Comprehensive power and control system installation for one of the world’s leading seafood processing operations.
Case Study
MOWI Group is the world’s largest producer of Atlantic salmon, operating processing facilities across multiple countries. Their UK operations include large-scale food processing plants that demand robust, reliable electrical infrastructure capable of supporting continuous production cycles in demanding industrial environments.
Oleco was engaged to deliver a comprehensive power and control system installation across MOWI’s processing facility. The scope encompassed PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) systems, main and sub-distribution boards, motor control centres, and bespoke control panel design — all engineered to meet the exacting standards required in food processing environments.
MOWI’s processing facility required a significant upgrade to its electrical infrastructure to support expanded production capacity and meet evolving compliance requirements. The existing power distribution and control systems needed to be replaced and expanded without causing extended production shutdowns — a critical constraint given the perishable nature of the product and the facility’s position within a global supply chain.
The brief demanded a contractor capable of operating in a food-grade industrial environment, where hygiene, IP-rated enclosures, and washdown-resistant installations are non-negotiable. Every component, from cable routing to panel construction, needed to comply with food safety regulations alongside BS 7671 electrical standards and the specific requirements of MOWI’s own operational protocols.
The control system element was equally critical. The facility required PLC-based automation for multiple processing lines, with each system needing to integrate seamlessly with existing SCADA infrastructure. Fault tolerance, ease of maintenance, and the ability to expand the system as production demands increase were all essential design criteria. The client also required comprehensive documentation, including full as-built drawings and operational manuals, to support their internal engineering team’s ongoing maintenance programme.
Oleco’s industrial team developed a phased delivery programme that allowed the majority of installation work to be completed during planned maintenance windows, with critical changeovers executed during scheduled production breaks. This approach minimised disruption to MOWI’s operations while ensuring every element of the installation was completed to the highest standard.
The power distribution system was designed around a new main distribution board with integrated power monitoring, feeding sub-distribution boards positioned to optimise cable runs and provide dedicated supplies to each processing line. All boards were specified with IP65-rated enclosures suitable for the facility’s washdown environment, with stainless steel fixings and food-grade cable management throughout.
For the control systems, Oleco designed and built bespoke PLC panels incorporating Siemens S7 controllers, configured to manage the automated processes on each production line. Each panel was factory-tested before delivery to site, reducing on-site commissioning time and providing the client with confidence in system reliability from day one. The PLC programmes were developed in close collaboration with MOWI’s process engineers, ensuring the automation logic precisely matched their operational requirements.
Motor control centres were installed to manage the facility’s significant motor load — conveyors, pumps, refrigeration compressors, and processing machinery. Variable speed drives were specified where appropriate, delivering energy savings and extending the service life of mechanical equipment through controlled start-up and speed management.
All installations were completed with full ATEX awareness where required, and the entire project was documented with comprehensive as-built drawings, test certificates, and operational documentation delivered to MOWI’s engineering team.
The completed installation has provided MOWI with a modern, reliable electrical infrastructure that supports their current production demands and provides clear capacity for future expansion. The new power distribution system delivers improved load management and real-time power monitoring, giving the facility’s engineering team visibility over energy consumption and system performance.
The PLC-based control systems have improved process consistency and reduced manual intervention across the production lines. The integration with existing SCADA infrastructure was completed without issue, providing management with comprehensive operational data and alarm management capabilities. System uptime since commissioning has exceeded the client’s targets, with zero unplanned electrical outages.
The phased delivery approach achieved its primary objective: the installation was completed with minimal impact on production output. Total unplanned downtime attributable to the electrical works was less than four hours across the entire project duration — a result that reflects the rigour of Oleco’s planning and the capability of our industrial electrical contracting team.
Oleco continues to support MOWI with ongoing maintenance and expansion works, a relationship that reflects the trust established through the successful delivery of this project.
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