In this article
Seeing the heat and the savings
ERIKS thermographic insight cuts energy losses
Industry Sector:
Pharmaceutical
Application:
Biomass heating infrastructure
Actual Saving:
€9,500+
Payback period:
Immediate
Product/Service:
- Technical consultancy
- Thermographic survey
- Energy efficiency audit
Customer Benefits:
- Cost savings
- Energy savings
- Reduced carbon footprint
- Energy inefficiencies identified
Faced with the increasing demand for energy efficiency and sustainability, a leading pharmaceutical site invited ERIKS to investigate areas of potential energy loss within its biomass infrastructure.
Challenge
With operations running continuously and pressure mounting to reduce their carbon footprint, the customer was aware that even small inefficiencies could lead to significant losses over time. However, without specialist equipment or insight, it was difficult for their internal team to identify the sources of waste, particularly those that couldn’t be seen with the naked eye.
They needed a practical, real-world assessment that could translate thermal data into tangible savings. That’s where ERIKS stepped in.
Solution
One of our experienced Thermography Engineers conducted an on-site thermographic survey using a high-resolution FLIR E75 infrared camera. The focus was on the biomass heating system. An area known to be energy-intensive and often overlooked in routine maintenance. Our specialist surveyed critical components including culverts, boiler systems, and deaerators. The camera instantly captured and visualised heat signatures, revealing areas of excessive temperature where energy was escaping due to insufficient insulation or structural weaknesses.
Several hotspots were identified. Many caused by missing lagging, deteriorated insulation, or leaks at flange welds. One of the most significant losses, found within an unlagged culvert, was calculated to be over €4,500 annually.
Nine additional areas, all previously undetected, contributed to a further €5,000+ in potential annual energy loss. Each location was photographed and documented, and a comprehensive report was compiled, clearly presenting the findings along with straightforward, low-cost remedial actions.
Result
ERIKS delivered the customer a detailed, visual-led insight report that not only quantified the energy losses across the site, but also helped them to prioritise the areas that would deliver the quickest return. The report gave them the evidence they needed to implement a series of fast, effective fixes — including reinstating missing insulation and improving maintenance planning for key thermal assets.
The survey’s findings had an immediate impact. By addressing just the top loss areas, the customer stood to save over €9,500 annually in recovered energy — without any major capital investment. It also helped them progress towards their internal energy efficiency targets and demonstrated a proactive approach to sustainability. The customer has since committed to including thermographic surveys as part of their wider maintenance strategy and is now considering extending the programme across other systems on-site.
This thermographic survey not only helped the customer uncover hidden inefficiencies — it laid the groundwork for smarter, more sustainable energy practices across their site. By translating invisible energy losses into visible actions and savings, ERIKS once again demonstrated the power of partnership and practical engineering insight.
