Demand Control Kitchen Ventilation (DCKV) Case Study: Metos Personnel Restaurant

Metos, the Nordic leader in professional kitchen solutions, chose FlowHero for its own staff restaurant. The demand control kitchen ventilation system (DCKV), delivers concrete energy savings and supports the company’s sustainability goals.

Customer's savings per year:

-59
%

Airflow Rate

-47
MWh

Energy Consumption

-3 700
€

Energy Costs

2,4
years

Payback Time

Metos knows professional kitchens. As the leading Nordic expert, manufacturer, and supplier of kitchen solutions for professionals, Metos believes in both quality and responsibility. This is reflected in the solutions it offers as well as in the way the company operates.

When Tobias Heiskanen, Product Manager at Metos, became familiar with Safera’s FlowHero demand control kitchen ventilation (DCKV) product, it was immediately clear to him that they wanted it in use at Metos’ own staff restaurant.

“Metos and Safera are both part of the University of Turku’s Dining Flow project, which explores ways to improve the sustainability of self-service restaurants. Through that, I got to hear about the results achieved with FlowHero. They spoke for themselves,” Heiskanen explains.

Reducing energy consumption is a key goal for Metos

Sustainability is a key part of Metos’ business strategy. As part of this work, Metos is committed to reducing its environmental impact, and lowering the energy consumption of the Kerava (Finland) facility is a natural goal.

Based on Heiskanen’s recommendation, Safera also introduced FlowHero to Jari Väisänen, who is responsible for quality, environment, safety, and facilities at Metos.

“Improving energy efficiency has been a priority for us in recent years, and based on the calculations, FlowHero fit that strategy perfectly,” Väisänen says.

The investment decision was easy, and the delivery process effortless

The decision to invest in FlowHero was made quickly. While sustainability was a major factor in the decision, the expected cost savings alone would have been enough to justify the investment.

Before proceeding, however, it was necessary to confirm FlowHero’s compatibility with the automation system in Metos’ building. Safera handled this directly with the supplier – Metos didn’t need to get involved.

Once everything was cleared, the actual delivery took just a few days and didn’t disrupt the restaurant’s operations.

“It was a smooth and effortless process for us overall,” says Väisänen.

“The outcome is on track to exceed our original estimates – which were already convincing. The investment is paying off even faster than we expected. Our annual energy consumption is dropping by nearly 50 MWh, which is also significant in terms of our sustainability goals.”
– Jari Väisänen, Metos

High expectations for the Metos staff restaurant

Metos Center is a place where professional kitchen experts meet, and it houses Finland’s most extensive showroom of kitchen equipment. The space is also used for customer events and demonstrations, sometimes attracting several hundred visitors at a time.

The staff restaurant located in the same facility must meet a wide range of expectations. Customer numbers fluctuate significantly from day to day, and the guests themselves are often quality-conscious and sharp-eyed professionals.

That’s why the kitchen is equipped to the highest standard. Equipment is also frequently updated, as the space serves as a testing ground for Metos’ own products.

Thanks to FlowHero, the ventilation always runs at the right level

Previously, the kitchen ventilation operated on a timer. During working hours, ventilation ran at a predetermined high setting, and at other times it stayed at minimum. From an energy standpoint, this meant that the system often ran at unnecessarily high power, increasing energy use and electricity costs. Meanwhile, during large events, ventilation could still be insufficient.

With FlowHero, ventilation is now controlled according to actual demand. During lunch hours, when the kitchen is busy, the system runs at higher capacity. As things quiet down toward the evening, ventilation power drops accordingly.

FlowHero’s automation also ensures that Metos no longer has to worry about inadequate ventilation – even during the busiest customer events.

The impact is clear in energy consumption

Ventilation works best when you don’t notice it. FlowHero was brought into use at the Metos staff restaurant in early 2025, and in the kitchen, no major difference was noticed.

“It took a short while for the automatic ventilation to learn when to activate, but after that, everything has worked exactly as it should,” says Heli Kaukosuo, who works as a cook.

When it comes to energy use, however, the results speak for themselves, says Väisänen.

“The outcome is on track to exceed our original estimates – which were already convincing. The investment is paying off even faster than we expected. Our annual energy consumption is dropping by nearly 50 MWh, which is also significant in terms of our sustainability goals.”

Actual results exceeded the initial estimation

  • Airflow reduced by 59% (initial estimate: 50%)
  • Annual energy savings: 46.6 MWh (initial estimate: 35 MWh)
  • Annual cost savings: €3,700 (initial estimate: €2,800)
  • CO₂ reduction: 0 tCO₂/year (Metos was already using green energy)
  • Payback time: approximately 2.4 years (initial estimate: 3 years)
  • Total investment: €9,000 (€6,000 for FlowHero + €3,000 for electrical and automation work; initial estimate: €8,000)

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