuum pump that generates 4 mbar(a) pressure.
The new system increased packaging speed from 20 to 24 packs per minute, resulting in a 20% efficiency gain and reduced operational costs. Moreover, the cooling room operators were as pleased with the improvements as company management, which prompted them to upgrade the system four years later with an additional UV16 pump, bringing further benefits to production. Thanks to the engineering and piping design support provided by Pneumofore—available free as a standard service—the system was installed on the roof of the building, outside the production facility, and has been operating without interruption or the need for overhauls for more than a decade.
Such positive outcomes arise when the solution provider and the customer collaborate on a comprehensive application analysis, ensuring that improvements in one area do not compromise performance in another. With decades of experience, Pneumofore has established a strong reputation as a vacuum solution provider in the food packaging industry. The optimal vacuum level allows for higher packaging speeds, and the evacuated humidity is effectively managed by the Pneumofore UV H pumps. The unique feature of air-cooled centralised vacuum systems is truly remarkable.