John Crane: Cutting Emissions With Optical Gas Imaging

John Crane, a specialist in flow control and engineered technology, recently completed a Quantitative Optical Gas Imaging (QOGI) survey for a major food producer.

Using cooled infrared cameras, the company detected and quantified hydrocarbon and gas leaks remotely – delivering a safer and more energy-efficient alternative to traditional leak detection.

This technology gives operators real-time insight into fugitive emissions, allowing them to minimise unnecessary energy losses that can occur through small, often undetected leaks.

It also removes the need for direct measurement, reducing risk while improving accuracy in monitoring airborne emissions.

Supporting decarbonisation through data

The survey focused on a key extractor unit in vegetable oil production, using QOGI to pinpoint 22 potential leak points spanning fittings, seals and flanges.

Armed with this data, the customer could target maintenance where it delivered the greatest operational and energy benefits.

Left unaddressed, the leaks would have equated to an estimated material loss exceeding US$194,000 annually, based on the producer’s hydrocarbon solvent use.

The survey was delivered at a fraction of that cost, confirming both a rapid return on investment and the value of early energy loss intervention.

"This project demonstrates how advanced diagnostics can support more reliable and sustainable food production processes," says Philippe Lambert, VP of Commercial & Service for John Crane.

"QOGI provides customers with clear visibility of loss mechanisms, allowing them to target repairs effectively and validate the impact of maintenance over time.”

Insights for energy-intensive industries

Following the success of the first study, the customer invited John Crane to carry out additional QOGI inspections at another facility using similar equipment.

Regular surveys are now planned to validate ongoing performance and support continuous efficiency gains.

By visualising and quantifying emissions, QOGI uncovers inefficiencies that conventional techniques often miss.

For operators managing heat- and energy-intensive processes, the technology provides both environmental and operational returns – protecting equipment reliability while cutting avoidable losses and reinforcing worker safety.

Technology aligned with energy transition goals

John Crane’s wider commitment to sustainability is rooted in its parent group Smiths Group’s participation in the UN’s Race to Zero campaign.

The company aims for net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2040 and Scope 3 by 2050 – helping tackle climate change by reducing its own energy consumption, waste and carbon footprint.

At the same time, John Crane’s solutions support customers on their own energy transition journeys through technologies that cut emissions and limit waste.

Over the last decade, the company has halved its greenhouse gas emissions, with 72% of its tracked energy now drawn from renewable sources.

In 2023, its Turn It Off campaign encouraged employees to identify opportunities to lower energy use across global operations, resulting in measurable reductions in consumption – further reinforcing the connection between behavioural change and industrial energy performance.

John Crane’s ongoing development of technologies such as QOGI demonstrates how emissions transparency and proactive maintenance can deliver stronger energy efficiency and lower carbon intensity across production industries.