PEF Inline Control Tools

Real-time monitoring, AI-powered insights, and automated process optimisation for consistent product quality, higher efficiency, and greater transparency.

A New Layer of Intelligence for PEF

PiCon is Elea's new range of intelligent inline monitoring solutions designed to enhance Pulsed Electric Field processes with real-time transparency and data-driven optimisation.

PiCon Sense

Listen to your process. Adjust automatically.

Real-Time Insights from Cutting Processes

PiCon Sense, which is close to industrial implementation, uses AI to analyse acoustic and vibration signals during cutting. This enables real-time process monitoring and adjustment, supporting consistent product quality and operational efficiency.

PiCon Vision

See more. Lower energy consumption. Optimise capacity

Intelligent Belt Load Monitoring to Improve System Efficiency

Currently in development, PiCon Vision combines AI and camera technology to monitor belt load, dirt- and foam detection, helping to reduce energy consumption, optimise capacity, and improve system efficiency.

PiCon Flow

Measure every litre. Save every resource. Save costs.

Resource Monitoring for Frying Processes

PiCon Flow, currently in development, enables precise monitoring of oil and water consumption in frying processes through advanced external flow measurement. Valuable data insights that support resource optimisation, cost reduction and more sustainable production.

Real-time monitoring

AI-powered analysis

Increased efficiency

Improved sustainability

Better process control

Greater process transparency

Reduced resource consumption

Improved product quality

Real-time monitoring AI-powered analysis Increased efficiency Improved sustainability Better process control Greater process transparency Reduced resource consumption Improved product quality

Transform Data Into Performance

Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) is a well-established technology in the food industry, already enabling improved product quality, higher yields, and more efficient processes.

With PiCon, Elea enhances this proven technology by adding new levels of process transparency. The new PEF inline tools provide real-time insights into the PEF process, helping to unlock additional optimisation potential and enabling even greater consistency, efficiency, and process control.

Consistent Product Quality

Real-time process insights help maintain stable production conditions.

Higher Efficiency

Continuous monitoring enables faster response and reduced waste.

Improved Sustainability

Track energy, water and oil consumption more accurately.

Greater Transparency

Know what happens in your process at every stage.

Upcoming PiCon Events

PiCon Webinar

30th June 2026

Our Managing Director Prof. Dr. Stefan Toepfl and Food Engineer & PhD student Madita Kirchner will share the latest developments, discuss industrial implementation, and highlight PiCon’s value across different PEF applications.

PEF Advantage Day - PiCon

9th September 2026

Join us on the 9th of September 2026 at Elea’s headquarters in Quakenbrück, Germany, for this year’s PEF Advantage Day dedicated to our PiCon Tools.

Interpom 2026

29th November 2026

Meet us at Interpom 2026! From 29th of November to 1st of December, Elea will be exhibiting at Interpom in Kortrijk, Belgium! Visit us at Booth 224 and discover everything about PEF Technology for potato chips, French fries and PiCon.

PiCon Sense

Inline intelligence for perfect PEF in every cut

Elea is advancing PEF automation with PiCon Sense, our latest innovation for inline control in potato and vegetable processing. Developed to support the next step in PEF performance, PiCon brings new intelligence directly into the production line.

PiCon monitors PEF treatment efficacy in real time during slicing. Using acoustic and vibration signal analysis, combined with AI, it classifies treatment intensity and triggers immediate feedback, ensuring consistent results without interrupting production.

1

PEF treated product is cut

2

Sound & vibration captured by our PiCon sensors

3

Signal is analysed by our AI

4

PEF quality is classified and set

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Optimised PEF treatment is applied

Advancing PEF depends on continuous R&D and strong partnerships that turn innovation into industrial capability. PiCon Sense is a result of this collaborative work, transforming research into a practical, AI-supported inline system for real-time PEF treatment monitoring with immediate feedback and no line stoppage.

The Initial PiCon Reasearch Project

Where it all started

PiCon began as a research initiative focused on applying artificial intelligence to improve Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) process control through real-time monitoring. The original project investigated how acoustic and vibration signals generated during cutting could be used to assess PEF treatment effectiveness and support process optimisation.

Potential & Evolution

The results demonstrated the potential of AI-driven inline monitoring to increase process transparency, improve consistency and enable smarter process control. Building on this foundation, the original PiCon concept has evolved into PiCon Sense, the first member of Elea's new PiCon range of intelligent monitoring solutions. Today, PiCon is expanding beyond acoustic analysis to include vision-based and resource-monitoring technologies, creating a comprehensive platform for data-driven PEF process optimisation.

Research Partners

The original PiCon research project was carried out in collaboration with leading research and industry partners, helping transform an innovative concept into practical solutions for the food processing industry.

Collaborative Innovation

PiCon is a collaborative effort between Elea and leading research and technology partners:

  • DIL Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik e. V.

  • Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz (DFKI)

  • Hochschule Osnabrück

  • WIGOS Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft Osnabrücker Land mbH

  • MCON GROUP

The project is funded by NBank, supporting our commitment to innovation in food processing.