Dive Brief:
- Graco Inc. has risen to become a leading provider of FDA-approved pumps and sprayers for the food and beverage industry, particularly high-volume manufacturers with more complex production needs.
- Graco's equipment is renowned for its ability to rhythmically dispense or squirt food ingredients as needed for products ranging from Mondelez's Oreos and Kellogg's Pop-Tarts to Coca-Cola's syrups and Campbell's soups.
- Graco is better known for its industrial pumps and sprayers used for tasks like painting vehicles, insulating homes, or fireproofing oil rigs. While those applications still account for much of the company's revenue, Graco's focus on food and beverage manufacturing has led to a doubling of that business segment since 2010.
Dive Insight:
Graco's equipment has replaced previous pumping systems that were often "more difficult to use and required more attention and physical labor," Schwan spokesman Chuck Blomberg told Star Tribune. By offering faster and more convenient machinery, Graco enables manufacturers to improve output and productivity while boosting their bottom line.
The machinery is best-known in the industry for its specialization in handling difficult and thick fillings with high viscosity, from tomato paste to cream cheese frosting. Unlike certain competing systems, Graco's machinery doesn't force manufacturers to dilute their viscous product to transport or dispense it, which saves time, resources, and preserves quality. Graco equipment also offers functionality like oil spraying, which PepsiCo's Doritos brand uses to make seasonings stick to each chip.
Graco's machinery has been described as "a holistic approach to design, meaning they created a synergistic system where everything works together in a way that facilitates everything else." Switching to Graco could mean entire synergistic systems in the warehouse rather than disparate pieces, and that synergy can increase throughput while saving the company money on efficiency.
While Graco is an industry leader, it's not the only option available. Companies like Genemco and Lafferty Equipment Manufacturing offer a similar range of industrial machinery with food applications, while companies like General Oil Equipment Co. specialize in particular types, such as oil spray systems.