Nutraceuticals
Starter Cultures
Starter cultures are literally on everyone’s lips. The helpful micro-organisms are employed in the most diverse fields of the food industry and also as a probiotic dietary supplement. Examples are the dairy, meat and bakery industries, in the production of fermented vegetables, in the production of wine and beer and in the animal feed industry. Starter cultures are cultivated from undefined, empirically produced species to attain a predictable and reproducible quality and quantity of the product.
The production of starter cultures can be divided into two sections. After cultivation in fermenters, the bacteria must be processed and separated from the fermentation solution. This consists of the nurtured lactobacilli and the remainder of the nutrient solution including the produced lactic acid. Firstly, the micro-organisms are separated and concentrated from the liquid phase. Nozzle and self-cleaning disc separators in steam-sterilized design are available for this step of the process. The concentrated lactobacilli then pass to a freeze-drier. Finally, the cultures are packaged under oxygen exclusion and stored at low temperatures. This retains their activity for months before they are processed, e. g. as “live cultures” in probiotic yogurts.
Sterility and Careful Treatment
The careful treatment of the living micro-organisms, sterility and a high separation efficiency are prerequisite to the economical, reliable and efficient processing. The separators from GEA employed in this production process are therefore equipped with hydrohermetic product feed systems which minimize the shear forces when the product enters the bowl and therefore guarantee the high vitality of the cells.
Products & Technologies
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Aseptic valves & components
Aseptic valves face exceptionally high demands within UltraClean and Aseptic processes. You can be assured that they all provide highest quality in terms of hygienic design and sustainability.
Centrifugal Separator
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...
CIP/SIP Solutions
Innovative CIP concepts of GEA meet comprehensive high standards. Our experts guarantee product safety at every point of the process. Every upgrade is adapted to individual local conditions and customer requirements and leads to noticeable savings.
Hygienic pumps
GEA Hilge offers a versatile range of centrifugal and positive displacement pumps for a wide variety of sensitive applications in the beverage, food and pharmaceutical industries.
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GEA Insights
From fossil fuels to future-ready: The rise of heat pumps
While the initial interest in heat pumps was to save on operating costs, reducing emissions is now the main driver for the technology. Learn more about how GEA is spearheading efforts to increase energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions through hidden champion heat pump technology for industrial and district heating sectors.
A new recipe for indulgence
What if your favorite chocolate didn’t require cocoa beans and your coffee was locally produced? As climate disruption, price hikes and ethical concerns hit two of our most beloved indulgences, scientists are reimagining how we produce them – using microbes, not monocultures. The goal: preserve the flavor and properties of coffee and chocolate while minimizing carbon emissions and improving food resilience.
Fueling the circular economy in shipping
Ports now compete not just on logistics, but on sustainability. At Greece’s Piraeus port, an advanced processing and recovery facility recycles ship waste oil into fuel. Equipped with GEA’s high-performance centrifuges, it sets a new benchmark for state-of-the-art, environmentally responsible port operations.
