New milestone project for decarbonization
Reinventing Sugar Production: PILLER and Cosun Advance Industrial Decarbonization
The V-Rise project demonstrates how advanced Mechanical Vapor Recompression can turn heat into a powerful lever for lower-carbon
[Moringen, August 25th, 2026]
Piller Blowers & Compressors and Cosun Beet Company, a business group of Royal Cosun, have signed a major contract for the groundbreaking V-RISE project at Cosun’s Vierverlaten sugar factory near Groningen, Netherlands, marking a significant milestone in the decarbonization of industrial sugar production.
The project V-RISE represents far more than a conventional modernization initiative. It is a fundamental redesign of the sugar manufacturing process, combining Mechanical Vapor Recompression (MVR) technology with continuous evaporation and crystallization to reduce the factory’s dependence on natural gas. Once implemented, the project is expected to cut gas consumption by approximately 50 percent and reduce CO₂ emissions by 40 percent compared with 2018 levels. The transformation forms an important step in Cosun Beet Company’s long-term ambition to achieve carbon-neutral operations.
Sugar production is an energy-intensive process in which large amounts of heat are required for evaporation and crystallization. Traditionally, a substantial portion of this energy is lost as low-grade residual heat. Through V-RISE, Cosun will introduce a new approach that recovers and upgrades this heat using large-scale heat pumps and advanced MVR systems. By converting batch-based crystallization into a continuous process, residual energy can be reused efficiently, significantly improving overall sustainability and energy performance.
Nine VapoFlex® and one VapoFan® for High Performance
As part of the project, PILLER will supply ten vapor compressors for evaporation and crystallization applications. The package includes both multi-stage compressor trains and single-stage units, together forming the largest and most advanced MVR installation ever realized in the sugar industry. Several of these compressors will also rank among the largest MVR machines engineered and manufactured by PILLER to date.
The contract is the culmination of several years of close collaboration between the two companies. Throughout the development phase, PILLER has supported Cosun with technology expertise, process know-how and extensive pre-engineering activities. The project team worked together to develop a technically robust and future-proof solution capable of delivering significant energy and emissions reductions while maintaining the reliability and efficiency required by large-scale sugar production.
PILLER as a Leading Partner for the Global Sugar Industry
For PILLER, the project further strengthens its position as a leading technology partner for Mechanical Vapor Recompression systems in the global sugar industry. Supported by a growing installed base and an expanding project pipeline, the company continues to drive the adoption of highly efficient compressor technologies that enable customers to reduce fossil fuel consumption and improve environmental performance.
The V-RISE project is widely regarded as one of the most ambitious sustainability initiatives ever undertaken in the sugar sector. By demonstrating how advanced process technology and energy recovery can transform a traditionally energy-intensive industry, it has the potential to become a benchmark for future sugar production worldwide.
The future of lower-carbon sugar production is taking shape today – and PILLER is proud to help engineer it together with Cosun Beet Company.
[Characters, including spaces: 3, 636]
---
About Piller Blowers & Compressors
Since 1909, PILLER has been one of the world’s leading manufacturers of fluid machinery for the process industry. With over 100 years of experience, the family-owned company in Moringen, Germany, develops customized solutions for demanding applications with high thermal and mechanical requirements, such as evaporation, crystallization, and distillation.
Industries such as food & beverage, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and pulp & paper benefit from high efficiency, reliability, and durability. Thanks to innovative heat recovery systems, PILLER machines enable energy savings of up to 75%, CO₂ reductions of over 60%, and energy costs that are up to 90% lower.
With approximately 540 employees, international subsidiaries, and a comprehensive range of services, PILLER supports its customers throughout the entire plant lifecycle, always striving to further advance efficiency and sustainability.
+49 5554 201-0
+49 5554 201-271