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History

History

From being the inventor of the first Air-cooled condenser in 1935 to German Brand Award in 2017

More than 80 years in the market and a great deal of success have made us a leading provider worldwide in developing and manufacturing both wet and dry cooling systems. We have a long history delivering beneficial industry-first technology: We developed the first Air Cooled Condenser in 1935, we are the inventor of the Heller-Technology in 1940 and our first natural draft wet cooling tower was erected in 1965. Since 1974 we serve the water and wastewater industry with 2H components and solutions and revolutionized the waste management in coal-fired stations with our patented Circumix technology in 1990.

1920

1920: Foundation of GEA in bochum by Otto Happel Sr.(Born 1882)

Founded on 2 February 1920, GEA, abbreviated from the original German name of the company “Gesellschaft für Entstaubungs-Anlagen mbH”, was the work of a man who was an entrepreneur with heart and soul, a man gifted with an exceptional technical insight and filled with the desire for pioneering technical innovations.

1935

1935: The Air Cooled Condenser – a Technical Milestone

In 1935, Otto Happel, in co-operation with the engineer Dr. Kurt Lang, began developing air-cooled condensers for stationary steam turbines.

1965

1965: Our first natural-draft cooling tower built

First natural-draft cooling tower rated 300 MW erected under license at the Niederaussem power station, Germany.

1970
Since 1974 we serve the water and wastewater industry with 2H components and solutions.
2015
Due to change of ownership, another new standalone company has been created out of the former Heat Exchanger segment of the GEA Group AG. The Power Cooling Solutions division continues separately and independently under the new name ENEXIO. The other segments of the former GEA Heat Exchanger Group operate under different names and market presence, like DencoHappel (former Air Treatment) and Kelvion (former Heat Exchanger Systems).
2023
ENEXIO Power Cooling Solutions India Pvt Ltd acquired ENEXIO ACC GmbH from ENEXIO Management GmbH and controls the Worldwide Dry Cooling Operations.

Milestones

Founded on 2 February 1920, GEA, abbreviated from the original German name of the company “Gesellschaft für Entstaubungs-Anlagen mbH”, was the work of a man who was an entrepreneur with heart and soul, a man gifted with an exceptional technical insight and filled with the desire for pioneering technical innovations.

In 1935, Otto Happel, in co-operation with the engineer Dr. Kurt Lang, began developing air-cooled condensers for stationary steam turbines.

Start-up of the first air-cooled condenser serving a steam turbine at the Prosper mine in Essen, Germany, transferred to the Wirus site in Gütersloh, Germany, after the second World War; condensers were originally developed for locomotives.

Starting from the early 1950’s activities in the field of water conserving cooling systems making use of the related patents by Professor Heller’s inventions combined also with Dr. László Forgó’s patents for advanced air coolers were developed – a group of water-to-air compact heat exchangers named Forgó-type.

Starting from the early 1950’s activities in the field of water conserving cooling systems making use of the related patents by Professor Heller’s inventions combined also with Dr. László Forgó’s patents for advanced air coolers were developed – a group of water-to-air compact heat exchangers named Forgó-type.

The first pilot plant scale Heller System with natural draft concrete tower was built in 1954 in Hungary.

The first Heller System for a large scale coal fired power unit outside Hungary: 120 MW Rugeley A Power Station, United Kingdom, 1962 (decommissioned in 1994).
First natural-draft cooling tower rated 300 MW erected under license at the Niederaussem power station, Germany.
Since 1974 we serve the water and wastewater industry with 2H components and solutions.
The first hybrid cooling tower for Stadtwerke Frankfurt 1989.
GEA took the opportunity in 1992 to purchase “EGI Contracting/Engineering Rt.” In Budapest, Hungary (dry cooling at power stations).
Conversion of a mechanical draft cooling tower into a hybrid cooling tower in the power plant Killingholm, U.K. in 1994.

After the dynamic growth in the early 1990 years and because of the world wide recession, the years after 1995 showed a phase of integration and consolidation in order to “digest “the new activities. In 1997 GEA Group is structured in nine Divisions.

In April 1999, GEA was acquired by mg technologies AG (the successor of Metallgesellschaft).

Takeover of 2H Kunststoff, a specialist for cooling tower fills as well as for water and waste-water treatment.

GEA acquired 2H Aqua based in UK.

Reorganization of GEA's nine Divisions into technologically distinct Segments. The largest segment is the Heat Exchangers Segment (HX) including the business units Wet Cooling Towers and ACC/ Heller.

In June 2014, the board of GEA Group announced their decision to sell the Heat Exchangers Segment (HX). In October, GEA Group concludes the agreement on the sale of the Heat Exchangers Segment to Triton.

In November 2014, The Triton funds acquired the entire Heat Exchangers Segment.

Due to change of ownership, another new standalone company has been created out of the former Heat Exchanger segment of the GEA Group AG. The Power Cooling Solutions division continues separately and independently under the new name ENEXIO. The other segments of the former GEA Heat Exchanger Group operate under different names and market presence, like DencoHappel (former Air Treatment) and Kelvion (former Heat Exchanger Systems).

With the support of the new owner, former GEA Energietechnik and its subsidiary companies became ENEXIO. Not only does the name connect the company’s core values of “Energy, Engineering, Excellence”, the whole new corporate presence is meant to mirror the design of the company. Development included various internal and external marketing and communication actions for the brand formation of ENEXIO – accompanied by a new website, an active and new social media presence, a new trade fair and advertising concept as well as internal communication activities – followed an intense integration process in the build-up phase.

BGR group, based in Chennai India an Engineering and Construction group with proven track record in EPC contracting of thermal power plants of ranging from 30 MW to 800 MW in India and manufacture and supply of portfolio of high-tech equipment to global clients from Americas to Japan and Australia to Europe, acquired the ACC global business of ENEXIO in May 2023, including IP assets and manufacturing facilities. This acquisition is a culmination of more than 25 years of partnership in the field of Dry and Wet cooling between GEA/ENEXIO and BGR where ENEXIO held a majority stake in a joint venture in India. This JV was a pioneer in offering Der cooling solutions to India power industry and holds market leadership.

ENEXIO is a reflection of what we do and what we have accomplished as pioneer in the field of industry, process, and power plant cooling over decades.

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