GEA opens Technology Center for testing and training
GEA opened the doors of its new 1500-sqm Technology Center (XLAB) in Biedenkopf-Wallau for the first time on 20 March 2023.
The company stressed that the new XLAB will be available to customers for product testing and training.
In expressing excitement at the opening, after a six month construction phase, Moritz Krunke, managing director of GEA’s Wallau site, said the XLAB, will be taking product testing for national and international customers to a whole new level.
“A special feature is the new 500-sqm air-conditioned hall, which can be cooled down to freezing point and enables customer tests under realistic conditions,” added Moritz Krunke.
During the opening week, automation, digitisation, sustainability, as well as training and performance support workshops will be offered to customers.
Plant tours and live demonstrations on the slicing and packaging line, SmartPacker and CutMaster round off the program. Individual machines and complete, highly digitalised production lines are on display on the exhibition floor, and the business unit’s entire product portfolio is available. This includes technically complex thermoforming and vertical packaging machines, high-speed cutting and loading systems for meat, sausage, ham/bacon, cheese, frozen foods and vegetables, as well as highly flexible bowl cutters for the production of sausages, cheese, fish and meat substitute products.
In addition, this business unit of GEA offers solutions for the production and packaging of lollipops and other confectionery and food products. The XLAB combines expertise from across the GEA business unit at one location.
“Our new Technology Center underscores our partnership-based customer relations on a national and international level. Together with our customers we develop tailored solutions that will play a decisive role in the technological transformation of the respective production area,” added Jörg Kuhn, vice president of the slicing & packaging business unit.
