Food processing technology and equipment supplier GEA officially opened its New Food Application and Technology Center in Janesville, Wisc., on July 17, 2025. The $20 million facility is the company’s second global Center of Excellence dedicated to alternative proteins and sustainable food solutions as alternatives to traditional foods such as meat, dairy, seafood and eggs.

This investment expands the GEA Janesville campus, which has served as a site for production, repair, logistics and training since 2024.

The 100% renewable energy-powered facility features pilot-scale infrastructure food technologies such as precision fermentation, cell cultivation and plant-based processing.

The Janesville ATC bridges the gap between laboratory innovation and industrial-scale production. The facility combines core GEA process technologies that are essential to producing next-generation proteins at scale. Pilot-scale bioreactors for precision fermentation and cell cultivation simulate industrial conditions, allowing companies to validate and optimize production processes early. Thermal processing and aseptic filling ensure food safety and stability, while membrane filtration, spray drying and centrifugation support downstream separation and formulation – critical steps to achieving product quality, texture, and cost efficiency. Advanced lab capabilities complete the center’s offering, enabling microbiological, cell-based and analytical testing under one roof.

“The food industry is at a crossroads. To feed future generations sustainably, we must turn vision into scalable reality. Our new center in Janesville is a key milestone on our shared journey – both for our customers and for us as a company, says Stefan Klebert, CEO of GEA Group.

“With this investment, we are helping our customers scale up the production of novel foods such as precision-fermented egg white and cultivated seafood. At the same time, we are strengthening our North American footprint, where our 1,600 employees at 16 locations support manufacturing, sales, service, training, and testing.”

The ATC creates additional highly skilled new jobs in Janesville, including engineering and scientific roles, and complements GEA’s existing operations in the city, where 74 employees work at the Separation & Flow Technologies facility. The center also supported up to 500 contractor and subcontractor jobs during construction and strengthens the region’s food technology ecosystem.

“This facility reflects how Janesville’s rich agricultural and industrial heritage can intersect with cutting-edge innovation,” said Jimsi Kuborn, Economic Development Director for the City of Janesville. “It not only honors our community’s roots, but also creates new opportunities for partnerships, workforce development, and sustainable growth. This project is a model for what’s possible—not just for Janesville, but for the entire Midwest and beyond.”

The center’s launch highlights the growing convergence of traditional agriculture, advanced biotechnology, and sustainable manufacturing.

GEA opened its first Application and Technology Center in Hildesheim, Germany in 2023.

Source: GEA Group