Fromagerie Nouvelle France

“Heating in a cheese factory is critical. It’s a major part of operating costs,” said Marie-Chantal Houde, co-owner of Fromagerie Nouvelle France. “Without hot water, we can’t produce. It’s as simple as that! That’s why choosing the right equipment quickly became a crucial point in our project.”

Already aware of the potential of hydronic heating for their type of business, the co-owners also opted out of natural gas in favor of electricity as the primary energy source. As a result, Fromagerie Nouvelle France becomes one of the few cheese dairies in Québec to opt for electricity for practical, economic and environmental reasons.

Why did Fromagerie Nouvelle France choose Thermo 2000? “Because we were already familiar with their products, performance, reliability and reputation throughout North America. For us, quality equipment is worth its weight in gold! We chose peace of mind,” explained Marie-Chantal Houde as she described the various available options.

Thermo 2000 at the heart of operations

A Thermo 2000 Voltmax SCR 180 kW commercial electric boiler drives three separate systems: domestic hot water for washing/sterilizing production equipment, process water for heating production tanks and ovens, and infloor heating. “Heating is a major cost in our operations, as it is present at virtually every stage of our production process. This called for a solution that would reduce our costs and save water. That’s exactly what the Thermo 2000 solution enabled us to do,” Marie-Chantal Houde added.

Domestic water

Fed by the Voltmax SCR 180 electric boiler, a single TurboMax 109 instantaneous indirect water heater is all that’s needed to produce domestic water for everyday use, especially for cleaning operations requiring water temperatures of up to 140 ^oF. “Equipment washing accounts for around 60% of our processes. It’s a major part of our daily work as food processors.”

Infloor heating

In addition to the process water, the Voltmax 180 electric boiler and RE-120 Storage tanks supply the pipes of the infloor heating system installed in a concrete slab over a surface area of more than 2,600 sq. ft.

The installation of infloor heating combined with two Thermo 2000 RE-120 thermal mass storage tanks is key for energy performance. Thermo 2000 has made it possible to meet heating and process water requirements without increasing boiler output. This strategy allows us to prioritize operations during the day and take advantage of the thermal mass of the infloor heating to limit the demand for power. We can control maximum power demand and benefit from the best price per kWh.

Maximize performance.
Minimize environmental footprint.

Jean-Philippe Turcotte, General Manager of Thermo 2000, is particularly proud of this project. “The design of the cheese factory’s system integrates three families of Thermo 2000 products. Overall, the solution deployed means a less powerful energy source for the same heat production. This is a project that demonstrates the extraordinary complementarity and performance of our products.”

“After a year in operation, we’re even more convinced of our choices,” said Marie-Chantal Houde. “Hydronic heating allows us to reduce our operating costs and domestic water consumption. It’s just great. We are totally committed to this eco-friendly production strategy. Hydronic heating powered by electricity is a winning combination all around,” she concluded.

An added bonus: all this equipment is contained within a mechanical room measuring just 100 sq. ft.

About Fromagerie Nouvelle France.

Located in Racine in Quebec’s Eastern Townships, Fromagerie Nouvelle France specializes in the artisan production of fine sheep milk cheeses. Since 2010, the cheese dairy has won over 40 awards, including Best Québec Cheese in 2011, 2014 and 2022 for Zacharie Cloutier, a firm, 100% sheep milk cheese.

Supplies are provided by the family business’s own cheese dairy. Find out more about Fromagerie Nouvelle France by visiting their website.
fromagerienouvellefrance.com