ELEA Showcases PiCon Process Monitoring Technology for Potato PEF Processing at Advantage Day 2026

On 9th of September, ELEA welcomed customers, partners and food processing experts to Quakenbrück for PEF Advantage Day 2026.

This year's event focused on the connection between established industrial PEF applications and new approaches to process monitoring. A highlight was the presentation of ELEA's latest PiCon developments, with Günter Willenborg from Wernsing Feinkost GmbH sharing an industrial user perspective from ongoing PiCon Sense trials.

Participants also saw PiCon Sense and PiCon Vision in operation on a potato PEF treatment line with the ELEA PEF Advantage B1 system. PiCon Sense uses acoustic and vibration signals during cutting, while PiCon Vision combines machine vision and AI to monitor the product on the conveyor belt.

The demonstrations showed how process information can provide greater visibility into PEF treatment and help connect process conditions with product quality and production performance.
 

Looking ahead to WCE 2026

The global electroporation community will meet in Daytona Beach, Florida, from 27th of September to 1st of October for the 6th World Congress on Electroporation.

ELEA's Managing Director Stefan Toepfl will chair the session "The Use of Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) in the Food Industry" on 28th of September, bringing together industrial users, researchers and technology providers to discuss the latest developments and future opportunities for PEF in food processing.

ELEA Managing Director Stefan Toepfl at the World Congress on Electroporation, where ELEA contributes to discussions on industrial PEF applications and future developments.

For Stefan Toepfl, one of the most valuable aspects of WCE is the exchange between different parts of the electroporation community. Researchers, technology developers, equipment manufacturers and industrial users bring different perspectives to the same field.

Stefan Toepfl, Managing Director of ELEA:

"Nobody develops this field alone."

These discussions, new perspectives and collaborations help connect scientific findings with real-world applications. ELEA is proud to support WCE 2026 as a sponsor and looks forward to reconnecting with colleagues and meeting new members of the global electroporation community. 
 

Meet ELEA's partner Kiron Food Processing Technologies at Anuga FoodTec India

From 29th of September to 1st of October, ELEA's business partner Kiron Food Processing Technologies (KFPT) will be exhibiting at Anuga FoodTec India at the Bombay Exhibition Centre. 

 

ELEA partner Kiron Food Processing Technologies will showcase PEF technology at Anuga FoodTec India, highlighting benefits for potato chip and French fry production, including efficiency, product quality and sustainability

Celebrating its 20th edition, the event brings together the food and beverage industry and showcases developments in food processing, packaging, automation and supply chain solutions.

The team can be found in Hall 3, Booths G02, H02 and H16.

At the stand, the Kiron team and ELEA's Sales Manager Johannes Pfeiffer will be highlighting how PEF technology can improve cutting quality, reduce energy consumption and support more sustainable potato processing operations. 
 

Coming up: Where to meet ELEA

The next few months bring several opportunities to meet the ELEA team and discuss PEF applications:

13th to 15th of October 2026
9th EU Starch Value Chain & Fermentation Conference, Düsseldorf, Germany

3rd to 5th of November 2026
Gulfood Manufacturing 2026, Dubai, UAE

17th to 20th of November 2026
Simei 2026, Milan, Italy

29th of November to 1st of December 2026
Interpom 2026, Kortrijk, Belgium

ELEA looks forward to continuing the conversation about PEF, current applications and the developments shaping the next generation of food processing. Those planning to meet ELEA at WCE, Simei, Interpom or Anuga FoodTec India can contact the company to arrange a discussion about their application. 
 

The People Behind ELEA: PhD researchers

ELEA PhD researchers working on the development and optimization of Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) technology for food processing applications

Behind many of ELEA's developments is a team of researchers exploring how PEF can be applied and optimised across different food products. Arisa Thamsuaidee investigates PEF as an alternative preservation method for plant-based beverages, focusing on microbial reduction while maintaining product quality and consumer acceptance.

Madita Kirchner studies how PEF changes plant tissues at cellular and macroscopic levels and how these changes affect processing performance. She also leads the PiCon Sense project.

Matteo Stefanelli researches industrial PEF processing, focusing on treatment chamber design and process parameters to minimise thermal effects, maintain product quality and support efficient microbial decontamination.

Zohor Naseri investigates PEF processing of plant-based milk alternatives, with a focus on millet-based systems, extraction efficiency, starch behaviour and product functionality. Together, their work helps build the scientific foundation for future industrial PEF applications, supporting innovations in product quality, process efficiency and sustainable food production.