GEA has been commissioned by Hochwald Foods GmbH to supply the entire milk processing technology for the new mega-dairy in Mechernich near Cologne, Germany. The order comprises execution planning, manufacture, supply, installation and commissioning, as well as acceptance of all processing plants for the manufacture of various dairy products. Hochwald Foods, one of the largest dairy companies in Germany, intends to process around 800 million liters of milk per year in the new plant to produce high-quality dairy products such as UHT milk, UHT cream, UHT milk products, condensed milk and UHT drinking yogurt. Installation of the first plant components is scheduled to begin before the end of 2020. Commissioning of the plant is scheduled for mid 2021.
The works are absolutely in time, despite the pandemic.
This is how the new dairy plant will look like upon commissioning – click to enlarge
“We are delighted with the confidence Hochwald Foods has placed in GEA and our technologies to realize such an important project. GEA will supply, install and commission all plant components for the processing of dairy products, from the milk reception to the filling machine. During the planning of the plants, special attention was paid to the highly efficient and resource-saving design of the plant and the full integration of the plant concept into the customer’s overall automation concept. GEA will not only contribute to this with its innovative technologies in the individual production steps, but as a full-range supplier will also further optimize the entire plant and make it even more sustainable,” commented Stefan Klebert, CEO of GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft.
“Our goal is to produce high-quality dairy products to the highest technical standards at our new plant in Mechernich. We are therefore looking for long-term, cost-efficient and sustainable solutions. We see GEA as an innovative and reliable partner for our project,” explains Thorsten Oberschmidt, Managing Director of Hochwald Foods GmbH.
