GEA Niro is owned by GEA, a global group of
companies specializing in process and thermal engineering activities.
GEA Niro is a member of GEA Process Engineering Segment, which is represented
in more than 50 countries and retains a total of about 4,500 employees.
1933. GEA Niro is founded by Johan
Ernst Nyrop. GEA Niro is a world leader in industrial drying, with spray drying, freeze drying, and fluid bed
processing as core technologies. First company name: A/S Niro Atomizer.
An extensive network of agents and licensees is established
in the early 50's. The scope of delivery changes as GEA Niro begins supplying
complete spray dryers instead of components and drawings for local plant
fabrication and installation. Niro establishes own subsidiaries in France,
Argentina and Brazil, and the staff increases to a hundred employees. At the
end of the decade Mr. Nyrop's dream of an international group of companies has
come true.
Research and development is in focus to ensure continued
growth. Alternative air dispersing and atomization techniques are incorporated
in the drying systems. Niro's image as a leader in spray drying technology is
strengthened. Flash and fluid bed
dryers are added to the delivery program.
1962. Break-through
in the design of abrasion-resistant atomizer wheels.
1964. New market
established for high temperature, high capacity, heavy duty spray drying within
clays, kaolin, catalysts, and mining products.
1964. Contract
signed for supply of the first large fluid bed dryer for polymer.
1965. Supply of
industrial plant No. 1000.
DDS (Danish Sugar Factories) gradually acquires the shares
of A/S Niro Atomizer.
The importance
of controlling feed quality prior to drying brings GEA Niro into the
concentration business and falling film evaporators become part of the scope of
supply, primarily within the dairy industry. This involvement in pre-treatment
has since grown to include extraction and membrane filtration.
1970. Two-stage
drying concept introduced to the dairy industry.
1978. Spray drying technology applied
to air pollution control.
There is a need to further develop particulate processing
techniques so as to produce powdered, agglomerated or granular products of
specific properties. GEA Niro meets this challenge by upgrading its fluid bed
technology and introducing new equipment for blending, coating, pelletizing,
and de-dusting.
In 1989, GEA Niro
becomes a member of the Danisco Group following the merger of DDS with Danisco
and De Danske Spritfabrikker (Danish Distillers).
1981. Patented concept
of spray dryer with integrated fluid bed developed.
1982.
First full-scale spray dryer absorber supplied for desulphurization of
flue gas from utility plant.
GEA Niro drops "Atomizer" from the company name and
introduces a new logo.
In 1993, the
Niro Group is acquired by the German GEA Group and begins to co-operate closely
with other GEA companies specializing in process technology and engineering.
With its worldwide network of subsidiaries Niro forms the Powder Technology
Division of the GEA Group.
A new
business unit, Niro Pharma Systems, is formed to strengthen the presence of the
Powder Technology Division in the pharmaceutical market.
In 1999, GEA joins the mg technologies
group.
1991. The spray dryer with integrated fluid bed
becomes the most important spray dryer concept in the food and chemical
industries for producing agglomerated instant powders.
1992.
First 10 t/h milk powder plant commissioned.
1992. The FILTERMAT® featuring a built-in
conveyor belt completes the range of spray dryer designs. This plant ensures
successful drying of sticky, hygro-scopic, thermoplastic and slowly
crystallizing products that are difficult to dry in conventional designs.
1994.
High speed, double action extractors for coffee underline GEA Niro's
leading position as a supplier of soluble coffee production lines.
1995. First steam sterilizable spray
dryer sold to customer in the pharmaceutical industry.
1996. Development of the patented
BUBBLE PLATE™ air distribution plate.
2002.
Niro A/S acquires from Atlas-Stord Denmark A/S the activities of the
Atlas Food Division specializing in the design and supply of freeze drying
systems for food applications and vacuum systems for deodorizing edible oil.
GEA concentrates its engineering operations within powder
technology and liquid processing in the Process Engineering Division.
2002. Introduction of the Integrated
Filter Spray Dryer - IFD™ - featuring an integrated fluid bed and an integrated
filter arrangement consisting of CIP-able bag filters.
2003. Supply of MOBILE MINOR™ laboratory scale
spray dryer No. 2000.
The wide range of technologies and plant supplied
under the Niro name is portrayed in this home page. It illustrates Niro’s
ability to provide a global customer service of product testing, process
evaluation, project financing, design and engineering, plant installation,
commissioning, and after sales support.
2004.
GEA acquires Colby Powder Systems, a world leader in the design
and engineering of integrated powder handling systems for the international
dairy and baby food industry.
2008. On 1 January
the new Pharma Systems Division (H-Division) in GEA is established. The new
H-Division will comprise the former Niro Pharma Systems (NPS) companies in the
P-Division including also the Pharma Divisions in GEA Process Engineering Inc.
and GEA Niro. On 1 July the companies in the GEA Group preferably change their
brands to GEA Process Engineering plus company name. Niro A/S changes to GEA
Niro.
2009. Integration of GEA Tuchenhagen and GEA Niro at a
single location (Warrington) to provide the best possible response to
customer’s needs for both liquid and powder processing.