Pioneering new process-engineering technologies

PIonEERInG nEW PRocESSEnGInEERInG TEcHnoLoGIES

GEA is the global leader in the development and supply of process engineering technologies for the food industry as well as for a wide range of other business sectors. The company’s ambitious expansion programme continues with new strategic acquisitions and a string of groundbreaking innovative products. Philip Yorke reports.

The GEA Group can trace its roots back to 1881, when it was founded in Dusseldorf, Germany as MG Technologies AG. Following a number of major setbacks owing to the destruction caused by two world wars, the group made remarkable progress to become a global leader in its chosen disciplines. In 2016 GEA generated consolidated revenues of over €4.5 billion, over 70 per cent of which came from the food industry. To give an impression of its strong position in the food industry, one quarter of all milk processes are handled by GEA equipment, one in three instant coffee lines has been built by GEA and every third chicken nugget is processed with GEA equipment.

The company is listed on the German MDAX index and included in the STOXX® Europe 600 index. In addition, the group is listed in selected MSCI Global Sustainability Indexes. Acquisition milestone

Recently the GEA Group announced that it had moved to acquire the Pavan Group of Italy. The company is a leading supplier of extrusion and milling technology for processing a wide range of fresh and dried pasta, as well as pelleted snack products and breakfast cereals. With head offices in Galliera Veneta near Padua, this large corporate group employs around 700 people at its numerous modern production facilities located in Italy.

In 2016 the company recorded sales of more than €155 million. The highly successful Italian group generates over 40 per cent of its revenues in Europe, followed by America with 27 per cent and Asia with 17 per cent, finally with Africa and the Middle East representing 14 per cent. This strategically important acquisition is likely to be completed in the course of 2017.

“The acquisition is an important milestone in our stated growth strategy of expanding GEA’s activities in the area of food processing. With its unrivalled extrusion know-how the Pavan Group builds an attractive platform for us to extend our technology portfolio. In strategic terms, therefore, the company is an excellent match for us and will help to promote growth at GEA going forward,” explained Jurg Oleas, CEO of the GEA Group.

“With GEA’s extensive sales and service network, we will be able to open up new markets for our solutions cross the whole world. As a truly global supplier of systems for the food processing industry, GEA will provide us with ideal growth opportunities,” added Andrea Cavagnis, CEO of Pavan SpA.

The power of innovation

As a result of the company’s continuing commitment to innovation and sustainability, GEA has announced its latest addition to its extensive product portfolio. GEA recently added the PowerGrind 200 to its larger 280 model range to complete its family of robust, high capacity power grinders. These advanced grinders cut up fresh and frozen meat and supersede the earlier GEA AutoGrind range of products.

The innovative GEA designed, twin screw technology remains the benchmark for grinding fresh or frozen meat without the need for changing the cutting set or screw. It results in fewer fines and less dust and no crushed meat. Further improvements include an autoreverse screw that prevents blockage and offers even more robust construction. Faster in-feed possibilities, hygienic and safety design improvements have earned DGUV approval and PLC control.

The unique double screw configuration features a slowly rotating feeder worm that cuts frozen blocks rather than breaking them. As a result, particle definition is excellent and fat separation is kept to a minimum. This advanced technique also generates very little heat, so that quality is maintained with no squashing or smearing.

Product manager for GEA grinders, William Prinssen, said, “The double screw widened the application windows for grinders. In order to take things to a higher level we have made the screws more robust and the grinder design smarter. Our latest PowerGrind range features a patent pending technology that automatically reverses and then starts the feeder screw should the machine sense that the processing screw is being fed with too much product. Subsequently the auto Reverse Drive enables the machine to keep going,” added Prinssen.

New Pharma partnership

GEA and the centre for Pharmaceutical Engineering GmbH are working in partnership to facilitate the industrial implementation of new continuous manufacturing technologies. This strategic part-

nership provides a single-source repository of process technology, design and material know-how, as well as simulation and modelling expertise, in order to optimise the integration and use of process technologies and unit operations for the production of oral solid dosage (OSD) forms.

“With more than 10 years of investment, research and experience, GEA has pioneered the development of cutting-edge technologies to bring continuous processing to the pharmaceutical industry. With our unparalleled history in the processing of OSDs, from pills to pellets to MUPS (Multiple Unit Pellet Systems), and our tried and tested technologies, I am convinced that we can continue to help our customers to get their products to market faster in a cost-effective way,” said Phil Gabb, head of Solid Dosage Sales Support, GEA. n

For further details of the GEA Group’s innovative process engineering products and services visit: www.gea.com