Trade press release
GEA Drummondville plant certified to ISO 50001
April 23, 2026
Standardized energy management strengthens the Canada-based site’s contribution to the global decarbonization strategy of GEA
The GEA manufacturing plant in Drummondville, Québec – on of the key production locations within the company’s Farm Technologies network and now operating under the ISO 50001 energy management standard. Source: GEA
GEA’s manufacturing site in Drummondville, Canada, has achieved certification according to the international ISO 50001 energy management standard. The certification confirms that the facility operates under a fully implemented and data‑driven management system, enabling the site to monitor energy use transparently and optimize consumption across all major production processes. With the accreditation, the plant is also taking another step toward contributing to GEA’s commitment to reach net‑zero emissions by 2030, as outlined in the company’s Mission 30 strategy.
As one of the global key manufacturing locations within GEA’s Farm Technologies division, the Drummondville plant plays an important role in advancing the company’s broader decarbonization roadmap. ISO 50001 provides the structure to identify significant energy uses and continuously improve their performance using measurable indicators. The certification supports GEA’s long‑term goal of reducing carbon intensity across its global production network.
The wide range of liquid manure spreaders represents GEA’s flagship equipment for agricultural effluent management. The Drummondville plant designs and manufactures PTO-driven pumps as well as all the equipment required for manure handling inside dairy barn facilities, in addition to separation systems that recover the liquid and solid fractions of manure. Source: GEA
Targeted technical upgrades enhance efficiency and process stability
In recent years, the site has implemented a series of technical upgrades that enhance both energy performance and operational stability. According to external engineering assessments – conducted independently of the ISO process by the energy efficiency consultancy ORT Énergie – certain modernization measures offer the potential to reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 80 percent compared to 2019.
The upgrades in Drummondville include improvements in ventilation and air‑handling systems, optimized temperature and humidity control within the paint shop, and a modernization of the drying oven that enables electric operation, precise temperature regulation and reduces unnecessary energy losses. Even large components can now be processed in significantly optimized time cycles, improving efficiency while maintaining high production quality. Several processes that were previously powered by gas are now powered by electric solutions.
Modernized drying oven with improved temperature control and reduced energy losses, enabling more stable processing conditions and shorter handling times for coated components. Source: GEA
The plant’s solar assisted façade (“solar wall”) pre warms incoming air using solar radiation, supporting energy efficient ventilation during Québec’s long winter season. Source: GEA
Cross‑functional collaboration and training across all shifts
The certification was made possible through the close collaboration of a cross-functional GEA team, including energy engineering, maintenance, production, R&D and purchasing.
More than 250 employees across three shifts were trained in the new routines, ensuring that the energy management system is anchored throughout the entire facility.
Serge Sarrazin, Director QHSE & Lean at GEA in Drummondville and project lead for the ISO 50001 implementation, emphasizes the value of the new framework: “ISO 50001 provides us with a structured and transparent approach to understanding how energy is used across our processes. Many improvements were already part of our daily operations, but the management system now allows us to quantify our performance and integrate energy efficiency even more consistently into decision‑making. This strengthens our production capabilities and supports GEA’s broader decarbonization objectives.”
With the certification, GEA Drummondville further expands the company’s ability to operate efficiently and sustainably, while joining the very limited number of companies in Canada that hold the ISO 50001 standard. This distinction reinforces its role within GEA’s global network of future‑oriented production sites.
Lilian Schmalenstroer
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 DAX, 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.
