Our passion for innovation: homogenization expertise since 1947

High-pressure homogenizers had a characteristic diamond shape, a v-belt transmission and a handwheel to actuate the homogenizing valve. This configuration was the most efficient and convenient for milk and dairy processing applications at that time.

​When the Italian Soavi family founded their high-pressure homogenizer business in 1947, they probably had no idea of the impact their technology would have to this day. Starting with a high demand for dairy applications, the former company Soavi Bruno & Figli was located in Parma, Italy's Food Valley, where GEA Homogenizer is still headquartered. Today, GEA homogenizers are used in more than 7 different applications.

The company was originally located in a residential area of Parma and when the business was mature enough Soavi decided to relocate to the current site, which provided more space for production and offices. Since then, several additional expansions have been necessary to reach the current production site which now covers an area of over 10.000 m2 in total.

As market needs continued to broaden, the machines were re-designed with different compression blocks and a new chain drive for higher flow rates. When the company started handling other products in addition to milk, the compression block changed to meet the new applications requirements: a tougher material was needed to withstand the more abrasive products in the chemical field, and the products rich in fibers or crystals in the food & beverage industry.

The Italian company was acquired first (1990) by the Danish firm Niro Atomizer, a spray dryer producer, and then (1993) by GEA Group, the acquisitions further strengthened the company’s presence in worldwide markets, allowing the creation of an international sales network.

The PandaPLUS is undoubtedly one of the best-known homogenizers in the world and our best-selling machine since it was launched on the market.
The unique selling point that has made this laboratory homogenizer so famous is the possibility of performing tests with small sample quantities (minimum product volume 100 ml.), with the guarantee of obtaining reproducible quality results on an industrial scale for any kind of application: from milk to fruit juices, from biotech products to food, through to products in the chemical industry.

Significant new technical improvements were introduced during the ’90s, especially as regards homogenizing valves. The pneumatic actuation was implemented, and different valve designs were engineered to optimize the use of energy inside the valves.

Since the 2000s there has been substantial growth of the company and its business volume thanks to the creation and development of specialized sales departments (Hubs) led by the leading world experts on homogenization technology.

The first skid-mounted homogenizer was sold to a pharmaceutical company that was looking for a plug-and-play homogenizer on wheels with a small footprint and the ability to reach 1.500 bar pressure. This led to the launch of the Pharma Skid product line, designed to meet the demands of the biotech and pharmaceutical markets with high-pressure, automated solutions.

​The NiSoX-Valve® introduced a complete change in high pressure homogenization technology. Its design optimizes the fluid dynamic effects, employing energy in the most efficient way in order to produce a more effective micronization of particles, and above all significantly enhanced product uniformity.

Over time, the GEA Process Technology Center has become the center of excellence and reference point for customers in defining and fine-tuning homogenization technology.
The Process Technology Center's activities are based on collaboration and synergy with customers both for the optimization of established processes and for the development of new products, with a view to intercepting new market needs, such as New Food, plant-based beverages and milk, and nanomaterials, alternatives to plastic.
Our laboratory is equipped with machinery and analytical instrumentation for testing any product and provides process consulting.

The success story of the company continues with a future site expansion in 2023. "We want to ensure future growth to the Business Unit Homogenizer and therefore we have expanded our Factory to increase production capacity and eliminate bottlenecks", says Alberto Pisseri, Vice President Chief Financial Officer BU Homogenizer. "I am proud to say that the expansion has focused on sustainability investments like photovoltaic installation, water recycling and others which will eliminate gas consumption, produce clean electricity and overall strongly reduce CO2 emissions, energy consumption and costs. The new production area as well as the complete redesign and refurbish of office spaces will lead to a modern and better working environment for our employees”.

"The reason for GEA Homogenizer's success lies in the combination of mindset, culture and ability to innovate that has been part of our DNA for the past 75 years," said Domenico Gambarelli, Senior Vice President BU Homogenizer. "The atmosphere here in Parma is really positive and inspiring, and I believe it is mainly due to the strong team spirit and passion that everyone brings to their work on a daily basis. Today, as in the past, we are proud to say we are GEA Homogenizer".