GEA is extending its Process Test Center (PTC) in Oelde, Germany, with the addition of a third testing room. The project will increase capacity for customer trials, process engineering and evaluations involving larger machines and skid-mounted systems.
Once completed, the upgraded facility will cover 3,500 square metres and support pilot trials on raw materials and process media at flow rates of up to 5,000 litres per hour. GEA expects the expansion to be finished by the end of 2026.
The PTC enables manufacturers to evaluate separation processes before committing to full-scale equipment purchases or production modifications. Customers can examine product characteristics, identify and configure suitable disk stack or decanter centrifuges, and verify process performance in conditions designed to reflect industrial operations.
By conducting these trials, manufacturers can measure the impact of individual process settings on separation efficiency and finished-product quality. Testing can also account for changes in raw material properties, helping companies confirm whether pilot-scale results can be transferred consistently to commercial production.
The centre currently houses more than 120 testing machines, ranging from laboratory units to skid-based systems capable of simulating industrial processing environments. This breadth of equipment supports applications aligned with evolving food manufacturing trends and advances in food processing technology.
An ATEX-certified room is available for processes conducted in potentially explosive atmospheres. In addition to food, beverage and dairy applications, the facility supports testing for industries such as chemicals and oil and gas, while helping customers respond to relevant food and drink regulations where applicable.
According to GEA, demand for pilot trials and tailored process development continues to grow. Approximately 800 product samples are tested and developed at the Oelde site every year. The centre has also produced and retained more than 60,000 test reports, creating an extensive reference library for mechanical separation research and development.
The added room will expand customer access while enabling GEA to increase its own development activities. For food and beverage manufacturers, the objective is to generate reliable, practical data before major investment decisions are taken. The results can help determine the most appropriate centrifuge technology, operating conditions and achievable product quality.
The development also reflects wider food and drink industry innovation, including a stronger focus on food and drink sustainability. Resource-saving features at the new testing area will include a dedicated wastewater treatment system and a GEA heat pump. These measures support the efficiency goals shaping food and beverage industry trends, alongside changing food distribution trends, food and drink packaging priorities, food and drink marketing strategies and food and drink consumer trends.
