GEA Farm Technologies is pleased to announce the purchase of one of its largest dealerships, San Joaquin Valley Dairy Equipment, Inc. San Joaquin Valley Dairy Equipment has been located in Tulare, California for the past 20 years. They also operate from a second location in Bakersfield, California. Customers served from both locations can rest-assured, they will see very little change in daily operation. The knowledgeable staff and management team, dairy producers are accustomed to working with from San Joaquin Valley Dairy Equipment, will continue to be involved as the dealership becomes part of the GEA Farm Technologies organization. "San Joaquin Valley Dairy Equipment has an excellent reputation in the Central Valley for installing first-class GEA Farm Technologies parlors and providing exceptional service and support to each and every one of their customers," says Vern Foster, President and CEO, GEA Farm Technologies, Inc. (North America). "We plan to continue this level of service to the dairy producers in the area long into the future, and bring them the additional benefits GEA Farm Technologies has to offer, under one umbrella. As our product line has extended beyond milking equipment, to include GEA Houle manure technology and Norbco barn equipment, we hope customers will see the advantage that GEA Farm Technologies brings to their operation, as a total solutions provider." GEA Farm Technologies also owns and operates direct dealerships out of Florida, Virginia, and New York. "The number one goal through this process was to make sure our customers continue to have complete access to the product lines available through GEA Farm Technologies," said former San Joaquin Valley Dairy Equipment owner, Steve Whitten. "I have always believed in WestfaliaSurge equipment, and I believe GEA Farm Technologies will bring exciting new opportunities to the progressive dairyman in California's Central Valley. I personally look forward to being part of this transition and continuing to oversee both locations." GEA Farm Technologies, a division of the GEA Group, is headquartered in Bönen, Germany and has subsidiaries in over 60 countries, including its U.S. location in Naperville, Illinois. As a worldwide leader in milking, manure, and livestock housing equipment technology, the company is dedicated to saving producers time, labor and money through increased efficiency, management assistance information and leading-edge product innovation. GEA Farm Technologies provides a complete line of WestfaliaSurge, Houle, and Norbco products to meet producers' needs of all sizes and management styles. The GEA Group, headquartered in Duesseldorf, Germany, is one of the largest system providers for food and energy processes with about EUR 4.4 billion (approximately USD 5.8 billion) in 2010 revenue. As an internationally operating technology group, the company focuses on process technology and components for demanding production in various end markets. The group generates about 70 percent of its revenue from the long-term growing food and energy industries. The company's workforce comprised over 23,000 employees worldwide as of March 31, 2011. 08.01.2011