Top German Awards

GEA Group and GEA Westfalia Separator Group, represented locally by GEA Westfalia Separator South Africa, have been honoured with two prestigious awards in Germany in recent months.

The first accolade came in June, with GEA Group receiving a Best Innovators Award for 2010/2011 for the most successful and sustainable innovation management in Germany. The ceremony was held at the German Federal Ministry of Economics & Technology in Berlin.

This award was followed by the Top 100 quality seal for GEA Westfalia Separator Group in July by Lothar Späth, host of the German television programme Späth am Abend, at the Baltic spa Warnemünde.

For the Top 100 quality seal, awarded for one year, the Economics University of Vienna assessed 272 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based in Germany for several months, paying close attention to innovation planning and management. 

“Only companies with creative vision and an innovative spirit have achieved this top honour,” says Taryn du Plessis, Commercial & Marketing Co-ordinator, GEA Westfalia Separator South Africa. “These awards show that we are truly the market leader in separation technology.”

GEA Westfalia Separator Group is constantly developing new ideas for the most efficient liquids processing possible. The company uses a systematic approach, utilising the benefits of marketing and market research to determine industry requirements and future market trends.

Every six weeks, a committee, consisting of representatives from various departments, discusses these requirements and trends and, with the help of high school initiatives and experts from other sectors, maintains the company’s position as a leading innovator.

“Our policies regarding creative ideas and consistent progress towards greater customer benefit do not only help boost our sales, but it helps us to achieve something greater,” says Markus Hüllmann, CEO of the GEA Mechanical Equipment Segment. “We are proud of these awards because it shows that we are realising this goal.”

Last year, SMEs holding the Top 100 quality seal generated €11.2 billion in total sales. Innovations from these companies saw 769 new national patents, and 1 865 new international patents registered in 2010. Forty-five of the 100 companies are the true market leaders in their national sector, and 19 are world market leaders. Of the 100 companies, 88 have reported stronger growth than the sector averages during the past three years – with an average of about 16%.

For more information on the GEA Westfalia Separator Group and the other 99 honoured companies, visit www.top100.de

 

Enquiries: 
Taryn du Plessis
GEA Westfalia Separator South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Midrand

Tel:  (011) 805 6910     
Fax:  (011) 805 6911
E-mail:  taryn.duplessis(at)geagroup.com