GEA has expanded its CookStar portfolio with the introduction of the CookStar First, a compact twin-zone spiral oven designed for small to mid-sized food production operations looking to transition to spiral cooking. The CookStar First offers consistent product quality, controlled processing conditions, and improved resource efficiency from start-up, making it suitable for a wide range of applications such as steam-cooked products, plant-based alternatives, baked items, and ready meals. The oven's twin-zone spiral configuration allows for uniform heat distribution and reduced cooking times, leading to a 10% to 30% decrease in processing times and up to 3% yield improvements.

Energy efficiency is a key focus of the CookStar First, with features such as an active exhaust system, structural design updates, and adjustable product gates reducing energy and water consumption by up to 12%. The oven also offers process transparency and digital connectivity through the GEA SmartControl HMI and InsightPartner technology for real-time process data access, remote diagnostics, and maintenance planning. With a compact footprint and scalability for diverse production requirements, the CookStar First complements the broader range of CookStar models, which includes smoking functionality and higher capacities for larger-scale applications, all supported by GEA's technical expertise and global service organization.