At this year’s IFFA, the world’s premier trade show for meat processing, GEA will debut cutting-edge enhancements to its One-Line-Concept for fully automated food slicing and packaging. From May 3 to 8 in Hall 8, Stand G10 in Frankfurt, GEA will showcase how its latest technologies streamline production, reduce material waste, and support sustainable practices in meat, cheese, and plant-based food processing.
A Smarter, More Sustainable Line Concept
The upgraded One-Line-Concept incorporates new equipment and intelligent features that span the entire processing journey—from pre-scanning raw materials to precise slicing and converging. The system is designed to help food producers:
- Save on product and packaging materials
- Boost throughput and efficiency
- Lower energy consumption
- Improve packaging sustainability through mono-materials and recyclability
With rising demand for variety, aging populations requiring specific packaging formats, and tightening regulations on waste and materials, GEA’s innovations respond directly to the industry’s evolving needs.
Precision Slicing with New Technology
Central to the line is the GEA OptiSlicer 7000, now available with single or dual drive configurations. The single drive supports high-volume slicing—up to 2,000 kg/h—while the dual drive enables independent control of two product lanes for natural or irregularly shaped items, maximizing both yield and portion accuracy. The slicer’s open design allows access from both sides, ensuring easy maintenance and operation.
Complementing the slicer is the R505 blade, featuring an extended cutting edge that enables wider cuts and more consistent portion control. Meanwhile, the OptiScanner 5000 scans the product’s shape and weight prior to slicing, ensuring optimal thickness and reducing giveaway. These advancements translate into tangible savings—for example, trimming just 2 grams per 200-gram portion could save a two-shift operation up to €400,000 annually.
Enhancing Downstream Efficiency
Further along the line, GEA introduces the OptiLoader 6000 with an innovative retractable belt system. This enables smooth loading of stacked or layered portions into packaging, independent of the thermoformer’s cycle—improving flexibility and reducing operational risks.
The GEA PowerPak 9000, a leader in thermoforming, offers breakthroughs in:
- Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP)
- Automated tool changes
- Energy-efficient heating and vacuum systems
- Mono-material compatibility for eco-friendly, recyclable packs
Labeling is streamlined with the PowerLabel 7000, a modular cross-web labeling system that provides both top and bottom film labeling with quick, single-sided changeovers—ensuring high Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and minimal downtime.
Finally, the PowerGuide 5000 converging system merges up to six product lines into one, now with improved performance and user-friendly operation, maximizing efficiency at the final stage.
Ready for the Digital Future
All GEA machines with PLC control are now IoT-enabled and fully integrated with the GEA Cloud, allowing real-time monitoring and performance optimization through smart data connectivity.
