GEA applied simulation modeling of Dassault Systemes to safe resumption of work of cafeteria in Germany

2020: Use of the Simulia application

The Dassault Systemes company announced that the GEA company, one of suppliers of technological solutions for the food industry and some other the industries, used applications of Simulia based on platform 3DExperience for modeling of air flows in Oelde, cafeteria for employees at the office in Germany. It became known on September 29, 2020. The cafeteria expected 1900 employees was closed since March, 2020 because of COVID-19 pandemic. Modeling allowed to obtain important data for safe resuming of its work.

Considering capability of a coronavirus to extend in the airborne way, specialists of GEA needed to study distribution of solid particles in air in cafeteria. It allows the company to visualize different safe scenarios within an initiative of resuming of workflows of "Back to Work" which result should be a complete recovery of work of the headquarters. The company worked with Dassault Systèmes over creation virtual 3D - the double of cafeteria in which different parameters are considered. In particular, the modeling showing particle fluxes in space when people sneeze was carried out or cough indoors. Thanks to it specialists of GEA could find out how the virus can extend by air and also settle on different surfaces, such as plates, trays and tables. Use of the virtual double also allowed to detect indoors unexpected zones with high concentration of a virus.

For September, 2020 GEA uses results of modeling for development and implementation of effective strategy of risk management for creation of safer space in cafeteria. It includes repositioning of inputs, exits and tables, separation of kitchen of cafeteria from the hall of service, change of a ventilation system and acceptance of additional security measures for protection of the employees working at kitchen.

Modeling allowed us to obtain valuable information and will play an important role in decision making in anticipation of the planned resumption of work of cafeteria – important corporate space where all our employees gather, – Erich Nitzsche, the vice president for engineering standards and services, GEA says. – Results of our cooperation with Dassault Systèmes exceeded our expectations and yielded unexpected results. Thanks to modeling we can think more purposefully, solving problems on ensuring health and safety of our employees and also to reduce influence of negative factors on our business. Implementing solutions from Dassault Systèmes became for us a useful initiative.

GEA is going to show to employees the videos showing results of modeling accurately to explain why measures were how exactly taken and also to tell about a role of technologies in this strategy.

the Virtual worlds in a root change the nature of our interaction with knowledge and open before us huge opportunities, – Klaus Löckel, the managing director of EUROCENTRAL, Dassault Systèmes says. – Our applications SIMULIA allow to see hidden and show changes in behavior of objects in time and space taking into account the changing environment. In the conditions of a pandemic the GEA company will be able to use these data for implementation of the initiative aimed at providing wellbeing of employees.