Food processing and cold storage

Climate-driven disruption and growing demand are intensifying global food resilience. Food production must rise 50–60% by 2050 — while 40% of food is lost or wasted today. Danfoss offers specialized solutions for both food processing and cold storage, addressing the unique demands of each sector.

Explore our solutions

Enhance food safety, lower operational costs, and boost efficiency with Danfoss solutions for food processing and cold storage.

The global food processing and cold storage industries are facing a confluence of pressures. Tightening regulations, volatile energy prices, and the unceasing demand for greater efficiency are forcing owners and operators to reconsider every aspect of their facilities. From ensuring food quality and safety to minimizing operational costs and environmental footprint, the challenges are significant.

Danfoss offers a comprehensive portfolio of solutions, including temperature control, sustainable refrigeration, process automation, hydraulic systems for processing machinery, and advanced cold storage controls. Explore here, how Danfoss is partnering with the industry to navigate these complexities, delivering innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and ensure compliance.

Achieve more sustainable productivity in your operations, to secure food safety, reach climate targets, and minimize operating expenditure. Extend the uptime, efficiency, and longevity of your systems. Decarbonize painlessly, by using less water and power while boosting output and profitability.

Are you a food or beverage producer? 

We can help you optimize your business while serving your customers in the best way. Use solutions from Danfoss to improve uptime and reduce running costs, while meeting your ESG targets at the same time. We offer you ways to accelerate reliability and productivity, reduce spare part inventory, and minimize energy as well as water consumption.

Are you a system integrator or original equipment manufacturer (OEM)? 

We can assist you in achieving decarbonization without sacrificing profitability. Our premium solutions can enhance the performance of your cold chain and machines, making them more appealing to customers. We also help you and your customers improve the sustainability of your equipment, improving production efficiency and catering to other commercial needs.

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Energy efficiency and cost reduction

In an industry where energy can be one of the largest operational expenses, reducing consumption is paramount. For food processing and packing lines, this means optimizing motor control and heat recovery. In cold chain and refrigeration, it's about intelligent control and high-efficiency components. For material handling, it's about electrifying and optimizing movement. Danfoss solutions, such as variable frequency drives (VFDs), are key to unlocking significant energy savings across all these areas.

Food quality and safety

Maintaining the integrity of the food supply chain is non-negotiable. This requires precise temperature and process control, from the processing line to the consumer's table. For food processing, this means hygienic and reliable components. For the cold chain, it means robust refrigeration systems that can handle temperature fluctuations. Danfoss offers a range of technologies designed to ensure food safety, including high-precision sensors and control systems that provide the necessary oversight and reliability.

Sustainability and compliance

The food industry is under increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact and comply with evolving regulations. This includes phasing out harmful refrigerants, reducing water consumption, and minimizing waste. Sector integration, where waste heat from refrigeration is used for other purposes, is a key strategy. Danfoss is at the forefront of developing sustainable solutions, including low-GWP refrigerant options and technologies that enable heat reuse, helping businesses to meet their environmental goals and stay ahead of regulations.

Explore the latest insights into food processing and cold storage

Applications

Discover Danfoss solutions for food processing and cold storage

Processing and packaging lines

Danfoss provides a range of solutions for processing and packaging lines that enhance efficiency and reliability. Our variable frequency drives ensure precise control of conveyors, mixers, and other equipment, reducing energy consumption and mechanical stress. Robust hydraulic systems from Danfoss power reliable performance in demanding mixing, lifting and processing tasks. Our hygienic sensors and valves are designed for clean-in-place (CIP) environments, ensuring food safety without compromising on performance. Danfoss solutions include:

Mixing, dosing, extruders and ingredient handling
In-line conveyors and accumulation
Form, fill, seal, and packaging
Inspection and QA

Refrigeration

Maintaining the integrity of the cold chain is non-negotiable, and Danfoss delivers reliability at every stage. Our industry-leading refrigeration components, including compressors, valves, and sensors, create the foundation for stable and efficient cooling from farm to fork. Drastically reduce energy consumption using our intelligent VFDs. Build reliable, energy-efficient refrigeration systems, including mobile refrigeration units, ensuring precise and stable control for sustainable performance - safeguarding the quality of temperature-sensitive products. Our solutions are compatible with a wide range of refrigerants, including natural refrigerants like CO2 and ammonia. Danfoss solutions include:

Cold room including evaporator and engine room
Freezer and hardener
Liquid tanks including pasteurization system
Component for stationary and mobile refrigeration units
Control room

Utilities and sanitation

Utilities and sanitation
Efficient and reliable utilities are essential for any food processing facility. Danfoss offers a range of solutions for optimizing heating, cooling, water management, and clean-in-place (CIP) sanitation systems. Our VFDs control the speed of pumps and fans, matching performance to demand and saving energy. Our high-pressure pumps powered by durable Danfoss motors work in tandem with robust industrial hoses and fittings to deliver cleaning solutions effectively and safely. This complete system approach, right down to the final point of delivery, ensures hygienic integrity and reliability, while our heat exchangers can recover and repurpose waste heat to further improve your plant’s overall sustainability. Danfoss solutions include:

Sanitation and washdown, clean-in-place, steam
Compressed air and vacuum
Water and wastewater
Ventilation and HVAC

Material handling and intralogistics

The seamless flow of goods through your facility is critical for productivity. Danfoss provides end-to-end solutions for the equipment that powers your intralogistics, from stationary conveyors to mobile machinery. Our VFDs ensure smooth and precise control of conveyor and sorting systems, while for the vehicles that move your products, Danfoss offers a complete suite of hydraulic and electrified solutions. Together, we ensure your material handling is safe, efficient, and ready for the future of automation. Danfoss solutions include:

Intralogistics conveyors, sorters, palletizers
Forklifts and mobile equipment (cross-link to Mobile machinery)
Doors, docks, and curtains
Controls for AGV and pallet movers

Case stories

Discover how Danfoss innovations are transforming cold storage and food processing with enhanced efficiency and sustainability. Explore stories of cutting-edge solutions driving industry success.

Expanded cold storage and freezing capacity with NeoCharge

Effortless control with iC7-Automation

Long-lasting fruit with efficient predictive maintenance

FAQ

How does Danfoss support the design of future-proof, sustainable refrigeration systems?

Danfoss provides comprehensive technical support, advanced design tools, and a portfolio of future-ready components that comply with evolving environmental regulations. We partner with advisors to engineer systems that are not only energy-efficient but also adaptable to next-generation refrigerants like CO2 and ammonia, ensuring long-term viability and sustainability for your clients. Find refrigeration solutions here.

What makes Danfoss’s stainless steel portfolio a superior choice for hygienic environments?

Our stainless-steel components are specifically designed to meet the stringent hygiene standards of the food and beverage industry. The material’s non-porous and corrosion-resistant properties prevent bacterial growth and ensure durability, making it an ideal choice for clean-in-place (CIP) systems and demanding processing environments. This helps architects and designers deliver facilities that guarantee food safety and minimize maintenance. Discover how.

What is the typical ROI when upgrading to a Danfoss energy-efficient refrigeration system?

While the exact return on investment varies based on the application and facility size, our clients typically experience significant reductions in energy consumption, often 15-25% or more. These savings, combined with lower maintenance costs and potential government incentives for sustainable technology, lead to a rapid payback period and an improved total cost of ownership (TCO), making it a sound financial investment. Learn more with this example.

How do Danfoss solutions help my business meet its decarbonization and ESG goals?

Our refrigeration and material handling solutions are engineered to operate with maximum energy efficiency and are optimized for natural refrigerants with low or zero global warming potential (GWP). By significantly reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, Danfoss directly helps you achieve your science-based carbon reduction targets and strengthen your company’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) profile. Learn how we are decarbonizing our own operations here.

How does Danfoss ensure seamless integration of its components into complex refrigeration projects?

Danfoss is committed to supporting our implementation partners with extensive documentation, expert technical support, and products designed for compatibility and ease of installation. Our application experts are available to provide guidance throughout the project lifecycle, from initial selection to final commissioning, ensuring that system integrators can deliver reliable and efficient solutions on time and on budget. Find your local application experts.

What are the key advantages of using natural refrigerants like CO2 and ammonia with Danfoss systems?

Danfoss has been a pioneer in developing components and systems optimized for natural refrigerants. The primary advantages include:

Sustainability: CO2 and ammonia have near-zero GWP, making them environmentally friendly choices
Efficiency: These refrigerants offer excellent thermodynamic properties, leading to high-efficiency systems, especially in the right applications
Future-proofing: They are exempt from the phase-downs affecting HFC refrigerants, ensuring long-term regulatory compliance

What is the difference between the solutions Danfoss offers for food processing versus cold storage?

While both applications require reliability and efficiency, they have distinct needs.

Food processing: Solutions prioritize rapid and precise temperature control (for example, blast freezing) to ensure product quality and safety during production. Hygiene is paramount, which is why our stainless steel portfolio is a key offering.
Cold storage: The focus is on maintaining stable temperatures over long periods with maximum energy efficiency to minimize operating costs for large-volume storage.

How does Danfoss help maintain an “unbroken cold chain”?

An unbroken cold chain requires dependable performance at every stage. Danfoss provides high-quality, reliable components for every link—from processing and blast freezing to transportation and long-term storage. Our precise temperature control and robust systems minimize the risk of temperature fluctuations, ensuring food remains safe and high-quality from the field to the consumer’s fork. Learn how Danfoss solutions defend food safety.

What are the benefits of using Danfoss solutions in food processing? 

Danfoss offers innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, ensure food safety, and optimize energy consumption in food processing. Our technologies, including variable frequency drives and stainless steel valves, help maintain precise temperature control and improve operational reliability. Explore our food processing solutions.

How does Danfoss improve cold storage efficiency? 

Danfoss provides advanced refrigeration technologies, including variable frequency drives, that optimize energy use, reduce operational costs, and maintain consistent temperature conditions, ensuring the quality and safety of stored food products. NeoCharge allows refrigeration facilities to either cut energy and refrigerant costs, or increase capacity with the same charge in existing system. Discover more about improving your cold storage efficiency.

Why is temperature control crucial in food processing and cold storage? 

Precise temperature control is essential to prevent spoilage, ensure food safety, and comply with industry regulations. Danfoss solutions, such as our VFDs and sensors, provide reliable temperature management to safeguard food quality. Precisely modulated liquid feed with motor operated valves and dedicated controllers translate directly into improved energy efficiency and reliability. Find out more about our temperature control solutions.

What sustainable solutions does Danfoss offer for cold storage?

Danfoss offers energy-efficient refrigeration systems, including those using natural refrigerants. Efficient defrosting with ICFD and non-condensable gas removal with the IPS8 air purger reduce energy consumption. Smart technologies like variable frequency drives reduce environmental impact while maintaining optimal storage conditions, supporting sustainability in cold storage operations. Learn more about our sustainable solutions.

How can Danfoss technologies enhance food safety in processing facilities?

Our solutions, including our hygienic sensors and variable frequency drives, ensure consistent temperature and humidity levels, reducing the risk of contamination and spoilage. Danfoss technologies help you comply with food safety standards and regulations. Learn how, here.

What are the latest trends in food processing and cold storage? 

The industry is moving towards automation, energy efficiency, and sustainability. Danfoss is at the forefront, providing cutting-edge solutions with focus on natural refrigerants. Danfoss VFDs, motorized valves, and smart controllers align with these trends to improve operational performance. Discover our solutions here.

How can Danfoss solutions help reduce energy consumption in cold storage? 

Danfoss offers energy-efficient compressors, variable frequency drives (VFDs), and smart control systems that significantly reduce energy consumption while maintaining optimal storage conditions. With solutions such as ICFD, IPS 8, and NeoCharge you can improve efficiency, and with motorized valves you can reduce pressure loss. See how much you can save by exploring our energy-saving solutions.

What are the challenges in food processing and how does Danfoss address them? 

Challenges include maintaining food quality, meeting safety standards, and optimizing operations. Danfoss addresses these with reliable, efficient technologies, such as our variable frequency drives, control systems, ICFD, IPS8, NeoCharge and motorized valves, that enhance productivity and ensure compliance. Explore solutions, here.