Communiqué pour la presse professionnelle
22 Jul 2020

Drop down of the film evaporator when lifting into the building. (Photo: GEA)
The first plant was successfully commissioned in autumn 2019 in Bexbach, Germany. There, high-quality omega-3 fatty acids are extracted from fish oil, which are used in the food supplement and food industry. In this special process a solution with approx. 11% dry matter (DM) of dissolved silver nitrate is concentrated to approx. 50% DM in the GEA falling film evaporation plant. The concentrated silver nitrate solution can be reused in the process. The plant with a feed capacity of 1,500 kg/h of silver nitrate solution operates in a vacuum at comparatively low temperatures, so that the concentration takes place gently and the concentrate can be discharged at 60°C. The plant operates in an energy-optimized way with heat recovery. The evaporated vapors are compressed in a mechanical compressor and thus raised to a higher temperature level so that they can be used to heat the plant. Since the customer has little space available, the evaporation plant was designed as a skid. It will be transported pre-assembled 8 months after receipt of order and will be final assembled mechanically and electrically on site. The second plant is almost identical in design to the first one and will start up in spring 2021 - only 9 months after order placement - at the Seal Sands (Middlesbrough) plant in England.
KD Pharma Group is the specialist for the production of pharmaceutical products and dietary supplements. One of KD Pharma Group's main focuses is the chromatographic separation of lipids: they are the only company in the world capable of commercially offering lipid and omega-3 concentrates in a purity of up to 99.5%. The natural, marine oils are mainly extracted from the liver of anchovies, sardines and cod. The oil is then processed in plants in Norway and Alaska. The high-purity, concentrated oils are produced in Germany and serve as the basis for capsules produced in the USA and liquid oils produced in Norway. The KD Pharma Group distinguishes itself as a globally operating expert.
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GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft
Ulmenstrasse 99
40476
Düsseldorf
Germany
+49 211 9136-0
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.