DGAP-News: GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft / Key word(s): Miscellaneous GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft: Newest milk powder plant with GEA technology inaugurated in New Zealand 07.12.2016 / 11:30 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Newest milk powder plant with GEA technology inaugurated in New Zealand Düsseldorf (Germany)/Lichfield (New Zealand), December 7, 2016 - After a two-year construction period and initial commissioning in September, Fonterra inaugurated its state-of-the-art, high-efficiency milk powder factory at Lichfield, New Zealand. The expansion included a new milk powder processing plant, services, wastewater plant and distribution center. The centerpiece of the facility is the largest milk powder spray dryer currently available on the market, which was built by GEA. In terms of material usage, energy consumption and waste, the milk processing plant is now the most efficient facility of its kind in the industry. GEA constructed the milk powder plant as a turnkey solution, providing all the process technology - from reception of the milk tanker and evaporation, to drying, powder handling and packaging. The drying chamber weighs around 200 tons and has a diameter of 18 meters. The processing capacity of 30 tons of high-quality milk powder per hour equates to over 4.4 million liters of milk a day. This corresponds to the volume of almost two Olympic- standard swimming pools. The spray dryer is the second of its kind built by GEA. Its sister plant Darfield II, which is also operated by Fonterra in New Zealand, has been producing high-quality powdered milk reliably since December 2013. For Lichfield, the GEA experts developed several innovations to improve sustainability and further reduce the total cost of ownership to the customer. In particular, energy efficiency was a key focus for the project team. For instance, the plant requires very little process water as the evaporator condensate is filtered in a specific way and, thanks to GEA technology, can then be re-used during processing. As a result, Fonterra has reduced its demand for ground water for the site. Fonterra is one of the world's major milk producers. Its Chairman of the Board of Directors, John Wilson emphasizes the strategic importance of powder production to the co-operative's overall asset mix: "This new plant will help us to strike a balance in our processing that allows us to switch between products quickly to meet demand changes in global markets, push the pace on production when milk volumes dictate, and ultimately deliver the best product mix to generate returns." Fonterra wants to export the premium milk powder from its site in Lichfield to as many as 20 different markets, including the Middle East, China and South-East Asia. "This project is testament to the high degree of trust leading global food producers place in GEA's reliable process technology. High-performance, efficient spray dryers like the one in Lichfield play a key role in the industry because demand for milk in expanding markets such as China can only be met by easily transportable, stable milk powder which needs to be imported into these markets. For the processing of milk and subsequent production and packaging of high-quality dairy powder products, GEA offers its global customers comprehensive process know-how spanning all stages of production," says Niels Erik Olsen, Member of GEA's Management Board and responsible for the Business Area Solutions. Fig.: GEA installed the world's most efficient milk powder plant in Lichfield, New Zealand. Copyright: Fonterra Link to project movie http://video.gea.com/fonterra-chooses-gea-again Corporate Media and Press: Dr. Eva Breßler Peter-Müller-Str. 12, 40468 Düsseldorf, Germany Phone +49 (0)211 9136-1501 [email protected] About Fonterra Fonterra is the leading manufacturer of dairy nutrition products worldwide and the preferred supplier of dairy ingredients to numerous leading global food companies. On the strength of its own brands, the company also heads the markets for dairy products in New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. Fonterra is a dairy cooperative and the world's biggest processor of milk. About GEA GEA is one of the largest suppliers for the food processing industry and a wide range of process industries that generated consolidated revenues of approximately EUR 4.6 billion in 2015. As an international technology group, the Company focuses on process technology and components for sophisticated production processes in various end-user markets. The Group generates more than 70 percent of its revenue in the food sector that enjoys long-term sustainable growth. As of September 30, 2016, the Company employed about 17,000 people worldwide. GEA is a market and technology leader in its business areas. The Company is listed in Germany's MDAX (G1A, WKN 660 200). In addition, GEA's share is a constituent of the MSCI Global Sustainability Indexes. Further information is available on the Internet at gea.com. If you do not want to receive any further information from GEA, please send an email to [email protected]. Contact: GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft Phone +49 (0)211 9136 1492 Fax +49 (0)211 9136 31087 www.gea.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 07.12.2016 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft Peter-Müller-Straße 12 40468 Düsseldorf Germany Phone: +49 (0)211 9136-0 Fax: +49 (0)211 9136-31087 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.gea.com ISIN: DE0006602006 WKN: 660200 Indices: MDAX Listed: Regulated Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Hamburg, Munich; Regulated Unofficial Market in Hanover, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange End of News DGAP News Service --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 527527 07.12.2016