Engelhardt Improved Air Quality and the Work Environment in Food Production

At Engelhardt’s food production facility, air quality is important – both for employee health and for food safety. By using ceiling-mounted and floor-standing air cleaners from QleanAir Scandinavia, the company has reduced the amount of dust and airborne particles, improved the working environment, and strengthened product control. A simple test installation quickly demonstrated clear results – and confirmed that air purification is an investment that delivers real impact.

Engelhardt is a Swedish family-owned company and one of the leading manufacturers and developers of dry ingredients and powder-based products in the Nordic region. Its operations are characterized by a strong focus on high quality, food safety, and a healthy work environment.

The company continuously works to develop methods to improve air quality and create safe, clean production environments – an approach that also characterizes the collaboration with QleanAir, which began in 2020.

Airborne dust and high hygiene requirements

In a powder-based production environment, airborne dust is a natural part of daily operations. Dust spreads through the air and can quickly settle on surfaces after cleaning, affecting both the working environment and product quality. To manage the situation and create a safer workplace, employees previously used face masks at times as a preventive measure and for increased comfort. After the installation of air cleaners, the need for face masks has disappeared.

“We only work with dry products. Powder handling naturally involves dust and particles from the powder moving around the facility, which is a challenge in our daily operations,” says Titoo Karim, Technical Manager at Engelhardt.

At the same time, the requirements for food safety and the separation between different production flows have become stricter. Where Engelhardt previously operated in larger shared spaces, today’s regulations require clear separation between different production cells.

“When we rebuilt and separated the production, air quality became even more important. We didn’t want dust from one cell to spread to the next – neither from a work environment perspective nor from a quality standpoint,” says Titoo.

A simple test installation became permanent after clear results

After previously using a solution from another supplier that did not fully meet their needs, Engelhardt initiated a dialogue with QleanAir. A test installation of the QleanAir FS 70 was carried out in the packing area, where particle levels in the air were measured before and after.

The results quickly became clear. The test installation was made permanent and followed by additional units in several parts of the production facility. Today, both ceiling-mounted and floor-standing air cleaners are installed in different production cells, with filter configurations adapted to the specific tasks in each area.

“There’s a big difference in air quality. When you open bags and handle small quantities, it can create a cloud of dust. But after the installation of the air cleaners, employees are not affected in the same way,” says Titoo.

He particularly highlights how the solution is perceived by those working in production every day. “We have an employee who has worked here for almost 30 years, and he says he can’t do without the air cleaners.”

“We have an employee who has worked here for almost 30 years, and he says he can’t do without the air cleaners.”

A wide range of products and a well-structured service setup enabled a tailored solution

For Engelhardt, flexibility and scalability have been important factors, as well as the service setup that ensures the solution continues to function effectively over time.

“We have both floor-standing and ceiling-mounted air cleaners. The fact that the floor-standing units are mobile and can be moved to where the need is greatest is a major advantage for us. The ceiling-mounted units make both cleaning and forklift operations in the facility easier. The combination is important to us,” says Titoo.

”We have both floor-standing and ceiling-mounted air cleaners. The fact that the floor-standing units are mobile and can be moved to where the need is greatest is a major advantage for us. The ceiling-mounted units make both cleaning and forklift operations in the facility easier. The combination is important to us.”

Connected units for optimized operation

The ceiling-mounted air cleaners are also connected via Wi-Fi, enabling the units to be monitored and scheduled to optimize energy consumption.

Improved working environment and strengthened product control

An already good working environment has become even better -and that is the greatest benefit. Less dust in the air contributes to a cleaner and safer workplace for employees. At the same time, product quality has been further enhanced through better control of clean zones. The need for cleaning has decreased, saving both time and costs.

““I’m very satisfied. We’ve been working with QleanAir since 2020, and the air quality in our food production has improved significantly since then. The air cleaners work very well. We will continue to invest in our work environment. The well-being and satisfaction of our employees are absolutely crucial to us.”

 

About Engelhardt

• Swedish family-owned company founded in 1962
• Located in Västra Frölunda, Gothenburg
• Operates in the food industry with a focus on dry, powder-based ingredients
• Approximately 60 employees
• Today, both floor-standing and ceiling-mounted air cleaners are installed, including the FS 60, FS 70, and FS 90 models

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