Energy efficiency is often discussed through targets and metrics, but what does it mean in practice? At Huhtamaki\u2019s Flexible Packaging site in Cairo, Egypt, a recent cooling system upgrade shows how practical operational decisions can deliver measurable environmental benefits while supporting reliable production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To make the topic more concrete, we spoke with Ahmed <\/strong>Ali<\/strong>, Utility Manager<\/strong> at the Cairo site, about the installation of a new water-cooled chiller system and what the project demonstrates about energy efficiency in action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Built for local conditions<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n The starting point for the project was straightforward. Cairo is an important manufacturing location for Huhtamaki, and the region\u2019s high temperatures create significant cooling demands throughout the year. Improving the efficiency of cooling operations therefore became a key focus area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen we evaluated the options, we wanted a sustainable solution for our new cooling projects,\u201d Ahmed says. \u201cAfter reviewing the alternatives, we found that a water-cooled chiller was the most suitable option.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Reliability was another important consideration. Cairo\u2019s hot and dusty conditions can place considerable strain on cooling equipment, particularly systems that rely heavily on ambient air quality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWater-cooled chillers offer higher reliability compared to air-cooled chillers,\u201d Ahmed explains. \u201cTheir performance is stable and consistent, and with regular preventive maintenance, the system remains reliable.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The transition involved more than simply replacing equipment. The new water-cooled chiller now serves as the site\u2019s primary source of chilled water, while the previous systems remain in place as backup capacity. The project itself was designed internally and implemented in collaboration with external partners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe system was designed entirely in-house,\u201d Ahmed says. \u201cWe handled the machine selection, system design, and implementation with a third party, supported by strong collaboration and forward planning.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Making efficiency tangible<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Ahmed, the most visible impact of the project has been the reduction in energy consumption. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith the previous air-cooled system, we needed significantly more energy to produce the same level of cooling,\u201d he explains. \u201cWith the water-cooled chiller, the site can deliver the same cooling output while using considerably less electricity than before.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Since installation, the Cairo site has achieved a significant reduction in electricity consumption related to cooling operations. The current annual energy savings are roughly comparable to the annual electricity consumption of around 1,400 average European households, with additional improvements expected over time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The importance of measurable progress<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n When reflecting on the project\u2019s success, Ahmed emphasizes the importance of data and monitoring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEverything must be measurable,\u201d he says. \u201cWe need accurate data, clear resource management, and proper monitoring. That\u2019s how you understand where the energy is going and where you can improve.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n For Ahmed, energy efficiency is also about long-term responsibility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur responsibility is not only toward the business,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s also toward the environment and the community. We shouldn\u2019t wait until change becomes mandatory, but we need to take initiative.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Energy efficiency is often discussed through targets and metrics, but what does it mean in practice? At Huhtamaki\u2019s Flexible Packaging site in Cairo, Egypt, a recent cooling system upgrade shows how practical operational decisions can deliver measurable environmental benefits while supporting reliable production. To make the topic more concrete, we spoke with Ahmed Ali, Utility Manager at the Cairo site, about the installation of a new water-cooled chiller system<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22319,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[75],"tags":[258],"class_list":{"0":"post-22318","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-international","8":"tag-huhtamaki"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpmirror.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22318","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpmirror.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpmirror.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpmirror.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpmirror.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22318"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cpmirror.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22318\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22320,"href":"https:\/\/cpmirror.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22318\/revisions\/22320"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpmirror.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22319"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpmirror.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22318"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpmirror.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22318"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpmirror.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22318"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}