---
title: Is the Infrastructure Behind Food Production Keeping Pace?
description: Food and beverage manufacturing is becoming more automated, connected, and data-driven. From additional sensors and controllers to upgraded production equipment, manufacturers are continually investing in technologies that improve how their facilities operate.
---

[Rittal ANZ Blog](https://blog.rittal.com.au/blog)

# [Is the Infrastructure Behind Food Production Keeping Pace?](https://blog.rittal.com.au/blog/is-the-infrastructure-behind-food-production-keeping-pace)

 Written by [Rittal](https://blog.rittal.com.au/blog/author/rittal) | Nov 4, 2026, 1:51:00 AM

Food and beverage manufacturing is becoming more automated, connected, and data-driven. From additional sensors and controllers to upgraded production equipment, manufacturers are continually investing in technologies that improve how their facilities operate.

But as production lines evolve, the electrical infrastructure supporting them must also adapt.

An enclosure installed several years ago may now house additional drives, controllers and network equipment that were not part of its original design. While each upgrade may be relatively small, these changes can affect power requirements, internal heat loads and the overall configuration of the electrical system.

For Australian food and beverage manufacturers, **keeping infrastructure aligned with production upgrades is an important part of maintaining reliable, efficient operations.**

## When Production Equipment Changes, So Do the Requirements

Consider an existing production line being upgraded with additional automation.

New variable frequency drives (VFDs), controllers, and monitoring equipment can introduce additional heat inside electrical enclosures. If the surrounding area is already exposed to elevated temperatures from ovens, cookers or steam systems, the cooling requirements may also change.

An enclosure and climate control system originally specified for one equipment configuration may therefore need to be reassessed as more components are installed.

The production environment also influences these decisions.

Electrical equipment in wet processing areas may be exposed to regular washdowns, cleaning chemicals, and high humidity, while other areas of the same facility operate under very different conditions.

**Enclosure protection and thermal management need to account for both the equipment inside and the environment surrounding it.**

## The Impact of Ongoing Production Upgrades

Food and beverage facilities rarely remain unchanged throughout their operating life.

Equipment is replaced, automation is expanded, and different contractors may work on the same production line over many years.

Without a consistent approach, these changes can introduce multiple enclosure types, cooling systems and electrical configurations across a facility.

This can increase maintenance complexity, spare parts requirements and the engineering work involved in future upgrades.

Standardising enclosure platforms, climate control approaches and documentation practices helps establish consistency while still allowing individual installations to be configured for their specific requirements.

Accurate documentation is equally important. As equipment changes, electrical drawings and as-built records should be updated to reflect the installation.

## Supporting More Connected Production

As manufacturers introduce greater monitoring and traceability capabilities, the infrastructure behind production extends beyond traditional electrical equipment.

Sensors, scanners, controllers and industrial networks collect and transfer information throughout the production process.

While software manages much of this information, the underlying systems still depend on reliable power, connectivity, equipment protection and suitable operating conditions.

As more devices are connected, these requirements become part of the wider electrical infrastructure supporting production.

## Planning for What Comes Next

The challenge for food and beverage manufacturers is not simply accommodating the next equipment upgrade. It is ensuring that each change remains compatible with the infrastructure already in place.

Additional automation can affect enclosure heat loads, new network equipment introduces further power and connectivity requirements, and production changes can influence the surrounding operating environment.

Considering these factors together provides a more consistent approach to future upgrades.

**Rittal and Eplan** offer complementary solutions across enclosure systems, climate control, power distribution, IT infrastructure and engineering software, supporting the design and ongoing development of electrical and automation infrastructure.

As food and beverage production continues to evolve, a coordinated approach helps ensure the systems behind production remain suited to changing requirements.

## Explore Food & Beverage Infrastructure Solutions

Discover more about enclosure selection, thermal management and electrical infrastructure for food and beverage production in the **Rittal and Eplan Food & Beverage brochure**.

 

[**DOWNLOAD THE FOOD & BEVERAGE BROCHURE**](https://blog.rittal.com.au/hubfs/social-suggested-images/RI_ANZ_EN_2026/RI_ANZ_EN_2026_PDF/RI_ANZ_EN_2026_FoodandBevPlayBook.pdf)

[View full post](https://blog.rittal.com.au/blog/is-the-infrastructure-behind-food-production-keeping-pace)

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