GEA expands Oelde test centre as demand for separation technology grows

GERMANY – GEA has announced plans to invest in the expansion and modernisation of its Process Test Center at its Oelde site in Germany, the company’s main hub for mechanical separation technology.

The additional test room is intended to accommodate more complex pilot trials, larger separation equipment and advanced skid-based solutions.

Once the expansion is complete, the centre will be able to support pilot tests involving raw materials or process media at flow rates of up to 5,000 litres per hour.

The investment reflects increasing demand from manufacturers looking to validate separation processes and equipment before committing to full-scale installations.

GEA stated it currently tests and develops around 800 product samples at the Oelde centre each year. The facility has generated more than 60,000 test reports over its 70-year history, creating an extensive database covering a broad range of mechanical separation applications.

While the centre serves industries including chemical and pharmaceutical processing, its work also extends to renewable raw materials, beverage production and dairy processing.

For food and beverage manufacturers, pilot testing can show how different raw material characteristics affect separation performance, while providing data on achievable product quality and process parameters before selecting industrial equipment.

The PTC is equipped with more than 120 test machines, spanning laboratory-scale units through to skid solutions designed to replicate industrial operating conditions. The equipment includes both disk stack and decanter centrifuges.

Additionally, the expanded capacity will allow customer trials and internal research and development programs to run in parallel, potentially shortening development timelines for new applications.

Pilot-scale trials can also provide manufacturers with data to support capital investment decisions, including equipment selection, process configuration and expected performance under varying raw material conditions.

The Oelde site already includes an ATEX-certified test room for applications involving potentially explosive atmospheres, supporting testing requirements in industries such as chemical processing and oil and gas.

Resource efficiency is also being incorporated into the expansion. GEA plans to install a dedicated wastewater treatment system and use one of its own heat pump technologies within the facility.

The expanded Process Test Center is expected to be operational by the end of 2026, giving GEA additional capacity to develop and validate separation processes as manufacturers across food, beverage and other sectors seek greater process efficiency, flexibility and confidence ahead of full-scale investment.

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