Fleischwaren Höllerschmid has modernised and expanded its meat processing site in Austria, installing two transcritical CO2 refrigeration systems from HAUSER. The family-run company said the new setup provides reliable cooling, higher energy efficiency and improved working conditions across meat processing, storage, dry ageing rooms and the blast freezer.
In 2024, Höllerschmid added 2,500 square metres (about 26,900 sq ft) for fresh meat processing, goods reception, logistics, building services, offices and social facilities. The project followed earlier expansion at the site, including the 2016 opening of the Fleischbank direct-sales shop with 140 square metres (about 1,500 sq ft) of retail space.
The two HAUSER systems deliver a total cooling capacity of around 700 kW (approx. 2.39 million BTU/h). According to the company, the five dry ageing rooms are equipped with specialised temperature and humidity control for the five-week maturation process, while an alarm system sends email notifications if deviations or cooling failures occur. Höllerschmid also said modern evaporators distribute cooling air evenly through cold and working rooms.
The company said waste heat from the refrigeration systems is recovered to heat the buildings, helping reduce energy demand. “We have noticed that we now require less energy per square metre. Thanks to heat recovery, we save around 25 per cent in heating costs,” said Christoph Höllerschmid-Haslinger, Managing Director of Fleischwaren Höllerschmid.
He added that refrigerant choice, temperature monitoring, an alert system and 24/7 emergency support were key requirements for the project. “The environmentally friendly CO2 refrigeration system fits perfectly into our operating concept. We are consistently working to reduce our emissions and have already phased out natural gas,” Höllerschmid-Haslinger said.