The Woodlands, Texas, U.S.A.-based Fortifi Food Processing Solutions has acquired I.J. White (IJW) Systems, a designer of spiral cooling, freezing, and conveying systems for the food industry.
Fortifi produces processing automation solutions, including software and applied robotics for the food industry, including for seafood products. The company said in addition to IJW’s cooling, freezing, and conveying system offerings, its bakery, dairy, prepared foods, protein, and seafood production, as well as other IJW solutions, will strengthen its product offerings.
The exact terms of the purchase were not disclosed.
“I.J. White brings proven spiral cooling and freezing technologies to Fortifi and strengthens how we serve food processors,” Fortifi CEO Massimo Bizzi said in a release. “By combining IJW’s expertise with our existing capabilities, we can provide more complete solutions for customers in bakery, prepared foods, and other markets. We look forward to welcoming the IJW team and building on the company’s strong record of practical engineering and responsive customer service.”
IJW was founded in 1919 by Irving John White and initially was a reseller and manufacturers’ representative, according to Foritifi. It later moved into designing and manufacturing processing systems in 1965, and that became the core pillar of its business over time.
Fortifi said the purchase will expand its thermal-processing portfolio, especially its bakery offerings, as freezing enables processors to broaden markets and ship products further. IJW also manufactures its “Ultra Series Blast Freezing Systems for Seafood,” which are designed to freeze a range of different seafood products including breaded fillets, scallops, clams, and shrimp. It also has solutions for pet food and conveying canned goods.
“After a century of family leadership, I am confident in our company’s future as part of Fortifi Food Processing Solutions,” I.J. White President and CEO Peter White said. “Fortifi shares our commitment to understanding customers’ needs and developing products that deliver practical, lasting value.”
Fortifi Executive Vice President of Strategy and Business Development Mark Dowdle said the purchase will also help IJW expand.
“Fortifi’s broad commercial presence and in-region service capabilities give us a clear path to bring IJW’s solutions to more processors in Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand,” he said.
The acquisition comes less than a year after Fortifi finalized its acquisition of Provisur Technologies. Fortifi said its longer-term strategy is to create full-line automated food processing solutions.
