Duravant concludes acquisition of WECO

Food processing equipment manufacturer Duravant has completed the acquisition of Woodside Electronics Corporation (WECO), a developer of optical colour and defect sorting equipment.

The deal, whose financial terms were not made public, was first announced in February.

Duravant president and CEO Mike Kachmer said: “WECO is a great addition to Duravant. Their culture of customer-centric innovation and commitment to rapid new product development has been at the core of their success.

“WECO moves us into new markets with equipment and software solutions that are complementary to Key Technology’s offerings. Together, we are able to deliver an even more comprehensive set of food processing automation solutions to our customers.”

The deal is part of Duravant’s strategy to expand its sorting capabilities for food processing applications.

Headquartered in Woodland, California, US, WECO has been developing optical sorting technology for fruits and nuts for more than three decades.

WECO explained that its products have been designed and developed to serve growers of agricultural products in their core end markets of fruits, vegetables and nuts.

The company offers its technology to domestic and overseas customers. It aids them in eliminating manual hand-labour while optimising output.

The company’s product portfolio includes optical colours, defect sorting systems, and moisture monitoring systems.

WECO president Don Douglas said: “We’re excited to officially join the Duravant family of operating companies.

“We share the same commitment to developing long-term relationships with our customers. Additionally, Duravant’s global presence and strong service infrastructure will stimulate our growth and enhance our ability to be a lifelong trusted advisor for our customers.”