Schneider Electric & Danone Evian: Modernising Bottling

Danone Evian's partnership with Schneider Electric goes back to 1994 when the manufacturer’s factory distribution network was built with Schneider hardware.

As Danone Evian has sought to modernise its facilities Schneider Electric has been involved in their operations again - executing their Service and Modernisation Plan.

Danone Evian, as one of the world’s biggest mineral water producers, understands the consumer and business imperative of making its process more sustainable. 

“Our business as mineral water producers is not only bottling this resource but above all preserving and protecting it,” says Gilles Meunier, Electrical Distribution Manager at Evian.

This is one of the driving reasons Danone Evian has sought to modernise its Évian-les-Bains facility in France, which features 14 production lines delivering 33 product types, including six-litre carboys and 75-centilitre glass bottles.

Focused on modernising and maintaining Danone Evian’s electrical installation, the plan, supported by Schneider Electric, has led to significant results.

Schneider Electric: Helping Danone Evian Modernise 

Danone Evian desired to modernise its facilities to deliver natural mineral water in a more sustainable, safe and efficient way. 

The manufacturer laid out key goals it wished to accomplish with the plan, which Schneider Electric took into account every step of the way.  

The project began with an EcoConsult audit, where Schneider experts evaluated the existing equipment of Danone Evian, assessing current capabilities and possible regulatory and safety issues. 

Then, after a total overview of installed assets was created, suitable upgrades were identified and integrated into Danone Evian’s factory networks. 

Upgrades included the modernisation of Danone Evian’s LV switchgear using Schneider’s EcoFitTM solutions, the replacement of the manufacturer’s old MV switchgear with Schneider’s SM6 switchgear and the introduction of new MasterPact MTZ 2 circuit breakers to replace the older ones. 

Schneider Electric handled the end-of-life processing of old equipment, disposing of SF6 gas in an environmentally friendly manner. 

Critical to this upgrade and disposal process has been the company’s EcoStruxure platform, which it has also used to enhance the operations of other manufacturers operating in the Food and Beverage verticals. 

EcoStruxure is a single, open IoT architecture that helps organisations across industries compete and connect in the modern digital economy. 

For food and beverage manufacturers it provides extensive insights, enabling superior energy management and the adoption of sophisticated automation solutions.

“As our clients and other global enterprise companies scale up their sustainability capabilities, we anticipate a growing need for precision technology and tools required to meet their evolving needs,” adds Steve Wilhite, President, Schneider Electric Sustainability Business. 

“This standard global reporting functionality will allow our clients to monitor their progress towards critical renewable energy goals such as pledges to consume 100% renewable energy by a specific date.”

EcoStruxure’s reporting tools played a critical role in Danone Evian’s modernisation plan, which has led to prominent positive results and set an inspiring example for other food and beverage manufacturers. 

Danone Evian’s modernisation plan: The results 

Danone Evian’s factory upgrade has had a transformative impact, enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of their bottling process.

Now the manufacturer can effectively manage, monitor, visualise and analyse its energy use and power quality in real time via its local platform. 

The subsequent data has driven sustainable decision-making, helping Danone evian improve its power continuity and reduce energy consumption. 

By modernising its equipment through EcoFitTM instead of replacing it, Danone Evian has avoided manufacturing eight tonnes of material, saving 700 m3 of water and 70 tons of CO2. 

Today the site operates fully off of renewable energy, with the line manager having access to machine data to measure differences in energy consumption.

This has enabled Danone Evian to cut their energy consumption by 34% in it’s KWh/1000 bottles preforms. 

"This modernisation has enabled us to analyse the collected data in order to reduce our energy consumption at the industrial site,” Giles adds.

"Today, the site operates 100% on renewable energy, and since 2008, the company has reduced its energy consumption by 34% per water litre.”

With their shared commitments to sustainability, Schneider Electric and Danone Evian's collaboration is sure to continue.

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