GE Celebrates 10th Anniversary and Expansion of State-of-the-Art Water Treatment Technology Center of Excellence in Oroszlány, Hungary

• The World’s Largest MBR Manufacturing Facility
• Deepens GE’s Already Substantial Presence in Central and Eastern Europe
• Celebrates 20th Anniversary of GE’s Industry-Leading ZeeWeed* MBR Water Treatment Technology as well as the 30th Anniversary of the Commercial Introduction of MBR Technology

GE (NYSE: GE) today marked the 10th anniversary of GE’s Water & Process Technologies Global Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Oroszlány, which is the world’s largest ultrafiltration (UF)/membrane-bioreactor (MBR) module manufacturing site in the industry. Since 2002, this facility has increased its production capacity tenfold with its growth underscoring the urgent need for municipalities and industrial users to treat and reuse water, both to conserve freshwater supplies and to lessen the impact of wastewater discharges.

GE’s Oroszlány facility covers 80,000 m2 in area, has 870 employees and can produce 250 GE ZeeWeed* MBR systems annually. It plays a critical role in meeting customers’ growing water and wastewater treatment needs. Attending the anniversary celebration at the plant today were many local dignitaries including Karoly Takacs, the mayor of Oroszlány; Bianka Nauzika Wallner, U.S. Commercial Service Budapest, representing the U.S. Ambassador; Gabor Rajnai, a former mayor of Oroszlány; Pasztor Bela, mayor of Veresegyház; and Csaba Schmidt, the mayor of Tatabanya.

“This growth of our Oroszlány facility corresponds with Europe’s growing needs for better and more cost-effective water solutions,” said Heiner Markhoff, president and CEO—water and process technologies for GE Power & Water. “It is a tangible demonstration of GE’s commitment to serve its customers in the region and deliver outstanding products, services and support, while deepening GE’s already significant presence in Hungary.”

The anniversary of GE’sWater & Process Technologies Center of Excellence in Oroszlány happens to coincide with the 20th anniversary of GE’s industry-leading ZeeWeed MBR water treatment technology as well as the 30th anniversary of the commercial introduction of MBR technology. MBR, a fast-growing alternative to conventional water-treatment methods, uses hollow-fiber UF membranes to separate particles, bacteria and viruses from wastewater, along with beneficial bacteria to further treat the water to provide more consistent and better quality.

The expanded Oroszlány Center of Excellence plant further extends GE’s presence in Hungary and throughout Central and Eastern Europe. All major GE businesses are active in Hungary where GE is the largest U.S. investor and employer and also one of the country’s biggest exporters. Throughout Central and Eastern Europe, GE has 26,000+ employees; four business technology centers; three regional business headquarters; three  banks; 18 plants supporting more than US$5 billion in GE exports; 6,200+ suppliers, US$4.5 billion in destination sales and undertakes major philanthropic projects.

Today GE also announced that the city of Veresegyház, Hungary, selected GE’s ZeeWeed 500D ultrafiltration MBR technology to increase water reuse at it its existing water treatment plant. The technology installed in Veresegyház was manufactured at the Oroszlány Center of Excellence.

About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

About GE Power & Water

GE Power & Water provides customers with a broad array of power generation, energy delivery and water process technologies to solve their challenges locally. Power & Water works in all areas of the energy industry including renewable resources such as wind and solar; biogas and alternative fuels; and coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy. The business also develops advanced technologies to help solve the world’s most complex challenges related to water availability and quality. Numerous products are qualified under ecomagination, GE’s commitment to providing innovative solutions that maximize resources, drive efficiencies and help make the world work better. Power & Water’s seven business units include Aeroderivative Gas Turbines; Gas Engines; Nuclear Energy; Power Generation Services; Renewable Energy; Thermal Products and Water & Process Technologies. Headquartered in Schenectady, N.Y., Power & Water is GE’s largest industrial business.

Follow GE Power & Water and GE’s water business on Twitter @GE_PowerWater and @GE_Water.

About GE In Hungary

Currently GE is the largest U.S. investor and employer (12,500+) and one of the biggest exporters of Hungary (98 percent of the production is exported). GE’s 21st century energy, transportation, healthcare, water and security solutions can help Hungary to develop and increase its competitiveness. The key to this success is GE's culture of partnership with our associates, with local communities, with the business and scientific community and with the government. 

GE also is the initiator of the first regional corporate blog in CEE. The GEforCEE Blog is an ambitious and unifying digital platform that creates ties between different professionals, provides a forum for sharing experiences, facilitates the communication of best practices and generates ideas and enthusiasm about how the nations in CEE can work together towards an optimistic future.