GEA will invest around EUR 50 million in the modernization of its German centrifuge production facilities in Oelde (North Rhine-Westphalia) and Niederahr (Rhineland-Palatinate) by the end of 2024. The engineering group made the announcement at a press conference marking the 130th anniversary of GEA separation technology at its Oelde site. By investing in sustainable production, digitalisation and automation, GEA is targeting further growth in its key markets, which include the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries.

GEA centrifuges are used in more than 3,500 different processes in a wide range of industries. Growth drivers include applications for alternative protein production and global demand for dairy products. The investment package for the centrifuge plants is based on four pillars: sustainability, digitalisation, automation and modern manufacturing technologies.

Climate-friendly production through the use of renewable energy

Already today all GEA production sites are powered by green electricity. In the long term the electricity supply for GEA’s sites will come from local renewable energy sources. At the Oelde facility, several large-scale photovoltaic systems will cover about one-tenth of the site’s electricity requirements, including the provision of electromobility. An in-house combined heat and power plant already generates around 30 percent of the electricity required. Since waste heat is also used, 94 percent of the primary energy utilised is recycled. Process heat generation, which is important for production, will also be converted to alternatives such as electric steam generation, which will enable the Oelde and Niederahr sites to operate without gas in the near future.

Since March 01, 2021, Uwe Keiter has been actively supporting A+F Automation + Fördertechnik GmbH, Kirchlengern, as new Vice President Sales and Business Development. He succeeds Uwe Hüsener who retires at the end of 2021. “With the help of such an internationally experienced sales expert we will be able to decisively intensify connections with our current and future customers. This will enable us to offer even better end-of-line packaging solutions for the dairy, food and beverage industries in all relevant market segments“, comments Thomas Lehmann, CEO of EOL Packaging Experts GmbH and managing director of A+F.

Uwe Keiter studied electrical engineering, specialising in automation, at Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences. He successfully completed his studies with an engineering degree. After leaving university Uwe Keiter worked as a project engineer. He then changed to national and international sales of automation technology for the food industry. Uwe Keiter then went on to hold responsible positions in international key account management in the pharmaceutical, food beverage and care product segments.

His last position before joining A+F was in the development and sales of Industry 4.0 digitalisation solutions. Besides his activities in sales, Uwe Keiter has been doing voluntary work for over ten years for the non-profit organisation OMAC which addresses issues concerning standards for production companies, especially in the packaging industry. Uwe Keiter has been chairman of the OMAC Packaging Workgroup for many years.

About A+F Automation + Fördertechnik GmbH:
A+F was founded in 1974 and, as a leading supplier of end-of-line packaging machinery, enjoys an excellent reputation worldwide for its expertise in the development of high-quality packaging solutions. A+F offers integrated solutions for the dairy, food and beverage, as well as the cosmetics industries. The company develops digital solutions for the evaluation of machine and ambient data, the results of which are used to increase production output.

About EOL Packaging Experts GmbH:
EOL Packaging Experts (EOL) was founded in 2017. It is an international group of companies headquartered in Germany and offers end-of-line packaging machines and systems. Under the umbrella of the parent company EOL a strong international industrial group has been established. This group comprises the companies A+F Automation + Fördertechnik GmbH, Kirchlengern, as leading supplier of integrated and innovative system solutions for secondary and tertiary packaging, Standard- Knapp, Inc., Portland, Connecticut, as leading manufacturer of end-of-line packaging machines on the American market and BMS Maschinenfabrik GmbH, Pfatter, as leading system provider for innovative sorting systems, state-of-the-art dry part solutions and flexible repacking solutions.

• Future viability of the beverage industry the key issue
• One extra hall to meet moderate growth
• New hall configuration facilitates event navigation

How time flies! The scheduled break in the BrauBeviale cycle is already over and preparations for the next three-year programme, specifically the first event in Nuremberg on 13 to 15 November 2018, are already in full swing. Visitors will follow a new route along the process chain for beverage production at the world’s most important capital goods fair this year. The event sees itself as the regular meeting place for the industry, and where else if not there do you get to talk about the issues that you care about? The beverage industry is facing huge challenges. As the key platform for the sector BrauBeviale will be providing inspiration on the future viability of the industry during the event’s next three-year cycle.

The last three-year cycle was one of the most successful in the history of BrauBeviale and because it was fully booked in 2016 an extra hall has been added in 2018. And this was a good enough reason for the exhibition team to rethink the hall configuration. “We are delighted about the huge response and that there is moderate growth from within the industry,” says Andrea Kalrait, Exhibition Director BrauBeviale. Even with nine halls, the relaxed atmosphere that is typical of BrauBeviale will be retained and the fair will be as compact as ever. How does this work? “It’s quite simple. We have made it even easier for our visitors to navigate around the exhibition. From now on the exhibitors will be positioned in the order of the beverage production process chain around our exhibition park,” says Kalrait about the new concept. “However, regular visitors should still do a bit of preparation before their visit this year so that they can find the exhibitors that interest them quickly,” Kalrait recommends.

Thinking about tomorrow today: future viability
“In the past year we have seen again and again that the beverage industry is currently facing major challenges. These affect all companies, regardless of their size,” says Andrea Kalrait, summing up the numerous conversations held with industry players during the break year. Digitalisation, automation, changing consumer behaviour, commercialisation versus passion for the product, and scarcity of raw materials are just some of key issues that came up. And underlying is all this is the issue of future viability. But what do we need to put in place now so that we can continue to operate successfully in the market in the next five to ten years? “Of course there is no magic formula,” says Kalrait. “But BrauBeviale is the right platform for addressing and discussing these issues and providing inspiration.” The range of solutions on display and the supporting programme at the international capital goods fair for the beverage industry offer drinks manufacturers a comprehensive and informative range of ideas and approaches to equip them for the future.

Highly satisfied regulars and curious first-time visitors expected
The just under 38,000 trade visitors at BrauBeviale 2016, more than 16,000 of them from outside Germany, came from the technical and commercial management segments of the international beverage industry, i.e. from breweries and malt houses, companies producing and bottling alcohol-free drinks, wine and sparkling wine cellars, distilleries, dairies, specialist beverage retailers and wholesalers, the hotel and restaurant sector and service providers for the beverage sector. Trade visitors from overseas came primarily from Italy, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Russia, Belgium, Poland, the UK and France. Almost all (99 %) beverage specialists were satisfied with the range of products on display. After a year’s break, Andrea Kalrait is delighted to be able to finally welcome the industry back to Nuremberg again: “91 percent of industry professionals had already determined by the end of their visit in 2016 that they would be attending BrauBeviale again in 2018. We are looking forward to welcoming our regular attendees as well as first-time visitors!”

Dates of the current three-year BrauBeviale cycle:
BrauBeviale 2018: 13 – 15 November 2018
BrauBeviale 2019: 12 – 14 November 2019
BrauBeviale 2020: 10 – 12 November 2020

Beviale Family: International expertise in the beverage industry
NürnbergMesse Group demonstrates its expertise in the beverage industry on an international stage, beginning with BrauBeviale, the international capital goods fair for the beverage industry in Nuremberg. This is where, for over 40 years, the sector has been showcasing all aspects of the production process chain for beverages, such as raw materials, technologies, logistics and marketing. Other members of the product family are operating in important growth markets worldwide: For example, Beviale Moscow is the first and only trade fair for the entire beverage industry in Eastern Europe. CRAFT BEER CHINA in Shanghai is the gathering place for the Chinese craft beer community, while CRAFT BEER ITALY in Milan is the B2B platform for the Italian sector. In Bangalore, CRAFT DRINKS INDIA is designed to meet the needs and interests of the fast-growing drinks market in India. The Beviale Family also supports other projects through collaborations. It is represented in Brazil, for example, through the Feira Brasileira da Cerveja in Blumenau. SIBA’s BeerX, Britain’s largest trade fair about beer and brewing, is also an official partner to the Beviale Family. And ProPak Asia is likewise a part of the global network for the beverage industry. The “international sponsors” of the Beviale Family are Doemens Akademie and the VLB (Versuchs- und Lehranstalt für Brauerei), the Berlin-based teaching and training institute for brewing. Other projects are in the planning phase. For details and dates go to: www.beviale-family.com