In this same factory building, exactly 100 years ago, the first piston compressors were manufactured under the brand Grasso. Now, the successful GEA Grasso V series is being manufactured in this building in a sophisticated process. Inside this building, protected as an architectural landmark, GEA has organized all procedures, the infrastructure, and production technology to be leaner and more advanced: including parts production, assembly, warehousing, and office administration. In November the staff of the factory celebrated successful completion of modernization work – with attendance by numerous guests, including representatives of the local government and of the companies that took part in the plant modification work.

Conversion from job-shop to flow assembly processes now means that lines in the compressor plant have become shorter and more efficient. This involves the lines followed by components and consumable materials, as well as communication lines between production and administration. At the same time, GEA Refrigeration Netherlands has implemented high manufacturing and quality standards and has invested in new production machines. One of the benefits here is that staff can now manufacture key components – such as compressor crankcases – faster and more precisely at their new advanced processing center. A newly acquired, highly precise 3D coordinate measuring system also verifies the quality of such components.

GEA Grasso piston compressors in the V series are highly impressive owing to their low energy consumption and to their great efficiency at low speeds. Great availability and low maintenance expense likewise result in low total cost of ownership. The GEA Grasso V series, as single-stage models, covers the output range from 237 to 1372 kW (with ammonia as refrigerant at 0/+40 °C). The models in the dual-stage VT series offer maximum cooling duty of 34 to 203 kW (with ammonia and at -40/+35 °C).