No one knows exactly when ice cream was invented, although we know that frozen desserts were introduced into the royal courts of England and France during the 16th Century. The ability to produce ice cream as we know it today paralleled the invention of effective cooling and freezing technologies, and the first industrial ice cream production facility was established in Baltimore in 1851.
Look in today’s supermarket freezers and you will find traditional recipes side-by-side with increasingly popular ‘healthy’ options, including non-dairy, plant-based ice creams, frozen yoghurts, and reduced fat/sugar/calorie products are winning consumer favor. Gluten-free, vegan and even probiotic ice creams cater for special diets. It is a highly diverse, truly global market that is broadly expected to reach up to $89 billion by 2025.
GEA knows your business
Winning market share in this highly competitive space means having the flexibility to anticipate and meet new trends head on, develop new recipes and incorporate new ingredients into processes. Your consumers expect authentic flavors, consistently smooth and silky textures, and visually appealing form and color. But manufacturers must also maintain safety, quality, cost-effectiveness and meet sustainability goals. And that means improving energy and resource efficiency, recycling heat and water where possible, and reducing waste.
It is a tall order. It is why the industry worldwide relies on GEA’s knowhow and expertise in ice cream processing, technology and engineering. We configure and install complete process lines for every step of manufacture, from milk and ingredients reception, through to final wrapping, packaging and storage. Our versatile components and equipment are designed to help address key challenges associated with handling and processing multiple and diverse ingredients.
Tailor-made and flexible
From efficient separation, evaporation, homogenization and pasteurization systems to state-of-the-art refrigeration and water-efficient clean-in-place plants, we tailor the best technologies to address your main pain points. User-friendly, enterprise-wide automation software and hardware solutions help to optimize every process line and operating parameter, without tying you in too expensive, complicated service and upgrade plans.
Versatility is key, and flexible plants designed by GEA can be configured to handle perhaps 500 different recipes. Our aim is to help you improve productivity and profitability, reduce delays and bottlenecks and so speed the return on your equipment investment and overall cost effectiveness of your plants.
GEA project specialists work with you to unpick and understand your current and projected future requirements and expectations. We take care of every detail, and always work hard to deliver projects on time, and to budget, however complex. Talk to your local GEA team to find out more.
Products & Technologies
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Aseptic valves & components
Aseptic valves face exceptionally high demands within UltraClean and Aseptic processes. You can be assured that they all provide highest quality in terms of hygienic design and sustainability.
Centrifugal Separator
GEA separators are designed for liquid-based applications. Using centrifugal force, they are used for separating suspensions consisting of two or more phases of different densities, i.e. they can be used for liquid-liquid separation, for liquid-liquid-solid separation or for liquid-solid separation. They are equally as effective at separating liq...
Control Top T.VIS® A-15
Equipped with a high-precision path measuring system, the T.VIS® A-15 offers automatic open/close position recognition on any valve, which can be equipped with a T.VIS® control top.
Control Top T.VIS® M-20
The control top GEA T.VIS® M-20 offers the entire range of modern control functions required in the majority of application points, plus additional advantages in terms of automated valve commissioning and efficient equipment management.
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GEA Insights
A new recipe for indulgence
What if your favorite chocolate didn’t require cocoa beans and your coffee was locally produced? As climate disruption, price hikes and ethical concerns hit two of our most beloved indulgences, scientists are reimagining how we produce them – using microbes, not monocultures. The goal: preserve the flavor and properties of coffee and chocolate while minimizing carbon emissions and improving food resilience.
Fueling the circular economy in shipping
Ports now compete not just on logistics, but on sustainability. At Greece’s Piraeus port, an advanced processing and recovery facility recycles ship waste oil into fuel. Equipped with GEA’s high-performance centrifuges, it sets a new benchmark for state-of-the-art, environmentally responsible port operations.
Closing the loop: key lessons for breweries from OeTTINGER
The 2022 CO2 shortage forced breweries to review their dependency on global supply chains. Many were forced to close, unable to carbonate their products. At its breweries in Germany, OeTTINGER GETRÄNKE is turning its own CO2 into a powerful lever for independence and sustainability – with the help of CO2 recovery technology from GEA.
