Dairy SalzburgMilch saves 1.26 million liters of water using GEA technology

SalzburgMilch, one of Austria's leading dairies, is saving almost 1,260,000 liters of water per installed unit annually with the installation of the new GEA Centrifuge Water Saving Unit, and is also significantly reducing its wastewater costs. The Water Saving Unit thus supports the dairy's sustainable production goals and sets another milestone for environmentally conscious dairy industry.

Austria is known for the imposing mountains of the Alps, its crystal-clear rivers and green pastures where cows graze. Every sip of milk, every bite of flavorful cheese and every spoonful of velvety yogurt brings the freshness of the mountain air directly to the table. The high-quality milk from this green landscape forms the basis for the first-class products from SalzburgMilch, which carry the taste of the Salzburg and Upper Austria region. SalzburgMilch is continuously committed to improving its production methods and combining traditional values with modern, innovative measures. In this context, not only is animal welfare promoted, but the environment is also protected – a responsible cycle that is reflected in every product. SalzburgMilch was recently awarded EcoVadis silver status for its commitment, which underscores its efforts in the areas of sustainability and responsibility.

In order to manufacture its products as gently and sustainably as possible, the company always keeps pace with the times and continuously invests in future-proof technologies. GEA has been a reliable partner to SalzburgMilch for over half a century, helping the dairy to keep pace with technology and produce economically. The most recent example of this successful collaboration is the introduction of the GEA Centrifuge Water Saving Unit, which significantly reduces the amount of fresh water and waste water used in the manufacturing process – a total of 1,260,000 liters of water per installation on the separator. This means that the purchase of the Water Saving Unit at SalzburgMilch will pay for itself in just three years.

Long-term collaboration for quality and efficiency

“GEA has been with us for a very long time and always proactively approaches us with new innovations – we very much welcome this,” emphasizes Alexander Niedermüller, Head of Maintenance at SalzburgMilch. In 2023, the dairy had to cope with an increasing demand for fresh cheese and quickly upgraded its production capacities with a new GEA separator type KSI 25. When they heard about the innovation of using a space-saving unit to save a considerable amount of water in the process, Franz Gründl, Head of Innovation Management, and Alexander Niedermüller agreed to a pilot plant. “We didn't hesitate for long about the Water Saving Unit; the prospects were promising from the outset and we know that GEA provides very good service.”

In March 2024, the Water Saving Unit was finally piloted at the KSI 25 separator. A small adjustment was required shortly after installation by GEA Service to ensure that ice water would continue to circulate even when the unit was at a standstill. “Overall, we only had a very short interruption in production and were able to get started again immediately – and start saving water,” says Alexander Niedermüller.

Three more units to save even more water

The Water Saving Unit significantly reduces SalzburgMilch's water consumption and wastewater costs, thus supporting both companies' sustainability goals. The integration of GEA technology improves water conservation and CO₂ reduction reports.

In view of the success of the first installation, SalzburgMilch has ordered three more Water Saving Units for their direct drive machines in the new milk processing line, demonstrating their confidence in GEA solutions and their shared focus on sustainability. This will enable SalzburgMilch to save a total of over 5 million liters of water annually.

In a market with growing demand for regional and sustainably produced products, SalzburgMilch is well positioned to meet consumer demands while minimizing its environmental footprint. The rapid commissioning of the Water Saving Unit, GEA's reliable service and immediate success were crucial in this. This collaboration shows that environmental responsibility and operational efficiency can go hand in hand perfectly.