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HOME | RESOURCES | SOURCE | 2012 Issue 1 | Beef packing facility attends training, implements energy improvements

Beef packing facility attends training, implements energy improvements

PM Beef Holdings, LLC in Windom is a privately held beef packing facility. Facility representatives attended the steam assessment training coordinated through MnTAP’s U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) project and then participated in a DOE facility audit. To continue the momentum started through the training and subsequent audit, MnTAP met monthly with PM Beef’s energy management team that included management and staff from the maintenance department as well as representatives from Minnesota Energy Resources Corp. (MERC).

During team meetings, MnTAP helped team members prioritize suggestions from the facility audit and develop project ideas to reduce PM Beef’s energy use and wastewater. Several projects were completed in 2011, including:

• The purchase and installation of a heat exchanger for boiler blow down
• Regular water heater preventive maintenance
• Steam trap repairs and replacement
• Water conservation measures and water reuse initiatives
• Implementation of mechanical cleaning operations to reduce water use

What they said...
“MnTAP assisted our facility by having the knowledge to identify equipment items and practices that could impact utility savings as well as being environmentally friendly. We appreciate their professional assistance and insight and highly recommend their services to others.”
-- Greg Beck, Vice President of PM Beef

The company expects the projects will result in reduced annual thermal energy use by approximately 172,000 therms and annual water use by 3.5 million gallons. Annual savings from these projects tops $114,000; additionally, PM Beef received a $1,000 one-time rebate from MERC.

“MnTAP brought things to light; they provided information and feedback in areas that are not our expertise,” Lester Tessum, plant manager, said.

This project was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Minnesot Department of Commerce through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).