More efficient steam systems in the food industry

In the food industry, steam is essential. Whether you're baking, sterilising, cleaning or heating, your production depends on a reliable steam system. And yet, the installation behind that steam is often overlooked. That’s a missed opportunity—especially since there’s a lot of efficiency to be gained right there.

Reducing energy use without major investments

A large-scale European study showed that many companies could cut energy consumption by up to 20% without major investments, simply by setting up their steam systems more efficiently. This includes improving condensate recovery, adjusting pressure controls, or replacing outdated components.

When replacement is the better option

There comes a point where optimisation is no longer enough. Older systems often face accumulating limitations—poor efficiency, recurring faults, or components that are no longer available. In those cases, replacing the installation may be the smarter long-term move.

Hybrid solutions

That doesn't always mean installing a traditional boiler. New systems tend to be more compact, more efficient, and easier to control. Hybrid boilers, for example, combine a gas-fired burner with an electric option. This gives you the flexibility to respond to the availability of renewable energy or changes in legislation.

Start with a conversation

At Scharff Techniek, the process of improving a steam system starts with an assessment of your current setup. What are you using, where is energy being lost, and where is there room to improve? It’s not a full-scale audit, but it is a solid starting point.

There’s always room for improvement

Based on that first step, we help determine what makes sense going forward. Sometimes the gains come from using residual heat more effectively or reconfiguring the condensate system. In other cases, it may help to replace a single component or rethink the entire setup.

If you’re unsure whether your system is running efficiently, it might be worth getting an outside perspective. The technology is available. The insights are there. The key is making them work for your situation. That’s where we come in.

Based on insights from the European Steam-Up project, which showed an average energy saving of 20% across steam audits at more than 70 industrial sites.

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