History

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.

1950's

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.

1960s

Research and development is in focus to ensure continued growth. Alternative air dispersing and atomization techniques are incorporated in the drying systems. GEA Niro's image as a leader in spray drying technology is strengthened. Flash and fluid bed dryers are added to the delivery program.

Highlights:
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.

1970s.
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.

Highlights:

1970
Two-stage drying concept introduced to the dairy industry.

1978
Spray drying technology applied to air pollution control.

1980s
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).

Highlights:

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.

1990s
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.

Highlights:

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 PLATETM air distribution plate.

2000+
In 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.

In 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.

In 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.

Summary:
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 Division, which is represented in more than 50 countries and retains a total of about 4,500 employees.