Specialist forums

Food industry is undergoing a profound transformation driven by the need to improve product quality, reduce energy consumption, and ensure sustainability across the cold chain. Industrial refrigeration plays a critical role, not only in food preservation but also in controlled processing applications such as fruit ripening and cheese seasoning, where environmental parameters directly influence product characteristics.

This presentation will explore the latest advances in refrigeration and controlled atmosphere solutions for food storage and processing. Particular focus will be given to applications requiring precise control of temperature, humidity, and gas composition, key factors in processes such as fruit ripening, maturation of dairy products, and long-term storage of fresh produce.

The presentation will also showcase how CAREL solutions can be tailored for the agri-food sector, emphasising their ability to deliver high-precision environmental control, remote monitoring and system optimisation.

This presentation examines the growing role of High Temperature Industrial Heat Pumps (HTHPs) in the decarbonisation of industrial heating and the transition toward net-zero emissions. It outlines the global energy challenge facing industry, where heating and cooling account for a significant share of total energy consumption, and highlights the need to replace fossil-fuel-based process heating with efficient electrified solutions.

The presentation explains how HTHPs operate, upgrading low-grade waste heat into useful industrial process heat at temperatures ranging from 90 °C to over 200 °C. Core thermodynamic principles are introduced, including coefficient of performance (COP), optimal condensation conditions, the effect of source temperatures on efficiency, and the advantages of multi-stage compression for achieving higher temperature lifts while reducing energy demand.

Several compressor technologies are compared, with discussion of their respective strengths, operating ranges, and suitability for industrial applications. The presentation also explores the increasing importance of vapor recompression (MVR) systems and integrated process control strategies for steam generation and high-efficiency heat recovery.

A substantial focus is placed on refrigerant selection and environmental regulation. Natural refrigerants such as R-717 (ammonia), water, and R744 (CO2) are assessed alongside HFC, HFO, and HCFO alternatives, considering thermodynamic performance, safety, toxicity, flammability, global warming potential (GWP), ozone depletion potential (ODP), PFAS concerns, and future F-gas compliance requirements. The concept of the “ideal” working fluid is discussed from both technical and regulatory perspectives.

Finally, the presentation reviews market trends, technology maturity, and future opportunities for HTHPs, emphasising their strategic importance for industrial electrification, waste heat utilisation, regulatory preparedness, and long-term sustainable manufacturing.

Commercial refrigeration accounts for a significant share of a food retailer's energy bill, and the evaporating temperature is one of the most powerful levers for efficiency. Every degree of increase translates directly into higher compressor COP—yet many installations leave this potential untapped because maintaining stable, very low superheat at the evaporator outlet has historically been difficult with R-744 (CO2), given its steep pressure-enthalpy curve near saturation.
This presentation introduces CAREL's integrated control strategy for transcritical CO2 food retail systems, built on three complementary products: the new MPXPro case controller, the pRack rack controller and the boss supervisory platform. Together they form a coordinated ecosystem that makes precision superheat management not only achievable but scalable across an entire store.

The new MPXPro drives step electronic expansion valves with high-resolution modulation, supported by Ultracap technology guaranteeing safe valve closure during power interruptions. Operating at very low superheat setpoints—while avoiding liquid return—demands faster, more accurate valve response than previous hardware allowed. MPXPro's enhanced algorithms and integrated current sensors enable stable operation at superheat values that maximise evaporator heat transfer and reduce the logarithmic mean temperature difference between refrigerant and product.

pRack coordinates compressor capacity and suction pressure floating in real time, continuously targeting the highest sustainable evaporating temperature consistent with cabinet requirements. The system adapts dynamically to actual thermal load rather than fixed, conservative setpoints.

boss closes the loop at store level: supervisory algorithms aggregate data from all MPXPro nodes, detect deviations and issue corrective actions before energy waste or food safety risks arise. Measured COP improvements and energy savings from field installations will be presented.

In the current refrigeration market, the role of the installer is becoming increasingly strategic. The growing technological complexity, combined with the increasing shortage of qualified resources, makes it essential to optimize time and activities in the field.

In this scenario, CAREL offers a range of plug & play solutions designed to simplify the work of installers, minimizing the complexity of field operations while ensuring the best system performance at the same time. CAREL range for installers stands out for intuitive, ready-to-use products designed to cover a wide range of applications in the refrigeration sector.

Starting from small projects or repair activities, where IJW ensures fast installation and smart configuration, to electronic expansion valve solutions where EVD ice kit integrates all components into a single, easy-to-install package, up to the management of complete systems with boss-micro panel, which centralizes all devices into a single point of access: CAREL provides a complete range of user-friendly products to make field work faster, simpler and more reliable.

To address installers’ needs, these products are supported by a complete ecosystem of tools designed to assist at every stage of their work: from product selection with CPQ selection tool, to training through free video courses, commissioning with Applica, the smartphone app for new-generation controllers, designed for installers, and on-field support through dedicated tutorial videos and simplified documentation.

The increasing focus on energy efficiency, indoor air quality and cybersecurity is reshaping the design of HVAC ventilation systems in commercial buildings. In this context, solutions are required to go beyond thermodynamic optimisation, integrating digital control, system reliability and compliance with emerging regulatory frameworks such as the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). 
This presentation outlines an integrated approach to HVAC air ventilation system based on a secure-by-design architecture, where each system component contributes to both performance and compliance.  

Control is a key enabler across all components. Dedicated unit control optimises the operation of ventilation units, while building HVAC system control coordinates multiple devices, from heat generation to lighting management. This extends to supervisory platforms, enabling monitoring, data analysis and continuous optimisation.

Within this framework, all connected devices are part of a broader digital ecosystem that requires alignment with cybersecurity principles and CRA requirements. In this perspective, compliance and performance converge at component level: in line with CRA principles, internal elements such as heat exchangers and humidifiers contribute not only to system integrity but also to energy efficiency and indoor air quality. Heat exchangers enable effective heat recovery while minimising pressure losses, while humidification solutions, when properly designed and controlled, support sustainable energy use while ensuring accurate humidity control. 

By embedding secure-by-design principles at all levels, from field devices to supervisory systems, the proposed approach supports CRA compliance and ensures robust operation in increasingly connected environments.