Hank Whetstone, president of Whetstone Industries USA, and Rex Baker, president of Imperial Design Technologies (IDT), recently announced a partnership to design and manufacture a new range of chocolate enrobing and chocolate moulding machinery. In addition, specialized robotic packing systems will also be offered.
“It
has been long overdue to supply a quality, domestic-manufactured line of
chocolate enrobing equipment for the bakery and confectionery industries,” the
two chief executives assert.
IDT,
located in Grand Rapids, Mich., has long been a provider for
confectionery extruders, chain-driven chocolate moulding equipment, and other
related machines to the industry. The
new line of St. Augustine, Fla.-based Whetstone Industries’ designs for
chocolate enrobing equipment and loose mould, chocolate moulding plants will
now provide a natural addition to the IDT existing lines, the executives add.
The
Whetstone family has a long history in the chocolate confectionery industry
relating to both equipment manufacturing and the actual production of chocolate
items for the private label business. These experiences helped in the new
designs for sanitary, accessible and operator-friendly equipment.
A
newly formed relationship between Bainbridge Associates and E. Klein Associates
will make up the sales force. Both
Bainbridge and Klein are veterans in providing equipment for the bakery &
confectionery industries.
“Rex
and I could not ask for a better way to help promote our new lines of Grand
Rapids, Michigan-manufactured equipment to the industry,” adds Whetstone.