WestfaliaSurge Formally Introduces GEA Farm Technologies

MADISON, Wis. (October 1, 2008) — WestfaliaSurge formally announced today the launch of GEA Farm Technologies as part of an effort to emphasize their expertise in more than just milking equipment.  GEA Farm Technologies will combine the strengths of the WestfaliaSurge, Houle, and Norbco product lines into one family brand that also incorporates their parent company, the GEA Group.

All of the products and services WestfaliaSurge, Houle, and Norbco currently offer will continue to be available under GEA Farm Technologies.  In addition, their established network of dealers will continue to provide customers with the experienced and reliable support they are used to receiving.

“WestfaliaSurge is very proud to have more than 100 years of experience and competence in the milking equipment industry,” says CEO and President of GEA WestfaliaSurge, Inc., Vern Foster.  However, in order to further strengthen our position in the market and to meet the growing demands of today’s progressive producers, we need to look to the future. We believe there is much to gain by working closely with our parent company, GEA.”

WestfaliaSurge has been part of the GEA Group for 14 years. The Houle organization was added in 2007, and Norbco was just recently acquired in July 2008.  The integration with GEA offers the advantages of additional engineering excellence, global resources and technologies from across the division, and the financial strength to grow and fulfill future customer demands.

“As GEA Farm Technologies, we become a better partner, providing more value to our customers,” says GEA Farm Technologies Division President, Dirk Hejnal. “We’re re-launching our brand and renewing our partnerships so that today’s producers can participate in our global strength and we can help enable them for future growth. We want a brand that stands for modern farm technologies, which defines the next generation, and we want producers all over the world to know they made the right choice when they decided to work with GEA Farm Technologies.”

The GEA Group, headquartered in Bochum, Germany, is a globally successful technology group owning more than 250 companies in 50 countries, with an emphasis in the field of process engineering and equipment. GEA Group technologies are applied in the food, chemical and petrochemical industries, the energy sector, air treatment and shipbuilding, as well as the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The GEA Group is one of the world’s market and technology leaders in 90 percent of its businesses.

GEA Farm Technologies, a division of the GEA Group, is a worldwide leader in milking, manure, and housing equipment technology.  GEA Farm Technologies is dedicated to saving producers time, labor and money through increased efficiency, management assistance information and leading-edge technology. GEA Farm Technologies provides a complete line of WestfaliaSurge, Houle, and Norbco products to meet producers’ needs of all sizes and management styles.

For more information, contact:

Linda Mrugacz
Director – Marketing & Communications
GEA WestfaliaSurge, Inc.
(630) 548-8253
linda.mrugacz@geagroup.com 

or 

Mike Opperman
Public Relations Director 
Charleston|Orwig, Inc.
(262) 563-5100
mopperman@charlestonorwig.com