History

Since 1974. Owner-managed. Focused on the long term.

In 1974, mechanical engineer Wilfried Pergande founded the company in Cologne. The company began with the design and development of industrial dust collection systems. This laid the foundation for today’s Pergande Group, which combines research and development, engineering, equipment and plant construction, as well as industrial contract manufacturing.

Industrial Expansion in Weißandt-Gölzau

Following German reunification, Wilfried Pergande took over the process equipment manufacturing division of the ORWO film factory in Weißandt-Gölzau. With the VTA, he laid the foundation for in-house production and the long-term expansion of the site in Saxony-Anhalt.

In the 1990s, Pergande expanded the product range to include turnkey fluidized-bed systems for granulation and drying. In 1994, the company’s first in-house fluidized-bed granulation plant for contract manufacturing began operations. This allowed the company to combine the development and construction of plants with the experience gained from its own industrial operations.

In the decades that followed, production capacities and the range of process technologies expanded. IPT’s contract manufacturing and contract production evolved into a key business segment. Further investments expanded the facility to include additional drying technologies, liquid formulation, and automated filling.

Collaboration Between Academia and Industry

Wilfried Pergande and Mirko Peglow met through their collaboration with Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg. They shared a common interest in the further development of fluidized bed technology and its industrial applications.

Their successful collaboration within the regional growth cluster WIGRATEC and with the InnoProfile early-career research group NaWiTec laid the foundation for a close professional and business partnership. Joint research efforts led to new approaches for granulation and drying, as well as for the design and operation of corresponding plants.

With the establishment of the company’s own Pergande Technology Center (PTC), this collaboration gained a permanent foothold at the Weißandt-Gölzau site. Here, products and processes can be investigated on a laboratory and pilot scale and developed for industrial implementation.

In 2012, Mirko Peglow transitioned from leading the NaWiTec early-career research group to serving as the technical managing director of the Pergande Group. Today, the group combines research and development, engineering, plant construction, and plant operation under one roof. Findings from experiments and production are directly incorporated into the development of new plants and processes.

Investments in Technology and Energy Efficiency

In addition to expanding production, Pergande further developed its engineering work processes. Digital plant models, shared planning platforms, and the introduction of a centralized product data management system in 2023 improved collaboration and the traceability of design data.

The company is also continuously improving its energy supply. Since 2023, a central compressed air station has been supplying the production facilities. The waste heat generated in this process is used to preheat the process air, replacing a portion of the fossil fuel energy required for granulation and drying.

In 2024, the company completed its full relocation from Cologne to Weißandt-Gölzau. With this move, the Pergande Group is consolidating its expertise at a single location and reaffirming its long-term commitment to Saxony-Anhalt.

Owner-Managed into the Future

Even after the death of Wilfried Pergande in September 2023, the Pergande Group remains owner-managed. Today, as sole managing director and co-partner, Mirko Peglow bears responsibility for the group’s continued development.

The collaboration with the founder, which has grown over many years, shapes this continuation. The focus is on developing proprietary technologies, training employees, and making long-term investments in high-performance, energy-efficient systems. In this way, Pergande combines business continuity with the further development of the location and its technical expertise.