1933
Niro is founded by Johan Ernst Nyrop. Niro is a world leader in industrial drying, with spray drying, freeze drying, and fluid bed processing as core technologies. First company name: A/S Niro Atomizer.

1950'ies
An extensive network of agents and licensees is established in the early 50'ies. The scope of delivery changes as Niro begins supplying complete spray dryers instead of components and drawings for local plant fabrication and installation. Niro establishes own subsidiaries in France, Argentina and Brazil, and the staff increases to a hundred employees. At the end of the decade Mr. Nyrop's dream of an international group of companies has come true.

1960'ies
Research and development is in focus to ensure continued growth. Alternative air dispersing and atomization techniques are incorporated in the drying systems. Niro's image as a leader in spray drying technology is strengthened. Flash and fluid bed dryers are added to the delivery program.

Highlights:

• 1962
  Break-through in the design of abrasion-resistant atomizer wheels.
• 1964
  New market established for high temperature, high capacity, heavy duty spray drying within clays, kaolin, catalysts, and mining products.
• 1964
  Contract signed for supply of the first large fluid bed dryer for polymer.
• 1965
  Supply of industrial plant No. 1000.
• 1969
  Niro establish subsidiary in Australia.

1970'ies
DDS (Danish Sugar Factories) gradually acquires the shares of A/S Niro Atomizer.

The importance of controlling feed quality prior to drying brings Niro into the concentration business and falling film evaporators become part of the scope of supply, primarily within the dairy industry. This involvement in pre-treatment has since grown to include extraction and membrane filtration.

Highlights:

• 1970
  Two-stage drying concept introduced to the dairy industry.
• 1978
  Spray drying technology applied to air pollution control.

1980's
There is a need to further develop particulate processing techniques so as to produce powdered, agglomerated or granular products of specific properties. Niro meets this challenge by upgrading its fluid bed technology and introducing new equipment for blending, coating, pelletizing, and de-dusting.

In 1989, Niro becomes a member of the Danisco Group following the merger of DDS with Danisco and De Danske Spritfabrikker (Danish Distillers).

Highlights:

• 1981
  Patented concept of spray dryer with integrated fluid bed developed.
• 1982
  First full-scale spray dryer absorber supplied for desulphurization of flue gas from utility plant.

1990's
Niro drops "Atomizer" from the company name and introduces a new logo.



In 1993, the Niro Group is acquired by the German GEA Group and begins to co-operate closely with other GEA companies specializing in process technology and engineering. With its worldwide network of subsidiaries Niro forms the Powder Technology Division of the GEA Group.



A new business unit, Niro Pharma Systems, is formed to strengthen the presence of the Powder Technology Division in the pharmaceutical market.

In 1999, GEA joins the mg technologies group.

Highlights:

• 1991
  The spray dryer with integrated fluid bed becomes the most important spray dryer concept in the food and chemical industries for producing agglomerated instant powders.
• 1992
  First 10 t/h milk powder plant commissioned.
• 1992
  The FILTERMAT® featuring a built-in conveyor belt completes the range of spray dryer designs. This plant ensures successful drying of sticky, hygro-scopic, thermoplastic and slowly crystallizing products that are difficult to dry in conventional designs.
• 1994
  High speed, double action extractors for coffee underline Niro's leading position as a supplier of soluble coffee production lines.
• 1995
  First steam sterilizable spray dryer sold to customer in the pharmaceutical industry.
• 1996
  Development of the patented BUBBLE PLATETM air distribution plate.

2000 -
GEA concentrates its engineering operations within powder technology and liquid processing in one division, the Process Engineering Division.

Highlights:

• 2000
  New generation of CIP'able, sanitary bag filters, SANICIP?, introduced at the Anuga FoodTech exhibition in Cologne.
• 2000
  The SDMICRO?, a fully functional spray drying plant in miniature, is presented at the ACHEMA exhibition in Frankfurt. It is supplied fully validated and ready for use to customers in the pharmaceutical industry.
• 2002
  Niro A/S acquires from Atlas-Stord Denmark A/S the activities of the Atlas Food Division specialising in the design and supply of freeze drying systems for food applications and vacuum systems for deodorising edible oil.
• 2002 - 2003
  Niro Australia Pty Ltd acquires Liquid Technologies Australia Pty Ltd and Tuchenhagen A'Asia Pty Ltd. Niro Australia is renamed to GEA Process Engineering Australia Pty Ltd and two strategic units were established; Niro Australia and Liquid Technologies Austalia.
  The wide range of technologies and plant supplied under the Niro name is portrayed in this home page. It illustrates Niro's ability to provide a global customer service of product testing, process evaluation, project financing, design and engineering, plant installation, commissioning, and after market support.

Summary:
Niro A/S is owned by GEA, a global group of companies specialising in process and thermal engineering activities. Niro is a member of GEA Process Engineering Division, which is represented in more than 50 countries and retains a total of about 3,000 employees.

GEA is part of GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft , one of Germany's large industrial enterprises with approx. 35,000 employees.