GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft has further strengthened its Refrigeration Division through the acquisition of the International Cooling Group (ICG), headquartered at Fareham near Southampton, UK.

ICG manufactures evaporators and condensers for the industrial refrigeration markets under the brand names Searle, Raffel and Dawmec. In 2007 ICG generated sales of approximately 70 Million EUR with 500 employees. The transaction will take effect after approval from the German Federal Cartel Office. "ICG represents an excellent, profitable, technological and geographical extension of our refrigeration product range. The acquisition will strengthen the competitiveness and the position of GEA´s Refrigeration Division in Europe and provides further significant synergy effects," commented Niels Graugaard, member of the Executive Board of GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft. In 2008 ICG is already the 7th acquisition contributing to GEA Group’s successful external growth strategy. Therewith acquired sales add up to over EUR 160 million this year.

GEA recently celebrated the 150th anniversary of Grasso, the leading company of its Refrigeration Division. Gea Refrigeration manufacturing companies will be present at Chillventa (October 15th-18th, 2008) in Nurnberg, Germany. The companies will present themselves on a 1000m2 stand with demonstration units, information desks and a hospitality section. Participants include Grasso Products, Kueba, Goedhart, Aerofreeze, AWP and the division itself, reveals the company’s press releases.