GEA buys crystal specialist Messo
acquired the business of Messo-Chemietechnik, which specialises in
crystallisation technologies for the biotechnology, pharmachem and
food industries.
Messo also makes evaporation and vacuum process engineering equipment, and reported sales of €25 million in 2003. The two companies have agreed not to disclose the purchase price, and the German antitrust authorities have already approved the acquisition.
In the chemical industry, Messo evaporators and crystallisers are used in various production processes for inorganic products and organic compounds, including caffeine, vitamin C, citric acid, pentaerythritol, bisphenol A, nickel sulphate, sodium dimolybdate and sodium thiosulphate.
For example, it is active in the recovery of pharmaceutical- and food-grade citric acid from impure fermentation broths. Using a number of process steps - including chemical reaction, filtration, ion exchange, charcoal treatment, evaporation and drying - pure citric acid either as a monohydrate or as anhydrite can be produced.
"Messo is an ideal fit for the evaporation and crystallisation businesses of GEA's Process Engineering division," said GEA in a statement.
