On March 22, 2024, GEA began construction of a new plant in Elsdorf in the Rhineland. The machinery and plant engineering company is investing 80 million euros in a pharma technology center specializing in freeze-drying systems. These systems are crucial for the production of many injectable pharmaceutical products, including vaccines. The new production site is scheduled to open in the second half of 2025.
Given the globally growing market for vaccines, driven by increased societal awareness of the importance of vaccinations, GEA was compelled to construct a new building. The previous location in Hürth had reached its capacity limits. After the completion of the new plant, all 250 employees will move there.
“With this major investment, we enable further growth and better innovation opportunities in the strategically important pharmaceutical industry for us. With the new building, we can better meet the needs of our customers and further expand our leading market position”, says GEA CEO Stefan Klebert.
Process-Optimized and Sustainable Pharma Production
After the first factory of the future started in Poland in 2022, a second production facility of this kind is now being created in Germany, covering over 40,000 m². In addition to sustainable construction, modern processes and working methods, and associated digitization are priorities in Elsdorf. Mobile devices and the use of apps for production control and monitoring contribute to an ergonomic and attractive workplace for employees. Continuous document management and digital workflows enable efficient, targeted access to company-relevant information, while the intelligent warehouse management system allows seamless material tracking.
“With modular manufacturing structures and digital technologies that make our production more flexible and faster, we are setting new standards in the GEA network”, says GEA COO Johannes Giloth. “With our sustainable solutions for the food and pharmaceutical industries, we want to protect future generations. Therefore, this must also be reflected in our own actions. Because only an industrial site that focuses on sustainability will be competitive and export-strong in the future”, adds CEO Stefan Klebert.
Therefore, according to GEA, the new pharma technology center is being built to the highest sustainability standards. For example, energy is generated via its own photovoltaic system. The electricity is stored in batteries and can subsequently be used, for example, for charging electric vehicles. The use of natural gas is completely avoided. During the test runs of the systems, heat is recovered that can be used for heating and cooling the factory.
A green roof protects the building and the employees from heat and creates a pleasant air quality. In addition, a water retention system and minimal soil sealing ensure optimal use and distribution of the annual rainfall. Biodiversity at the site is promoted through the green roof and an ecological compensation area on the property.
Strong Signal for the Economic Location of Elsdorf
For the city of Elsdorf, located about half an hour's drive from Hürth in the Rhein-Erft district, the new plant is an important signal for its significance as an economic location.
“We warmly welcome GEA to our city and are very pleased that the company has chosen Elsdorf. This underscores once again how attractive Elsdorf and our region are for companies. The construction of the GEA plant gives us another important boost in structural change, as future-proof and valuable jobs are being created in our city. Our joint, hard work is now bearing further fruits”, says Andreas Heller, Mayor of the city of Elsdorf.
