The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman. 
The Monobox Automated Milking System from GEA is officially released for sale in the U.S. market after being cleared by the FDA for the production of Grade A milk.
“At GEA, we always make milk safety and milk quality our top priorities,” explains Matt Daley, senior vice president of sales for milking and dairy farming. “We are delivering farmers some of the most advanced milking technology on the market, and we worked extensively with state agencies and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so our customers can be confident that the milk harvested from our equipment is of the highest quality possible and meets all necessary regulatory standards for saleable Grade A milk.”The Monobox incorporates the same robotic milk module and milk rack as GEA’s DairyProQ automated rotary – just in a box-style configuration. GEA’s unique in-liner-everything technology ensures efficient milking in one quick, uniform procedure. After attachment, each milking step – stimulation, teat cleaning, fore-stripping, milk harvest and post-dipping – is done inside the liner. With a fast milking process, cows spend less time at the milking box and more time eating and resting. Plus, it allows for more milkings per robot per day.
“The efficiency of the milking process is what takes the Monobox to the next level in automation,” says Daley. “The time of flight camera on the milk rack matches the teatcups to the teats for the fastest unit attachment in the industry. It’s an extremely efficient and proven system giving dairy farmers an automated milking option unlike anything else on the market.”
The Monobox offers herds of any size milk harvest that is not only fast, but focuses on milk quality. High-tech sensors analyze milk color, conductivity and temperature, and the backflush process cleans and disinfects the milking unit between each cow.
“Dairy farmers continue to look towards automated milking as a solution to reduce labor expenses while maintaining a highly productive herd,” says Daley. “The Monobox rounds out the automated milking options offered by GEA to include box style configurations in addition to our robotic rotary.”
The Monobox Automated Milking System can be seamlessly integrated into any cow traffic system and works with many different management styles. Its surface box mount makes it easy to install in new or existing barns. Maintenance is quick and convenient with the service-friendly robotic milk module. Certified Monobox dealers and GEA’s support team provide expert resources and herd management services from planning and installation to start-up and beyond. To learn more, contact your local GEA sales representative or contact GEA at 1-877-WS-Dairy (1-877-973-2479).
About GEA
GEA is one of the largest suppliers of process technology for the food industry and a wide range of other industries. The international technology group focuses on process technology and components for sophisticated production processes in various end-user markets. In 2016, GEA generated consolidated revenues of about EUR 4.5 billion. The food and beverages sector, which is a long-term growth industry, accounted for around 70 percent. As of December 31, 2016, the group employed about 17,000 people worldwide. GEA is a market and technology leader in its business areas. The company is listed on the German MDAX stock index (G1A, WKN 660 200) and included in the STOXX® Europe 600 Index. In addition, the company is listed in selected MSCI Global Sustainability Indexes. Further information is available at gea.com.
