Upstream
The exploration and production of crude oil and extra-heavy crude oil from oil sands, followed by further processing in refineries are becoming increasingly profitable. GEA's innovative process lines support the mineral oil industry in producing bitumen while providing flexibility, reliability and safety.

Bitumen, a crucial component in the oil sands industry, requires careful processing to ensure its quality and usability. The presence of contaminants such as water, fine sand and clay can significantly impact the efficiency and safety of processing operations. Effective bitumen processing is essential to remove these impurities, ensuring that the final product meets the required standards for further refining and use. This not only extends the lifetime of the equipment but also enhances performance and reduces downtime.
GEA offers state-of-the-art bitumen processing solutions based on advanced centrifugal separation technology that deliver high-performance results. Our centrifuges are designed to handle high throughput rates with exceptional separation accuracy, removing water, fine sand and clay from the bitumen. Continuous purification is critical, and GEA's reliable processing equipment, proven in the extreme conditions of oil sands mining, ensures optimum performance and minimal wear.
In the bitumen process, our separators can be used for the conventional truck & shovel process as well as for the SAGD process (steam-assisted gravity drainage).

Optimizing truck & shovel mining operations with integration of advanced centrifugal technology

Enhancing SAGD processing efficiency with cutting-edge centrifugal technology
A further area of application for our centrifuges is to be seen in the treatment of the produced water from bitumen production. They separate the process water into a re-usable oil phase as well as a de-oiled water phase. The treated produced water has a much lower impact on downstream water treatment plants and the environment, while the recovered oil increases the efficiency of the entire process.
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GEA separators are designed for liquid-based applications. Using centrifugal force, they are used for separating suspensions consisting of two or more phases of different densities, i.e. they can be used for liquid-liquid separation, for liquid-liquid-solid separation or for liquid-solid separation. They are equally as effective at separating liq...

The decanter’s hour has come as soon as the solids content in the suspension to be processed is particularly high. These machines provide the benefits of high clarifying efficiency and maximum dewatering as well as the separation of liquids with the simultaneous removal of solids. The main requirements in this respect include a high bowl speed, a...
GEA’s past fiscal year was one of significant growth and further profitability gains. In particular, the technology group substantially increased order intake, with all divisions contributing here. GEA also made progress in all Mission 30 strategic growth areas. In addition, GEA met key interim targets under its climate plan ahead of schedule. Major milestones in fiscal year 2025 were admission to the DAX index, the award of one of the largest contracts in the company’s history, and streamlining of the corporate structure.
Thanks to a new SmartParc manufacturing site, food processors in the U.K. are cutting their running costs and emissions. With GEA heating and cooling technology at its core, this collaborative production model demonstrates how innovation is accelerating the industry’s net-zero ambitions.
“Brewing eggs is like brewing beer.” It’s the kind of comparison that makes you smile – and then it clicks: Something complex suddenly feels simple. Through this personal film, set in the agricultural heartland of the U.S., we explore precision fermentation and the real-world work it takes to turn an idea into food.