Electrically-driven heat pump delivers steam

Tetra Pak has entered into an exclusive agreement with Norwegian cleantech company Olvondo Technology, securing sole rights to market and distribute the company’s HighLift heat pump to the global food and beverage industry. This technology can produce steam or hot water up to 200°C, making it useful for processes such as sterilisation, UHT, and cleaning-in-place.

HighLift recovers unused waste heat, commonly generated in food and beverage production, and converts it into high-value thermal energy. An advantage of the system is its ability to operate across a broad range of input temperatures. Unlike conventional technologies, it delivers high-grade heat from relatively low-temperature sources and can simultaneously produce both ice water and steam. This enables manufacturers to electrify process heating, enhance energy resilience, and lower long-term operating costs.

“This is a solution with broad relevance for food and beverage producers looking to reduce carbon emissions and improve cost-efficiency,” says Nicole Uvenbeck, director of factory sustainable solutions at Tetra Pak. “HighLift combines thermal power, flexibility, and reliability – and already has a strong track record in demanding production environments within the Northern European dairy and pharmaceutical industries.”

Uvenbeck adds that the real value for customers lies in receiving a fully integrated, end-to-end solution by Tetra Pak. This can be applied at the processing line level or implemented across plant-wide utility systems, making the solution adaptable to a wide variety of site configurations and operational goals.

Stefano Vittor, CEO of Olvondo Technology, adds: “Partnering with Tetra Pak – a long-standing global leader in food and beverage processing – marks a pivotal step for us. This collaboration gives us the reach and support to introduce our solution to a far broader international audience, while ensuring customers benefit from the locally tailored support and technical integration.”

The HighLift heat pump was developed in Norway. Researchers at Åbo Akademi University contributed lifecycle modelling and performance analysis, which are now used to help food and beverage manufacturers in assessing the cost-effectiveness and climate impact of implementing HighLift in various national energy contexts.