GEA has introduced its new digital service product, GEA InsightPartner® EvoHDry, an advanced condition monitoring tool designed to improve reliability and efficiency in dairy and beverage production.
The system provides real-time diagnostics, pre-alarm notifications, and expert maintenance guidance, helping operators reduce downtime in evaporation, drying, and liquid systems. Engineered for complex industrial environments, it supports the production of high-value goods, including infant formula, cream, evaporated milk, condensed milk, and cheese.
At its core, InsightPartner EvoHDry applies condition-based monitoring, continuously collecting and analysing parameters such as temperature, pressure, vibration, and flow. This enables early detection of issues such as falling suction pressure in vacuum pumps, a common problem in evaporation systems. Failures of this type, often linked to dry running, lubrication loss, or pump component wear, can force shutdowns. EvoHDry uses predictive analytics to identify these risks early and prompt intervention.
Beyond specific failures, the tool addresses wider industry challenges. SCADA systems can overwhelm operators with alarms, and a shortage of skilled technicians often forces teams into reactive maintenance. EvoHDry combines data-driven insights with expert guidance, helping operators prioritise issues, optimise maintenance schedules, and stabilise production.
The technical setup includes vibration, flow, and pressure sensors, along with an edge gateway that preprocesses data locally before secure transfer to the GEA Cloud. This ensures rapid response while reducing cybersecurity risk. Diagnostics are further validated by certified vibration specialists, blending human expertise with automated analysis.
Angela Yeung, Digital Portfolio and Strategy Lead for Liquid & Powder Technologies at GEA, said the benefits are clear. “Unplanned downtime remains the biggest challenge for dairy processors. By using predictive insights, customers can intervene before failures occur, reducing costs and improving efficiency. With GEA InsightPartner EvoHDry, operators gain clear insight into machine health. Instead of reacting to unexpected shutdowns, they can plan maintenance based on reliable diagnostics—keeping production stable and output consistent.”
Tailored for evaporators, spray dryers, pumps, and rotating equipment, EvoHDry integrates GEA’s OEM expertise into digital services, covering everything from the vacuum stage through to CIP cycles. As part of GEA Service’s Performance Partnership program, the solution brings together predictive analytics and service support, giving producers a pathway to improved availability, productivity, and sustainability.
