Maturing and storage facility for hard cheese

Clivet systems for the right temperature and humidity inside the hard cheese maturing and storage facility Magazzini Generali Fiduciari in Mantua, with a capacity of over 230,000 wheels.

The challenge

Cheese maturing began historically as a need to preserve a precious but perishable foodstuff. Heat and cold, wet and dry alternate during cheese maturing, allowing the positive action of enzymes and microorganisms that contribute to defining the characteristics of cheese as we taste it at the table.

The temperature and humidity conditions inside the premises are essential to activate the different processes and guarantee the quality of the finished product.

The premises must have a temperature of between 16 and 18 degrees and a humidity of over 80%.

magazzini fiduciari, chiller Clivet SCREWLine4-i WDAT-iK4 360.2

The solution

Maintaining the ideal thermo-hygrometric levels 365 days a year inside Magazzini Generali Fiduciari in Mantua takes place differently in the two sheds of which the building is composed.

In the first shed, in order to maintain the right temperature and humidity, a system based on Clivet SCREWLine4-i WDAT-iK4 360.2 chillers for the production of chilled water and a boiler for the production of hot water serving the air handling unit were installed in 2021.

In the second shed, on the other hand, the decision was made in 2022 to simplify the system and eliminate the use of the boiler, installing two multifunctional Clivet SCREWLine4-i WDAN-iK4 MF 280.2 heat pumps capable of producing hot and chilled water at the same time to serve the air handling units.

Both the two chillers installed in 2021 and the two multifunctional heat pumps installed in 2022 are equipped with inverter screw technology, which allows the plant's needs to be followed precisely, saving energy, and refrigerant R513A, with low GWP (Global Warming Potential = 631), which guarantees an environmental impact halved compared to the traditional refrigerant R-134a (GWP=1430) for an industry that combines the best product quality with respect for the environment.

The protagonists

  • Plant installation and maintenance: Sauber Mantova
  • Clivet agencies: BALDO SAS, Brescia - Pieracci, Milan
  • Plant design: DBA PROGETTI 

Clivet units installed

  • 2021: 2 SCREWLine4-i WDAT-iK4 360.2 chillers
  • 2022: 2 SCREWLine4-i WDAN-iK4 MF 280.2 multifunctional heat pumps