GEA will use EuroTier 2026 to showcase a range of automation, artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies designed to address labour availability, operational efficiency and animal management in modern dairy farming.
The technologies will be presented from 10 to 13 November in Hanover, Germany, as part of GEA’s “100 Years of Farm Innovation” anniversary programme.
The company’s exhibition will cover automated milking, semi-automated parlour systems, milk-flow measurement, cloud-based herd monitoring and camera-based animal identification.
DairyRobot R9500 receives new control and data features
GEA will present an anniversary edition of its DairyRobot R9500 automatic milking system in the company’s Kinetic Edge product design.
Beyond the revised design, the latest version incorporates changes aimed at improving daily operation and access to system information. These include a larger control screen, a revised status display and modifications to the milking process.
The system will also incorporate additional functions within GEA DairyNet, including CattleEye and AutoDry for automatic milking systems and a multi-farm management module for operations with more than one site.
The multi-farm functionality is intended to allow farmers and managers to access and assess operational information across multiple locations through a common management platform.
Semi-automated group milking expands
GEA is also expanding its automated milking portfolio with a semi-subway concept for the DairyRobot R9600.
The system is designed for group milking and combines fixed milking times with automated processes while requiring less civil engineering than some fully automated installations.
The configuration is aimed particularly at medium- to large-scale dairy operations and farms upgrading existing facilities.
DairyProX automates conventional parlour routines
For farms continuing to use conventional milking parlours, GEA will introduce DairyProX, a semi-automated milking system designed to automate several stages of the milking process.
Teat-cup attachment remains a manual operation, while In-Liner-Everything technology performs several processes within the teat cup.
Depending on the configuration, these include stimulation, teat cleaning, dipping, milking and teat-cup backflushing.
The approach is intended to increase the level of automation without requiring a farm to move completely to an automated milking system.
GEA says initial experience from pilot farms indicates potential improvements in throughput, labour requirements and milk-quality measurements.
DairyProX was initially introduced in North America for selected system configurations. GEA is continuing to assess potential applications in other milking systems and markets.
Digital Flow Meter targets more precise milk measurement
Another technical development being shown at EuroTier is GEA’s Digital Flow Meter for conventional rotary milking systems.
The sensor measures milk volume directly within the milk flow and is designed to handle high flow rates while providing data for milking-process monitoring, herd management and milk recording.
The technology replaces GEA’s Metatron milk-yield measuring device and reflects the increasing role of real-time milk data in automated herd and milking management.
Cloud-based herd monitoring connects farm data
As dairy farms generate more information through sensors and automated systems, integrating that data into herd-management platforms is becoming increasingly important.
GEA’s CowScout Cloud is designed to centralise individual cow-monitoring data and make information available across multiple farm sites.
The cloud-based system can consolidate and evaluate animal and operational information across locations and integrate with GEA DairyNet and, depending on the farm structure, other herd-management systems.
The platform also maintains an unlimited data history, allowing farmers to track changes over the course of an animal’s lifecycle.
AI camera system verifies cow identity
GEA will also introduce DairyNet Cow Verification, a camera-based identification system designed for rotary milking systems.
The technology uses AI-powered visual recognition and machine learning to identify cows according to their physical characteristics in the milking stall.
The system can verify or correct an animal’s identification in real time, including situations where RFID information is missing or incorrect.
Accurate identification is important because milking, feeding and herd-health information must be linked to the correct animal for the data to be useful in management decisions.
GEA says the system is designed to provide an additional layer of identification security, particularly during crowded entry situations where RFID-based identification may be compromised.
Automation extends beyond milking
GEA’s EuroTier presentation will also cover automated feeding, digital assistance tools and AI-supported herd-management functions within DairyNet.
Additional developments will include milking-system components, liners, service and hygiene technologies and manure-management solutions.
The company will demonstrate these technologies through its Smart Farm concept, where visitors can use virtual reality to explore different systems and farm applications.
Automated milking systems compared in live demonstrations
GEA will also participate in the DLG Spotlight “Barn Robot Event” in Hall 13, where automated milking technologies from several manufacturers will be demonstrated in comparable practical scenarios.
The demonstrations will cover three applications: converting conventional milking parlours to automatic systems, automated milking concepts for new barns and solutions designed for large dairy herds.
The event forms part of the DLG’s “EuroTier Milky Way 2026” exhibition platform.
Data and automation reshape dairy technology
The technologies GEA is presenting at EuroTier reflect a broader shift towards connected and automated dairy operations.
Automatic milking and feeding systems are increasingly being combined with sensors, cloud platforms, artificial intelligence and automated identification. The objective is not simply to automate individual tasks, but to connect information from different parts of the farm so that farmers can use it for operational and animal-management decisions.
For dairy producers, the practical question will be how these technologies can be integrated into existing farm infrastructure while delivering measurable benefits in labour efficiency, data accuracy, animal monitoring and milk production.
GEA’s EuroTier 2026 portfolio illustrates this shift from standalone machinery towards increasingly connected dairy production systems.