GEA Westfalia Separator
Encyclopedia
GEA Westfalia Separator Group GmbH with head office in Oelde
, Westphalia
is a German manufacturer of separators and decanters which is affiliated to the GEA Group
. The company develops procedures and processes for the mechanical clarification and separation of liquids for the food industry, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, energy, shipping and environmental technology.
On 1. September 1893 the brothers-in-law Franz Ramesohl and Franz Schmidt opened up a workshop under the name of Ramesohl & Schmidt oHG in Oelde
. With a staff comprising two lathe operators and three mechanics, they started the production of milk separators which cost between 200 and 320 Deutsche Mark. In the year following the company foundation, the number of employees rose to 20 and the production facilities were expanded by a further building. In 1897 annual production was 2000 centrifuges, with 60 employees.
The company was transformed into an Aktiengesellschaft
in 1899 based on a shareholders’ agreement. The share capital was 1000 shares worth 1000 Deutsche Mark each. The turnover amounted to 501068 Deutsche Mark. In 1900 around 10,000 milk centrifuges from Ramesohl & Schmidt AG were in service.
1901 - 1910
The production of motorbikes was launched for a brief period in 1901 which, however, was discontinued in the same year. in 1906 the company, with a workforce meanwhile totalling 110 employees, started to manufacture automobile
s. In 1907 the first separator for the separation of mineral oil-water mixtures was launched.
1911 - 1920
Despite the initial promising figures, the fierce completion forced the company to cease the production of Westfalia motor vehicles in 1913. In 1915 Werner Habig was appointed director and member of the board. In the same year, the board members Richard Riefenberg, August Strothmann and founding member Franz Ramesohl resigned from office and Werner Habig joined the company. He managed Westfalia Separator until 1971.
1921 - 1930
In 1926 the production line was expanded to include bucket milking installations. The first mobile milking installation for pasture land operation was presented to the public in 1927 at the agricultural show in Dortmund. The company founded Westfalia Separator Inc. in 1929, the first company in the USA.
1931–1940
In 1931 the company presented the first self-cleaning separator. Co-founder Franz Schmidt died on 18. March 1937. In 1940 the turnover surpassed the 10 million reichsmark limit for the first time.
1941–1950
Ramesohl & Schmidt AG was renamed Westfalia Separator AG on 29 September 1941. In the same year, Westfalia Separator built the first continuously operating buttermaking machine. In the war years production came to a virtual standstill and the turnover bottomed out at the end of the war generating a turnover of just 2.5 million RM. Reconstruction began in 1946 and, insofar as materials could be procured, a wide range of own constructions were designed and manufactured such as spin dryers, circular saws, lamps, sledges, candleholders, scooters, coat racks, toys and Braille
typewriters.
1950 - 1960
In the following years, separators as well as milking and feeding installations were developed and manufactured. Westfalia Separator advanced to become the market leader in Germany. In 1954, the company was already exporting its products to 70 countries. The first decanter was constructed in 1955.
1961 - 1970
In 1962 the Niederahr
plant was put on stream after a construction period of just one year. The Château-Thierry
branch in France
followed in 1963. In 1965 the production of hand-operated separators was discontinued. In 1966 the staff magazine, Die Trommel, was published for the first time, and has been printed six times a year ever since. In 1967 the turnover of Westfalia Separator exceeded the 100 million mark for the first time, whereby most of the turnover was generated by exports. In 1968 the product line already comprised 70 different separator models in 350 different designs.
1971 - 1980
In 1971 Werner Habig requested the supervisory board to relieve him of his duties as director; his successor was Otto Müller-Habig. Werner Habig became chairman of the supervisory board, replacing his brother Leo Habig. In 1973 the turnover topped the 200 million DM limit; the export share climbed to 59 percent.
1981 - 1990
In 1987 the company was split up into the business areas Westfalia Separator Landtechnik and Westfalia Separator Trenntechnik to increase transparency and delimit responsibilities in a more clearly defined way. In 1988, the company incorporated the dairy farm program of Miele Melktechnik as a second product line in the dairy farm segment. Westfalia Separator achieved the highest turnover to date of 530 million DM in 1989. The number of employees surpassed 3000 for the first time. At this time, 23 subsidiaries had been set up abroad. Up to the year 1990, the company had been granted 450 patents, of which 210 were independent inventions. More than 1000 patents had been filed internationally by 1990.
1990 - 2000
Since 1994 Westfalia Separator has been a member of the GEA Group
, Bochum
. The dairy farming sector was spun off in 1996 to become an independent company trading under the name GEA Farm Technologies
.
2000 - today
In 2004, the Westfalia Separator e.V. association was founded to offer unbureaucratic help for employees in distress as well as to help fund social projects in Oelde. The authorized workshop was founded in 2007 in Tianjim to be able to serve the Chinese market even more effectively. On 13. February 2008 the corporate form of Westfalia Separator AG was changed. The company trades henceforth under the name of GEA Westfalia Separator GmbH.
Since 1. January 2010 GEA Westfalia Separator Group is affiliated to the GEA Group Segment GEA Mechanical Equipment.
Business Area Sales
The Business Area Sales supports customers in all phases of the preparation and realization of the investment decision. Backed up by the specialist expertise of the business lines, customized centrifuges and process lines are available for a broad application spectrum.
The process-oriented business lines are dedicated primarily to complex processes. Such applications are covered by the business lines:
The system-oriented business lines are primarily involved with the purification and treatment of large volume streams. These duties are covered by the business lines:
Business Area Service
The Business Area Service incorporates the complete range of services offered by the company.
Business Area Production
All production activities worldwide for separators and decanters are merged in this production company. Besides the main plant in Oelde
(DE), all the other production facilities in Niederahr
(DE), Château-Thierry
(FR), Bengaluru (IN) and Wuqing (CN) are certified in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001:2008 and DIN EN ISO 14001:2004.
50 sales and service companies worldwide
The network of GEA Westfalia Separator comprises more than 50 sales and service companies worldwide.
Oelde
Oelde is a town in the district of Warendorf, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located near Beckum.-Division of the town:Oelde consists of 5 districts:* Oelde* Stromberg* Lette* Sünninghausen* Kirchspiel...
, Westphalia
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
is a German manufacturer of separators and decanters which is affiliated to the GEA Group
GEA Group
GEA Group AG , headquartered in Bochum, Germany, is one of the largest system providers for food and energy processes with about €4.4 billion in 2009 revenue. The company focuses on process technology and components for demanding production processes in various end markets...
. The company develops procedures and processes for the mechanical clarification and separation of liquids for the food industry, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, energy, shipping and environmental technology.
History
1893–1900On 1. September 1893 the brothers-in-law Franz Ramesohl and Franz Schmidt opened up a workshop under the name of Ramesohl & Schmidt oHG in Oelde
Oelde
Oelde is a town in the district of Warendorf, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located near Beckum.-Division of the town:Oelde consists of 5 districts:* Oelde* Stromberg* Lette* Sünninghausen* Kirchspiel...
. With a staff comprising two lathe operators and three mechanics, they started the production of milk separators which cost between 200 and 320 Deutsche Mark. In the year following the company foundation, the number of employees rose to 20 and the production facilities were expanded by a further building. In 1897 annual production was 2000 centrifuges, with 60 employees.
The company was transformed into an Aktiengesellschaft
Aktiengesellschaft
Aktiengesellschaft is a German term that refers to a corporation that is limited by shares, i.e. owned by shareholders, and may be traded on a stock market. The term is used in Germany, Austria and Switzerland...
in 1899 based on a shareholders’ agreement. The share capital was 1000 shares worth 1000 Deutsche Mark each. The turnover amounted to 501068 Deutsche Mark. In 1900 around 10,000 milk centrifuges from Ramesohl & Schmidt AG were in service.
1901 - 1910
The production of motorbikes was launched for a brief period in 1901 which, however, was discontinued in the same year. in 1906 the company, with a workforce meanwhile totalling 110 employees, started to manufacture automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
s. In 1907 the first separator for the separation of mineral oil-water mixtures was launched.
1911 - 1920
Despite the initial promising figures, the fierce completion forced the company to cease the production of Westfalia motor vehicles in 1913. In 1915 Werner Habig was appointed director and member of the board. In the same year, the board members Richard Riefenberg, August Strothmann and founding member Franz Ramesohl resigned from office and Werner Habig joined the company. He managed Westfalia Separator until 1971.
1921 - 1930
In 1926 the production line was expanded to include bucket milking installations. The first mobile milking installation for pasture land operation was presented to the public in 1927 at the agricultural show in Dortmund. The company founded Westfalia Separator Inc. in 1929, the first company in the USA.
1931–1940
In 1931 the company presented the first self-cleaning separator. Co-founder Franz Schmidt died on 18. March 1937. In 1940 the turnover surpassed the 10 million reichsmark limit for the first time.
1941–1950
Ramesohl & Schmidt AG was renamed Westfalia Separator AG on 29 September 1941. In the same year, Westfalia Separator built the first continuously operating buttermaking machine. In the war years production came to a virtual standstill and the turnover bottomed out at the end of the war generating a turnover of just 2.5 million RM. Reconstruction began in 1946 and, insofar as materials could be procured, a wide range of own constructions were designed and manufactured such as spin dryers, circular saws, lamps, sledges, candleholders, scooters, coat racks, toys and Braille
Braille
The Braille system is a method that is widely used by blind people to read and write, and was the first digital form of writing.Braille was devised in 1825 by Louis Braille, a blind Frenchman. Each Braille character, or cell, is made up of six dot positions, arranged in a rectangle containing two...
typewriters.
1950 - 1960
In the following years, separators as well as milking and feeding installations were developed and manufactured. Westfalia Separator advanced to become the market leader in Germany. In 1954, the company was already exporting its products to 70 countries. The first decanter was constructed in 1955.
1961 - 1970
In 1962 the Niederahr
Niederahr
Niederahr is an Ortsgemeinde – a community belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde – in the Westerwaldkreis in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.-Location:...
plant was put on stream after a construction period of just one year. The Château-Thierry
Château-Thierry
Château-Thierry is a commune in northern France about east-northeast of Paris. It is a sub-prefecture of the Aisne department in Picardy.-History:...
branch in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
followed in 1963. In 1965 the production of hand-operated separators was discontinued. In 1966 the staff magazine, Die Trommel, was published for the first time, and has been printed six times a year ever since. In 1967 the turnover of Westfalia Separator exceeded the 100 million mark for the first time, whereby most of the turnover was generated by exports. In 1968 the product line already comprised 70 different separator models in 350 different designs.
1971 - 1980
In 1971 Werner Habig requested the supervisory board to relieve him of his duties as director; his successor was Otto Müller-Habig. Werner Habig became chairman of the supervisory board, replacing his brother Leo Habig. In 1973 the turnover topped the 200 million DM limit; the export share climbed to 59 percent.
1981 - 1990
In 1987 the company was split up into the business areas Westfalia Separator Landtechnik and Westfalia Separator Trenntechnik to increase transparency and delimit responsibilities in a more clearly defined way. In 1988, the company incorporated the dairy farm program of Miele Melktechnik as a second product line in the dairy farm segment. Westfalia Separator achieved the highest turnover to date of 530 million DM in 1989. The number of employees surpassed 3000 for the first time. At this time, 23 subsidiaries had been set up abroad. Up to the year 1990, the company had been granted 450 patents, of which 210 were independent inventions. More than 1000 patents had been filed internationally by 1990.
1990 - 2000
Since 1994 Westfalia Separator has been a member of the GEA Group
GEA Group
GEA Group AG , headquartered in Bochum, Germany, is one of the largest system providers for food and energy processes with about €4.4 billion in 2009 revenue. The company focuses on process technology and components for demanding production processes in various end markets...
, Bochum
Bochum
Bochum is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany. It is located in the Ruhr area and is surrounded by the cities of Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Herne, Castrop-Rauxel, Dortmund, Witten and Hattingen.-History:...
. The dairy farming sector was spun off in 1996 to become an independent company trading under the name GEA Farm Technologies
GEA Farm Technologies
GEA Farm Technologies, a segment of GEA Group, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of technical innovations, integrated product solutions and animal hygiene products for milk production...
.
2000 - today
In 2004, the Westfalia Separator e.V. association was founded to offer unbureaucratic help for employees in distress as well as to help fund social projects in Oelde. The authorized workshop was founded in 2007 in Tianjim to be able to serve the Chinese market even more effectively. On 13. February 2008 the corporate form of Westfalia Separator AG was changed. The company trades henceforth under the name of GEA Westfalia Separator GmbH.
Since 1. January 2010 GEA Westfalia Separator Group is affiliated to the GEA Group Segment GEA Mechanical Equipment.
Production locations
- OeldeOeldeOelde is a town in the district of Warendorf, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located near Beckum.-Division of the town:Oelde consists of 5 districts:* Oelde* Stromberg* Lette* Sünninghausen* Kirchspiel...
(DE) - NiederahrNiederahrNiederahr is an Ortsgemeinde – a community belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde – in the Westerwaldkreis in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.-Location:...
(DE) - Château-ThierryChâteau-ThierryChâteau-Thierry is a commune in northern France about east-northeast of Paris. It is a sub-prefecture of the Aisne department in Picardy.-History:...
(FR) - Bengaluru (IN)
- Wuqing (CN)
Corporate structure
GEA Westfalia Separator Group GmbH is part of the GEA Group Segment GEA Mechanical Equipment and divided into three Business Areas and therein subordinated Business Lines.Business Area Sales
The Business Area Sales supports customers in all phases of the preparation and realization of the investment decision. Backed up by the specialist expertise of the business lines, customized centrifuges and process lines are available for a broad application spectrum.
The process-oriented business lines are dedicated primarily to complex processes. Such applications are covered by the business lines:
- Beverage Technology
- Dairy Technology
- Renewable Resources
- Chemical / Pharmaceutical Technology
The system-oriented business lines are primarily involved with the purification and treatment of large volume streams. These duties are covered by the business lines:
- Marine
- Energy
- Oil & Gas
- Environmental Technology
Business Area Service
The Business Area Service incorporates the complete range of services offered by the company.
Business Area Production
All production activities worldwide for separators and decanters are merged in this production company. Besides the main plant in Oelde
Oelde
Oelde is a town in the district of Warendorf, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located near Beckum.-Division of the town:Oelde consists of 5 districts:* Oelde* Stromberg* Lette* Sünninghausen* Kirchspiel...
(DE), all the other production facilities in Niederahr
Niederahr
Niederahr is an Ortsgemeinde – a community belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde – in the Westerwaldkreis in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.-Location:...
(DE), Château-Thierry
Château-Thierry
Château-Thierry is a commune in northern France about east-northeast of Paris. It is a sub-prefecture of the Aisne department in Picardy.-History:...
(FR), Bengaluru (IN) and Wuqing (CN) are certified in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001:2008 and DIN EN ISO 14001:2004.
50 sales and service companies worldwide
The network of GEA Westfalia Separator comprises more than 50 sales and service companies worldwide.
Literatur
- Manfred Kersten: Innovation from Tradition – 115 Years Westfalia Separator AG Oelde