Key Stats
Founded in 1881 as Metallgesellschaft AG in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Employs over 18,000 people across 62 countries worldwide.
Annual revenue of approximately EUR 5.42 billion in fiscal year 2024.
Market capitalization of EUR 8.65 billion as of 2025.
Listed on German DAX, MDAX, and STOXX Europe 600 Index.
GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft stands as a German engineering powerhouse specializing in process technology for demanding production environments. The company delivers machinery, plants, and comprehensive services to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, dairy, chemical, and marine sectors. Operating through five technology-focused divisions, GEA combines separation and flow technologies with liquid and powder processing solutions. Its portfolio spans food and healthcare equipment alongside farm technologies and heating and refrigeration systems.
The organization maintains a significant presence in sustainable industrial solutions. Through its extensive network and technical expertise, GEA Group contributes to reducing carbon emissions, minimizing plastic usage, and combating food waste across global markets.
GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft History
Metallgesellschaft AG established in Frankfurt am Main as a metals trading company by Wilhelm Merton, Leo Ellinger, and Zachary Hochschild.
Company expands globally with representation on all continents through investments in mines and metallurgical plants.
First World War results in significant foreign investment losses. Company diversifies into chemicals trading.
Intensive reconstruction period with increased focus on plant engineering following Second World War destruction.
Metallgesellschaft organizes operations into five divisions covering metals processing, plant construction, chemicals, transport, and communications.
Company faces crisis following heavy losses on oil futures transactions in the United States.
Fundamental realignment transforms company into innovative technology group. Approximately 300 group companies divested.
Metallgesellschaft acquires GEA AG, marking pivotal expansion into mechanical engineering.
Metallgesellschaft AG becomes mg technologies ag, signaling strategic shift.
Company rebranded as GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft, consolidating identity around engineering expertise.
GEA established as corporate master brand across all operations.
Major acquisition of Convenience Food Systems (CFS) headquartered in Bakel, Netherlands, valued at EUR 435 million.
Group restructured into five technology-based divisions. Becomes founding member of DAX 50 ESG sustainability index.
Achieves Mission 26 financial targets ahead of schedule. Revenue reaches EUR 5.42 billion with continued profitability growth.
GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft Co-founders
Wilhelm Ralph Merton founded Metallgesellschaft AG in 1881, providing strategic business direction that established the company’s global metals trading operations. His vision transformed a Frankfurt-based venture into an international industrial conglomerate with extensive mining and metallurgical investments.
Leo Ellinger served as operational director from the company’s 1881 founding. His expertise in execution and operations management enabled Metallgesellschaft to develop efficient business processes that supported rapid expansion across multiple continents.
Zachary Hochschild led marketing and international activities as co-founder. His strategic focus on global markets positioned Metallgesellschaft for international growth, establishing crucial business relationships that facilitated the company’s worldwide presence.
GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft Revenue
GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft generated revenue of approximately EUR 5.42 billion during fiscal year 2024. The company demonstrated consistent financial performance with organic growth driven by its diversified portfolio across food processing, beverage production, and pharmaceutical manufacturing sectors.
GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft Acquisitions
GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft has pursued strategic acquisitions to strengthen its position in the food processing industry and expand technological capabilities across core markets.
The most significant transaction occurred in December 2010 when GEA acquired Convenience Food Systems (CFS) from funds managed by AEA Investors for approximately EUR 435 million. Headquartered in Bakel, Netherlands, CFS employed around 2,000 people and generated annual revenue of EUR 400 million. This acquisition represented a major expansion into secondary food processing and packaging machinery for meat, poultry, fish, seafood, and cheese products.
The CFS acquisition aligned with GEA’s strategy to expand horizontally within food process technology. By integrating CFS, GEA positioned itself to offer comprehensive solutions along entire process chains, from preparation and marination through processing, slicing, and packaging. The transaction established CFS as GEA’s sixth independent segment before later reorganization into the current five-division structure.
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, GEA executed multiple acquisitions including Grasso, Niro, Westfalia Separator, and Tuchenhagen. These strategic purchases strengthened the company’s separation technologies, spray drying capabilities, and process equipment portfolio. The acquisitions enhanced GEA’s engineering expertise across dairy processing, beverage production, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Between 2015 and 2019, GEA intensified its acquisition activity in the food and beverage sectors. The company focused on bolt-on acquisitions that complemented existing technologies and expanded service offerings. These transactions supported GEA’s transition toward greater emphasis on solutions-based business models and aftermarket services.
More recently, GEA has pursued acquisitions in specialized areas including alternative protein processing technologies and sustainable manufacturing solutions. The company continues evaluating opportunities that strengthen its technological leadership in separation, heating, refrigeration, and process engineering. Strategic acquisitions remain central to GEA’s growth strategy as it expands capabilities in emerging food technology sectors and pharmaceutical applications.
GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft Market Cap
GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft maintains a market capitalization of EUR 8.65 billion as of 2025, reflecting investor confidence in the company’s engineering capabilities and diversified industrial portfolio.
GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft Competitors
GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft competes with global engineering firms providing process technology and equipment to food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries worldwide.
| Company | Headquarters | Primary Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Tetra Pak | Switzerland | Food processing and packaging solutions |
| Alfa Laval | Sweden | Heat transfer, separation, and fluid handling |
| SPX Flow | United States | Process technology and components |
| Krones | Germany | Beverage and liquid food processing |
| JBT Corporation | United States | Food processing solutions |
| Buhler Group | Switzerland | Food processing technologies |
| Marel | Iceland | Meat, poultry, and fish processing |
| Atlas Copco | Sweden | Industrial machinery and equipment |
| Sulzer | Switzerland | Process engineering and services |
| Hosokawa Micron | Japan | Powder processing equipment |
The competitive landscape for GEA Group encompasses established food processing equipment manufacturers alongside specialized engineering firms. Tetra Pak dominates packaging solutions while Alfa Laval excels in separation technologies. SPX Flow and Krones provide comprehensive processing systems for beverage and dairy applications. These competitors challenge GEA across various industrial segments, particularly in pharmaceutical manufacturing and sustainable food production technologies.
FAQs
What does GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft do?
GEA Group supplies process technology, machinery, and equipment to food, beverage, pharmaceutical, dairy, and chemical industries. The company provides separation technologies, processing solutions, and comprehensive services globally through five technology-focused divisions.
When was GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft founded?
GEA Group traces its origins to 1881 when Metallgesellschaft AG was established in Frankfurt am Main as a metals trading company. The company adopted the GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft name in 2005.
Where is GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft headquartered?
GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft maintains its headquarters in Düsseldorf, Germany. The company operates through more than 250 subsidiaries across 62 countries with over 18,000 employees worldwide.
What is GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft market cap?
GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft has a market capitalization of approximately EUR 8.65 billion as of 2025. The company is listed on the German DAX, MDAX, and STOXX Europe 600 Index.
Who are GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft main competitors?
GEA Group competes with Tetra Pak, Alfa Laval, SPX Flow, and Krones in the food processing equipment market. These companies provide similar process technologies for beverage, dairy, and pharmaceutical applications.