Key Technology and ABCO Industries Form Manufacturing and Sales Alliance
October 14, 2010 - Key Technology and ABCO Industries announce the formation of a manufacturing and sales alliance. Key will be the sales representative for ABCO's Food Machinery Group in the U.S. and select areas of Canada, responsible for all marketing and sales activities in these regions. ABCO will manufacture, service, and support its ABCO equipment, in addition to Key's popular Turbo-Flo® Steam Blancher.
"We are very excited about this alliance," stated Randy Unterseher, Senior Director of Marketing at Key Technology. "ABCO has an impressive product line of thermal processing equipment, including its innovative LT3 System. This alliance fits well into Key's strategy of providing one-source integrated solutions to our customers by combining Key's strengths of conveying systems, optical sorting, system controls, and project management with ABCO's thermal processing expertise."
Key's Turbo-Flo Steam Blancher is ideal for blanching or cooking potatoes, vegetables, and fruits. Compared to water blanching, Turbo-Flo reduces energy consumption and waste while enhancing product quality by improving the nutritional value, brightness, texture, and flavor of products.
ABCO offers steam blanchers as well as hot water blanchers, air and water coolers, vegetable re-hydrators, and thermal treatment machines for customers manufacturing processed fruits and vegetables, fresh-cut produce, nuts, beans, rice, pasta, seafood, meat, and beverages. Their products include the energy efficient Heat/Hold blanching process and the new LT3 System for fresh-cut produce.
"The strengths of ABCO and Key are complementary. Both companies have great product lines and a strong commitment to customers," said John Meisner, President of ABCO. "Key provides solid leadership in our target markets. They also bring a very successful, established sales organization and a team of product specialists to support existing products and markets and help develop new products and markets."
"The alliance between ABCO and Key is an exciting advancement because it brings two very innovative industry leaders together to pursue common goals and collaborate on research and development," said Graham Gerhardt, Manager - Food Machinery Group at ABCO. "Ultimately, our customers are the beneficiaries with superior technology and support."
ABCO will continue to sell its food machinery directly to customers in the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Key will sell ABCO's food machinery in the remainder of Canada and throughout the U.S.
About ABCO Industries Limited
Founded in 1947, ABCO Industries designs and manufactures food processing equipment, specializing in blanchers, coolers, rehydrators, and conveyors that help customers maximize product quality and food safety while improving sustainability. Located in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada, ABCO provides world-class customer services such as application testing, installation, training, and after-sales support.
About Key Technology, Inc.
Key Technology, an ISO-9001 certified company, is a leading designer and manufacturer of process automation systems, integrated electro-optical inspection and sorting systems, and processing systems. Key® systems help processors to improve quality, increase yield, and reduce cost. With worldwide sales representation, the company maintains demonstration and testing facilities at its headquarters and manufacturing divisions in Walla Walla, Washington, USA, and at Key Technology BV in Beusichem, the Netherlands. The company's common stock trades on The NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol: KTEC.
Reader Inquiries:
Anita Funk
Key Technology, Inc.
150 Avery Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362 USA
Tel: 509 529 2161
Fax: 509 527 1331
Email: afunk@key.net
URL: www.key.net
Reader Inquiries:
Graham Gerhardt
ABCO Industries Ltd.
P.O. Box 1120
81 Tannery Road
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Canada, B0J 2C0
Tel: 902 634 8821
Fax: 902-634-8583
Email: info@abco.ca
URL: www.abco.ca
