Smarter Design, Cleaner Operations: Why the Right Enclosure Matters in Food Manufacturing

In today’s food and beverage sector, achieving compliance is just the beginning. For New Zealand producers navigating rising energy costs, stringent hygiene requirements, and digitalisation demands, the right enclosure solution can unlock substantial operational and sustainability gains.

Stainless steel alone is no longer enough. True Hygienic Design addresses not just corrosion resistance, but the total cost of cleanliness, reducing water, energy and labour inputs while improving equipment longevity and audit outcomes.

Why Hygienic Design Delivers More Than Surface Value:

• No crevices, gaps, or recesses: Reduces the risk of bacterial growth and cross-contamination
• Sloped roofs & polished finishes: Prevent water pooling and ease washdowns
• FDA-compliant blue silicone seals: Improve inspection visibility and simplify replacement
• IP66/IP69K protection ratings: Withstand high-pressure cleaning in hygiene-critical zones

These details make a measurable difference. Rittal’s Hygienic Design Enclosure range, developed in line with EHEDG guidelines and industry-specific standards, is engineered for tough washdown zones, ready-meal production, dairy environments, and wet processing lines.

Clean Design Meets Smart Engineering

Enclosures are no longer passive infrastructure. With EPLAN ProPanel and Rittal’s own ePOCKET system, food manufacturers can digitise workflows, improve maintenance visibility, and reduce unplanned downtime.

• EPLAN ProPanel supports 3D enclosure planning and automated documentation, speeding up installation and reducing engineering errors.
• ePOCKET eliminates the need for paper-based documentation, giving technicians instant access to wiring diagrams, maintenance logs, and digital schematics via QR code.

These technologies not only improve traceability and support proactive maintenance but also help you prepare for Industry 4.0-level compliance without the complexity.

Ready to Design for Efficiency?

According to global estimates, Rittal’s Blue e+ cooling units could reduce Europe’s carbon emissions by up to 3 million tonnes. For New Zealand manufacturers facing extreme climate conditions, these gains are even more critical.

Rittal’s modular HD solutions are trusted by global brands like Nestlé and OSI, who have slashed energy usage, reduced contamination risk, and improved productivity with the right enclosure and climate control system.

Explore these outcomes and more in our industry brochure: download brochure here.