GEA’s Vision: Innovation-Led Sustainability

As engineers, GEA takes its responsibility to preserve a world that’s worth living in very seriously. Machinery, equipment, and production processes are central to value creation around the world; without continuous improvement, however, no effective progress would be made. As such, the future belongs to intelligent solutions that save energy, reduce emissions, and minimize waste. 
This vision aligns seamlessly with GEA Group’s pioneering climate strategy. The company has pledged to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout its value chain by 2040. Key objectives include optimizing internal operations, empowering clients and putting entire communities on the path to a carbon-neutral future. 

A testament to this commitment is the introduction of the “Add Better” label. Because GEA engineers wanted to get their evaluation processes right and let stakeholders know that transparency is an absolute priority, they decided to “put a label on it.” The Add Better label showcases GEA solutions that are significantly better than their predecessors when it comes to operational excellence and environmental impact. They represent the organization’s most resource-efficient solutions and demonstrate in a tangible way that a specific model is more cost-effective and planet-friendly to run than previous ones. 

Pushing Boundaries: GEA's Sustainable Innovations

#GoingConti with ConsiGma®:

This commitment is exemplified by technologies such as continuous manufacturing (CM) — a transformative shift in pharmaceutical processing that streamlines oral solid dosage production. Addressing demands for swifter product development, cost-efficiency and flexible (on-demand) manufacturing, CM offers higher yields, lower utility use, and significant waste reduction. Beyond environmental benefits, this approach also enhances product quality and reduces the industry’s carbon footprint.

Cooling for Freeze Dryers:

Efficient cooling processes are crucial for energy conservation during lyophilization, making them a focal point for sustainability efforts. GEA recognizes the significance of cooling in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries and offers a variety of cutting-edge solutions. Aligned with the recently updated F-gas Regulation, for example, the company is dedicated to using natural refrigerants. GEA’s LYOAIR® cooling system boasts the integration of highly efficient and economic GEA compressors. And, by combining an air cycle system with a carbon dioxide booster, this significantly reduces energy consumption compared with traditional air cycle systems. Notably, it eliminates the use of explosive or toxic natural gases and carries no global warming potential (GWP).

Achieving temperatures as low as –50 °C, this innovative approach reduces vibration, operates silently and removes the need for silicone oil storage. From a financial standpoint, the LYOAIR® system offers substantial cost savings compared with liquid nitrogen alternatives. Beyond economic benefits, it significantly contributes to a more environmentally conscious future. GEA’s LYOAIR® system exemplifies the company's dedication to sustainable innovation by revolutionizing freeze-drying processes with a greener footprint.

Next-Generation Tablet Compression:

The newly launched NexGen Press® range from GEA represents the future of tablet compression for the pharmaceutical industry. These performance-driven innovations facilitate machine selection and offer fast product changeovers with unrivaled containment and excellent operational excellence. And, of course, like any GEA press, safety, robust functionality and reliability come as standard.

Designed with digitalization and cost-efficiency in mind, key benefits include plug and play functionality for a wide range of applications, higher productivity levels and superior tablet quality. Modular by design, every NexGen Press® can be customized to fit specific applications — for now or the future — with predefined option packs. 

Always with sustainability in mind, the NexGen Press® 30 boasts a reduced footprint (4.7 m² compared with the MODUL P’s 11.9 m²) and optimizes resource consumption, including energy, water and materials. What’s more, this model has undergone external audits to fulfill ISO 14021 requirements and the meticulous standards of TÜV Rheinland to earn itself an Add Better label!