Elea’s PEF Advantage Day 2026 connects industrial experience with PiCon’s real-time process data
On 9th of September 2026, Elea Technology GmbH welcomed customers, partners and food processing experts to PEF Advantage Day 2026 in Quakenbrück. The event brought together established PEF applications, industrial experience and new approaches to process monitoring, with live demonstrations of ELEA's PiCon tools in operation.
In his opening presentation, Dr. Stefan Toepfl outlined how advances in process understanding, monitoring technologies and industrial feedback continue to shape the next generation of PEF applications. "As PEF becomes increasingly established in industrial production, understanding and optimising process performance in real time becomes equally important. Tools such as PiCon help connect treatment conditions with product quality and production results."
Transforming process data into industrial value
A key part of the programme was the presentation "PiCon Tools: New Inline PEF Process Control", which brought together ELEA's latest technology developments and an industrial user perspective.
Günter Willenborg from Wernsing Feinkost GmbH joined ELEA Application Support Manager Kevin Hill and Food Engineer and PhD student Madita Kirchner to discuss developments in PiCon Sense, PiCon Vision and PiCon Flow.
Wernsing's contribution provided a direct connection to industrial application. The German food manufacturer, which produces French fries and a wide range of potato-based food products, is currently testing PiCon Sense in industrial trials. Willenborg shared Wernsing's experience with PEF in potato processing, including the benefits the technology has brought to production over the years, as well as impressions from the ongoing collaboration with ELEA.
The trials provide an opportunity to evaluate PiCon Sense under real production conditions and from the perspective of an industrial user, helping to explore how inline monitoring can support established PEF processes.
The discussions also highlighted how ongoing research, process monitoring and industrial field experience increasingly work together to transform PEF data into practical improvements in product quality, process efficiency and production performance.
Seeing PEF and PiCon in operation
The technology was also demonstrated live during the event. Participants saw the PiCon tools operating as part of a potato PEF treatment line with the Elea PEF Advantage B1 system, a conveyor belt and a cutter.
PiCon Sense uses acoustic and vibration signals to assess PEF treatment during cutting, while PiCon Vision uses machine vision and AI to monitor what is happening on the conveyor belt. PiCon Flow complements these developments by providing additional process monitoring data on frying oil and water usage as part of Elea's portfolio for PEF process monitoring and control.
The demonstration showed how different sources of process information can provide a clearer view of what is happening during treatment and as the product moves through the line. This visibility can help users understand treatment conditions and identify opportunities for process optimisation.
From process data to production performance
Alongside the presentations and demonstrations, system tours and open discussions gave participants the opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss practical applications.
A central theme was the value of linking process data directly to product quality and production performance. For PEF, this means using information from the treatment process to better understand its relationship with the product and subsequent production steps.
The combination of an industrial trial, live technology demonstrations and discussions with processors provided a practical perspective on the development of inline PEF monitoring. It also highlighted the importance of developing these tools in close contact with the processes and applications in which they will be used.
PEF Advantage Day 2026 brought together current industrial experience and new approaches to PEF process monitoring and control. The exchange highlighted how process data, industrial experience and ongoing innovation can work together to support the next generation of PEF applications.
Elea thanks all customers, partners and guests who contributed their experience and perspectives to the day and looks forward to continuing the exchange.
