Bioreactor systems inside the new ATC
Located at GEA’s Janesville campus, operational since 2024 for production, repair, logistics, and training, the new ATC facilitates the transition from laboratory innovation to industrial-scale production. It integrates advanced process technologies, including pilot-scale bioreactors for precision fermentation and cell cultivation, thermal processing, aseptic filling, membrane filtration, spray drying, and centrifugation. These systems ensure food safety, quality, and cost-efficiency while supporting microbiological, cell-based, and analytical testing.
GEA CEO Stefan Klebert stated: “The food industry is at a crossroads. To feed future generations sustainably, we must turn vision into scalable reality. Our new center in Janesville is a key milestone on our shared journey – both for our customers and for us as a company.” The facility supports the production of innovative foods like precision-fermented egg white and cultivated seafood, while expanding GEA’s North American presence, where 1,600 employees across 16 locations contribute to manufacturing, sales, and service.
The ATC creates high-skilled jobs in engineering and science, complementing the 74 employees at GEA’s Janesville Separation & Flow Technologies facility. During construction, it supported up to 500 contractor and subcontractor roles, boosting the local economy. Jimsi Kuborn, Economic Development Director for Janesville, noted: “This facility reflects how Janesville’s rich agricultural and industrial heritage can intersect with cutting-edge innovation. It not only honors our community’s roots, but also creates new opportunities for partnerships, workforce development, and sustainable growth.”
Prof. Yaakov Nahmias from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem said: “GEA technology hubs are the crucible where visionary science becomes transformative industry, uniting biological innovation with cutting-edge engineering to move towards a more sustainable future.” Jessica Almy, Interim CEO of The Good Food Institute in North America, added: “GEA’s Janesville center shows how innovation and agriculture can work hand in hand to create good jobs, strengthen food security, and help address climate challenges.”
The ATC strengthens Wisconsin’s role in the U.S., a leader in alternative protein investments, fostering sustainable food production without impacting imports or exports. It positions the Midwest as a hub for food innovation, blending agriculture, biotechnology, and sustainable manufacturing.
