A big plus for your freeze drying set-up
We’ve developed the next generation of GEA freeze dryers - RAY® Plus – to combine the latest design in industrial scale freeze drying with some major improvements in energy efficiency, productivity and ease of cleaning.
Backed by 70 years of GEA expertise in freeze drying R&D and engineering, our RAY® Plus freeze dryers (patent pending) are designed to give your large-scale processes a real boost, with a redesigned chamber that can offer better resource efficiency coupled with lower associated costs. By reducing the pressure losses in the chamber, this new design allows for an impressive 30% greater capacity when compared with existing RAY® freeze dryers that have an equivalent footprint, effectively increasing throughput while optimizing space utilization. The RAY® Plus chamber also supports thorough, fast cleaning, while the human-friendly user interface supports remote access.
A plus for energy efficiency
The improved flow inside the RAY Plus chamber allows you to use less energy on the vapor trap without cutting capacity.
A plus for cleaning
The RAY Plus features a redesigned, self-draining chamber that lets you clean the freeze dryer thoroughly and efficiently.
A plus for capacity
Turn up your freeze-drying throughput. The RAY® Plus gives you 30% more capacity, and so greater productivity for each cycle.
Freeze Drying Newsletter
Let's stay in touch
Improving freeze-drying performance
So how have we achieved all of this? Experts here at GEA developed a proprietary computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model that was instrumental in supporting our design process for the RAY® Plus freeze dryer. The digital tool accurately models and evaluates flow and pressure losses under deep vacuum inside the freeze drying cabinet. Using the CFD model we could virtually assess the effects on freeze drying of even the most subtle alterations in design under different operating conditions. This meant we could ensure that the final design would offer optimal performance and efficiency in the real world.
The result of our innovation gives you a new generation of RAY® Plus freeze dryers that features up to 50% reduction in pressure losses inside the cabinet, when compared with our existing industry-leading portfolio of RAY® freeze dryers. We’ve achieved this by installing vapor traps on both sides of the cabinet, and allowing vapor inlet at both the top and the bottom of the vapor trap.
Our innovation, your way
RAY® Plus user interface
Reengineered top to bottom with the user in mind, the RAY® Plus introduces an intuitive user interface that is human friendly and supports remote access. This, combined with the comprehensive control system with recipe management and batch reporting, makes day to day operation a breeze.
Freeze-dried tomatoes, freeze-dried kiwis, freeze-dried raw meat, freeze-dried oranges, and freeze-dried kale.
A snapshot of freeze dryer scalability
RAY® Plus Pilot Plant freeze dryer
Want to know more? Get in touch with our experts today
Related Products
RAY® Freeze Dryer
The RAY® batch freeze drying plant is designed for production of small-to-medium-volume products such as instant coffee and tea, freeze dried fruit, vegetables, meat, seafood and prepared meals. It is also available in a fully sanitary design for freeze drying of bacteria, enzymes, and other bioactive products.
RAY® Pilot Plant Freeze Dryer
GEA’s RAY® Pilot Plant (RAY® PP) is a batch-based freeze dryer designed to process general food products such as instant coffee, fruit, vegetables, meat, seafood and pet food, as well as very sensitive products such as lactic acid bacteria, enzymes and lactoferrin.
GEA Liquid Nitrogen Freezer
For the rapid and optimal freezing of sensitive food, beverage and fermentation-derived ingredients, immersion in liquid nitrogen provides a number of benefits. The simple-to-use Liquid Nitrogen Freezer from GEA delivers stable, uniformly frozen pellets that are free flowing.
Freeze dryer upgrades
Solutions to improve plant performance, safety, process control and sustainability in freeze drying.
GEA Insights
Arla cuts spray dryer CO₂ with GEA AddCool® system
GEA AddCool® installation cuts CO2 emissions associated with the operation of a spray dryer plant by 1,500 tons per year at Arla’s milk powder factory in Svenstrup, Denmark.
GEA rings opening bell, celebrating DAX debut
On Sept. 30, 2025, GEA rang the opening bell at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, a symbolic moment that highlighted the company’s inclusion in Germany’s leading stock index, the DAX.
A headquarters with people and purpose at its core
GEA’s new corporate headquarters in the up-and-coming Derendorf neighborhood of Düsseldorf, Germany, brings together people, ideas and expertise under one roof. With its open spaces, green terraces and energy-efficient design, the building reflects the company’s commitment to collaboration and sustainability.
