For the 13th consecutive year, ITW Food Equipment Group has earned the nation’s highest honor for energy efficiency. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the food equipment manufacturer with its ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year—Sustained Excellence Award for 2020.

By maintaining a focus on energy savings and efficiency in the manufacturing of food equipment from its family of premium brands – Hobart, Traulsen, Vulcan, Wolf, Baxter and Stero – ITW Food Equipment Group has earned Partner of the Year—Sustained Excellence awards since 2010, as well as ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year awards in 2008 and 2009.

“2019 was an important year in the development of energy efficient, ENERGY STAR certified equipment for our brands,” says Todd Blair, director of marketing, ITW Food Equipment Group. “Partnering with ENERGY STAR and the EPA is not just an important relationship for us; it’s important for our customers. Our dedication to sustainability goes beyond simply labeling ourselves “green.” We are committed to manufacturing more efficient commercial kitchen equipment for foodservice and food retail professionals, so they can feel confident they are using equipment that decreases impact on the environment as well as their bottom line.”

In 2019, ITW Food Equipment Group brands increased the availability of ENERGY STAR certified models by 2 percent, improving their offering to 384 ENERGY STAR certified models. Other 2019 key accomplishments from ITW Food Equipment Group’s energy efficient equipment and technology included:

  • Nearly doubled the number of available ENERGY STAR certified convection ovens (from 14 to 26) from the Vulcan, Wolf and Hobart brands.
  • Completed a two-year program to convert all Traulsen brand refrigeration equipment production lines to low GWP, non-flammable HFO refrigerants that maintain or improve on prior model energy usage.
  • Introduced a new brand, Centerline™ by Hobart, that debuted with an ENERGY STAR certified undercounter dishwasher.
  • Published an ENERGY STAR toolkit for Vulcan dealers that details up-to-date, state-by-state rebates, incentives and talking points, which helps to show the financial benefit for purchasers.
  • Completed lighting efficiency upgrades (fluorescent to LED) at the company’s three largest facilities, Baltimore, Maryland; Troy, Ohio; and Fort Worth, Texas.

“I salute the 2020 ENERGY STAR award winners,” says Anne Idsal, EPA principal deputy assistant administrator for air and radiation. “These leaders demonstrate how energy efficiency drives economic competitiveness in tandem with environmental protection.”