Refresco
Juices Soft Drinks & Teas
Refresco’s operational plant in Sulmona required a pasteurisation system that could deliver accurate and reliable thermal treatment across a wide range of beverages, while also achieving substantial reductions in water, steam and energy-use. Its previous pasteuriser no longer met the company’s ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) goals or the growing need for flexible, stable processing. As customer expectations and regulatory needs continued to evolve, Refresco sought a solution that would enhance operational control, simplify maintenance and provide proven efficiency gains without introducing disruption to their production line.
Sidel supplied SWING® Evo: a world-first pasteuriser machine, designed around an intelligent counterflow concept and equipped with two heat exchangers, both of which prioritise recovered heat from cogeneration systems. SWING® Evo ensures highly accurate pasteurisation through predictive control, with PRINCE X continuously analysing temperature evolution to prevent under‑ or over‑processing. Its compact, yet modular architecture, also enabled installation and commissioning in only one week, with operators benefiting from sliding doors, full top access and tool‑free maintenance for safe and efficient daily use.
Since SWING® Evo’s installation, Refresco has achieved reductions in energy and water consumption by a factor of 15-20 compared to its previous pasteuriser. Steam usage has decreased significantly due to the prioritisation of recovered heat, while electrical consumption has performed to a higher standard than anticipated. This pasteuriser solution has demonstrated excellent reliability, delivering consistent PU (Pasteurization Units) control and thermal accuracy across a varied SKU (Stock Keeping Units) mix. Operators report that the system is intuitive, flexible and easy to monitor – supporting overall production efficiency and strengthening Refresco’s alignment with group‑wide sustainability objectives.
This innovative pasteuriser allows for far more efficient management of energy and water within our operations. Compared with our previous solution, we achieved a reduction in energy and water consumption by a factor of 15 to 20. This project has been a great success.
Manufacturing and Strategic Operations Director at Refresco Italia
