Rockwell Automation and Actemium deploy AI to reduce refrigeration energy use

Rockwell Automation Inc. (NYSE: ROK) and partner Actemium have developed an artificial intelligence application that reduces energy consumption in industrial refrigeration systems by 17%, according to a company statement.

The solution, called Real-Time Coefficient of Performance (RtCOP), runs on Rockwell's PlantPAx distributed control system and continuously selects energy-efficient operating configurations for refrigeration equipment. A frozen french fry producer using the system reports annual savings of $130,000 per site.

Industrial refrigeration accounts for up to 70% of electricity consumption in food manufacturing plants. The AI application functions as an autonomous operator, analyzing system capacities and environmental conditions in real time to optimize combinations of compressors, condensers and evaporators.

"Energy‑based equipment ranking that is performed continuously and consistently is something human operators simply can't do in real time," said Jim Gillis, general manager at Actemium Atlantic Canada.

The system also reduces strain on refrigeration assets, which may improve equipment reliability over time. Key performance indicator dashboards enable operators to monitor performance across multiple sites and benchmark system efficiency.

Actemium is helping the food producer scale the solution across its refrigeration facilities. The company operates in 40 countries with 24,400 employees, while Milwaukee-based Rockwell Automation employs approximately 26,000 people in more than 100 countries.

Kris Dornan, commercial marketing manager at Rockwell Automation, noted that food producers face skills shortages in specialized areas like refrigeration while under pressure to operate more efficiently.

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