HVAC&R behind the scenes of food: the systems, skills and standards shaping the next decade
At the heart of every safe, stable and compliant food operation is the HVAC&R and building services infrastructure that keeps everything running. Temperature, humidity, venting, cold units, heat recovery, monitoring and service regimes do not just provide background support. They are the enablers that protects the product integrity, customer safety and ultimately the reputation of the brand. With the food industry seeking efficiencies and leveraging compliance to increase resilience up and down supply chains, the HVAC&R environment is a key future proofing tool that should not be overlooked.
As the conduit that brings the whole sector together in one place, the ARBS exhibition provides us with a unique opportunity to witness recurring conversations. Three themes seem to commonly emerge that are particularly relevant to food tech: controlled environment performance, energy transition and optimisation, and workforce capability to implement.
‘Good enough’ environmental control is no longer acceptable
In many food environments, precision control of HVAC&R underpins the health and safety of a business. An unstable environment can impact directly on quality, consistency and safety. Operations need defined temperature ranges, controlled relative humidity, dependable ventilation, correct filtration and up-to-date pressure dynamics to avoid or limit contamination risk.
To reduce this risk, businesses are reevaluating fundamental details: are actual airflow rates correct? Are set points correct for the operation? Is condensation removed where it should be? Is plant room equipment accessible for maintenance without compromises? These questions might seem rudimentary, yet they often mean the difference between an operation that’s stable and one which conceals issues.
The role played by dynamic indoor environments cannot be overestimated. Changes to staffing profiles, shifts, processes, materials, equipment, lots sizes and even the building’s surrounds can result in a change in HVAC&R requirements over time.
Rising energy costs and electrification influence decision making
The operational energy required for food manufacture is heavily led by refrigeration. Increasing energy expenditure and decarbonisation goals are intensifying focus on efficiency and advanced control. Electrification and solutions such as hybrid systems, sophisticated load management systems and heat recovery are now evaluated room-to-room or project-to-project. The question for food sites becomes ‘how can we electrify without losing resilience?’ and the emphasis is often on planning for alternate standby capacity, redundancy and energy storage approaches.
This is also the sector where optimisation can provide a significant return. And it’s not just about having the latest, most energy-efficient equipment, but the real focus should be on how to actively operate it efficiently. Advanced controls, feedback loops, fault finding intelligence and performance checking are rapidly becoming tools used to create confidence that high performing equipment is not simply performing in theory, but on the factory floor.
The challenge of skills and capabilities readiness
Across HVAC&R and building services, the conversation regarding skills often describes a ‘lack of people’. The reality could also be expressed as a lack of skills readiness.
As systems and production information become increasingly integrated, industry needs to continue to innovate their technology, yet effective operation relies upon installers and maintenance technicians who can troubleshoot and diagnose successfully.
However, there is no possible solution to bridging the skill shortage while such a significant imbalance exists: Women are still vastly absent from the industry. Jobs and Skills Australia report the female share of employment for air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics sits at 2%.1 Empowered Women in Trades (EWIT) say women only represent 3% of all skilled tradespeople and have publicly set a goal of lifting female representation to 30% by 2030.2 Yet, the data points to how languid the progress has been. In 2025, females made up just 11.5% of all trade apprentices, marginally up on where we were ten years ago.3 Even in the face of recent improvements, the current flow rate is not steep enough to match the demand profile the sector is forecasted to face.
Industry exhibitions help facilitate informed decision-making
Nothing beats seeing solutions side-by-side and having the conversations you can’t replicate online. ARBS is for industry, by industry, the place where the discussions that matter happen. ARBS 2026 (5–7 May, Melbourne) will gather the HVAC&R and building services industry together including manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, consultants and facility managers, to showcase and explore what’s next. Registration is free and now open. Visit www.arbs.com.au/arbs2026/
Seifert Systems Outdoor Series (OC): Precision Cooling for Enclosures in Outdoor Environments
The Seifert Systems Outdoor Series (OC) offers a robust and efficient solution for precision...
Energy-efficient plate freezing: No longer just for the big players
MHM Automation, with its chilling and freezing centre of excellence based in Brisbane, is a...
Advanced Manufacturing for local industry
APS Industrial's state-of-the-art Manufacturing Centre in Adelaide forms a national benchmark...
