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GEA equips resource-conserving dairy plant with full range of processing technology
27 May 2020
In the first quarter of 2020, the technology company GEA was commissioned by Hochwald Foods GmbH to provide the entire technological setup for dairy processing at a new plant in the German town of Mechernich, near Cologne. The contract comprises the implementation planning, production, delivery, assembly and commissioning as well as the acceptance of all process-related and operational treatment and processing machinery for manufacturing the various dairy products. Hochwald Foods, one of the largest dairy companies in Germany, wants to use the new facility to process roughly 800 million liters of milk per year to produce high-quality dairy products such as UHT milk, UHT cream, UHT drinkable yogurt, mixed milk products with a long shelf life as well as condensed milk. Installation of the first plant components is expected to begin before the end of 2020. The plant is slated to be commissioned in mid-2021.
“We are delighted that Hochwald Foods has placed its trust in GEA and our technology to bring such an important project to life. In all, GEA will deliver, install and commission all plant components for processing dairy products, from milk reception to filling machines. In the planning stages, particular attention was paid to the highly efficient, resource-saving setup of the plant as well as to fully integrating its design into the customer’s overall automation concept. GEA’s contribution here entails more than just providing its innovative technology for the individual steps in production: Rather, as a comprehensive supplier, it will additionally optimize the entire facility and configure it in an even more sustainable way,” said Stefan Klebert, CEO of GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft.
“Our aim is to produce high-quality dairy products to the most rigorous technical standards at our new plant in Mechernich. That is why we are looking to long-term, cost-efficient and sustainable solutions. We see GEA as an innovative and reliable partner for our project,” explains Thorsten Oberschmidt, COO of Hochwald Foods GmbH.
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About GEA
GEA is one of the world’s largest suppliers of systems and components to the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries.
The international technology group, founded in 1881, focuses on machinery and plants, as well as advanced process technology, components and comprehensive services. For instance, every second pharma separator for essential healthcare products such as vaccines or novel biopharmaceuticals is produced by GEA. In food, every fourth package of pasta or every third chicken nugget are processed with GEA technology.
With more than 18,000 employees, the group generated sales of about EUR 5.5 billion in more than 150 countries in the 2025 fiscal year. GEA plants, processes, components and services enhance the efficiency and sustainability of customers’ production. They contribute significantly to the reduction of CO2 emissions, plastic usage and food waste. In doing so, GEA makes a key contribution toward a sustainable future, in line with the company’s purpose: ”Engineering for a better world.”
GEA is listed on the German MDAX, the European STOXX® Europe 600 Index and is also a constituent of the leading sustainability indices DAX 50 ESG, MSCI Global Sustainability and Dow Jones Best-in-Class World.
