A major multinational pet food manufacturer has selected Spooner to design, develop, and manufacture two state-of-the-art hybrid ovens for a facility in Europe, marking a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to net-zero manufacturing. The project, scheduled for completion in summer 2026, will introduce dual-fuel forced convection technology capable of producing dog treats whilst dramatically reducing carbon emissions.
The hybrid oven solution represents a strategic investment in sustainable manufacturing, allowing the facility to leverage on-site solar power generation as a supplementary fuel source. By implementing dual-fuel technology, the manufacturer gains the flexibility to transition gradually from 100% gas to blended gas / electric as local grid capacity increases and solar generation expands.
Both systems are engineered to seamlessly balance electric and gas-fired heating while maintaining the precise temperature, air flow, and velocity profiles essential for consistent product quality.
Spooner’s proprietary electric element technology enables multi-directional airflow, delivering uniform heat distribution comparable to traditional gas-fired ovens. The company’s engineering team invested two years in developing and testing the hybrid technology to ensure performance metrics exceeded conventional market standards.
The implementation is projected to deliver significant operational benefits, with estimated savings of up to 200kW in natural gas usage per hour on one production line. These savings will expand further as the facility increases the utilisation of its solar generation capacity in the coming years. The dual-fuel capability also provides operational resilience, allowing the site to adapt to energy supply fluctuations and pricing variations whilst maintaining continuous production.
The hybrid ovens are designed with long-term flexibility in mind to adapt to an ever-changing market. Spooner will also provide ongoing service and maintenance support to ensure optimal performance throughout the equipment’s operational lifetime.
“This project demonstrates how innovative engineering can bridge the gap between current infrastructure and future sustainability goals,” says Ian Thornham, Sales & Marketing Director “Our hybrid oven technology enables manufacturers to reduce their carbon footprint today while building the foundation for a fully electric future.”
