Eskort: Over 100 Years of Tradition Meets State-of-the-Art Thermal Technology

When South Africa’s leading pork producer wants to raise its quality standards, it takes more than good intentions. What’s needed is precise thermal technology, reliable partnerships, and the courage to trust an as yet unknown German manufacturer.

A century of pork expertise: From a cooperatively organized bacon curing operation founded in 1917, Eskort developed over 100 years into a central pillar of South Africa’s meat industry with a fully integrated value chain.

Today, Eskort employs over 2,500 people at its two South African sites in Estcourt and Heidelberg, processing a broad product spectrum: bacon and sausages, ham, smoked and cooked meat products, marinated products, ready-to-eat specialties as well as fresh meat cuts. The consistently vertically oriented integration extends from genetics and modern agriculture through biosecurity systems, processing, curing, smoking, and cooking to packaging and distribution – ensuring complete traceability and quality control at the highest level.

The test run that changed everything

When Eskort installed its first Schröter system in 2013 – a THERMICjet® HR-8 hot smoke house with SMOKjet® RF smoke generator – it was initially a test: Could German technology meet the demanding requirements?

What began as a trial run quickly developed into a collaboration that paved the way for subsequent projects. “We are very proud of our long-standing partnership with this extremely agile and innovative company. Eskort is known for its product innovations, and we gladly take on these challenges and develop customer-specific solutions”, adds Frank Lautenschläger, Sales Vice Director at Schröter Technologie. Currently, Eskort operates 14 Schröter systems distributed across both production sites. The entire thermal process chain has been systematically and strategically converted to Schröter and is equipped with a low-pressure foam cleaning station from PHT.

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We started with one Schröter unit to see whether it could deliver the product quality and consistency we needed — and the results exceeded every expectation. The quality, the yield, the reliability… it was clear we had found the right partner. With PHT’s hands-on support and Schröter’s engineering excellence, investing in more units became an easy decision.

states Arnold Prinsloo, CEO, Eskort (Pty) Ltd.

PHT as a bridge to Europe

A decisive success factor for this achievement is the collaboration with PHT South Africa. Since 2009, PHT has represented Schröter’s interests in the South African market, combining global technology expertise with local know-how.

“PHT’s commitment to Eskort extended beyond supply and service — we opened doors to leading European processing plants so Eskort could experience Schröter’s performance first-hand. This international perspective has helped shape Eskort’s strategic investment in technology that consistently delivers superior results”, says Josef Meßmer, Owner, PHT.

Precision that pays off

Schröter systems excel in process reliability and repeatability. In the THERMICjet® hot smoke houses, precise temperature control ensures controlled thermal treatment, while the SMOKjet® RH09 and RF smoke generators deliver consistent smoking results. The ARCTICjet® intensive chilling houses rapidly cool products and enhance microbiological safety. The intuitive SIEMENS S7 con-trol system combined with Schröter’s adaptive programming and InTouch process visualization makes the operation and processes reliable and efficient.

Particularly noteworthy is the alternating air change system and the power of the THERMICjet® systems: they treat all products uniformly – regardless of their position in the truck. This air circulation with two coordinated fans delivers top results across all batches and minimizes waste.

Strategic expansion

In 2024, Eskort expanded at the Heidelberg site: 10,000 m² increased production capacity by 50 percent. The expansion included new cold rooms, larger carcass coolers, extended deboning lines, and Africa’s largest continuous box freezer.

Such investments don’t happen in a vacuum – they’re based on established trust. This partnership clearly extends beyond project business and is evident on a personal level: Eskort (Pty) Ltd CEO Arnold Prinsloo has visited Schröter’s production facility in Borgholzhausen multiple times and accompanied Dietrich Schröter on customer visits.

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Our collaboration with Eskort demonstrates how trust, technical excellence, and continuous development lead to sustainable success. We look forward to further expanding this partnership in the coming years and supporting Eskort on its path to even higher quality standards.

Dietrich Schröter, Managing Director, Schröter Technologie

Local Partner with global network

PHT South Africa

PHT Trading International was founded in 2007 in Centurion and is a leading provider of integrated hygiene and process technology in hygiene-sensitive production environments. The company combines European premium technology with deep understanding of local requirements.

The portfolio ranges from hygiene entrance systems and industrial washing systems, as well as the process technologies and thermal treatment systems delivered by Schröter. PHT offers complete project support – from consultation and layout planning through installation to long-term after-sales service.

Customer Insights Eskort

Facts and figures

Founded: 1917
CEO: Arnold Prinsloo
Employees: approx. 2,500 (1,300 Heidelberg, 700 Estcourt, 500 Retail) 
Production area: Heidelberg: 30,000 m² | Estcourt: 20,000 m² 
Product Portfolio: Bacon, sausages, ham, smoked and cooked meat products, ribs, marinated products, ready-meal products, seasonal specialties, fresh product