The Grote Company family of brands, a provider of equipment and services to the food processing industry and parent company of PFI, Vanmark, and ProFab, announced today that it has acquired SPI Automation, a provider of automation and robotic solutions for labor-intensive manufacturing with locations in Sandy and Salt Lake City, Utah. 

“We’re pleased to add SPI Automation’s capabilities to our bench of offerings,” says Bob Grote, CEO of Grote Company. “SPI’s expertise in the food processing space is a natural fit for our family of brands and will allow us to offer more complete solutions to our customers.”

“SPI Automation couldn’t be more enthusiastic about this acquisition by the Grote Family of Brands,” sats Tom Wright, president, SPI Automation. “We feel this is an ideal fit as SPI’s capabilities complement the Grote brands’ broad offerings. Our proven solutions for food and beverage dovetails perfectly.”

SPI’s experience in food production automation builds on Grote’s brands’ offerings. The company’s capabilities will expand robotic applications and controls capacity for all divisions, including: 

• PFI’s conveyance systems
• Vanmark’s potato processing lines
• Grote Company’s robotic food assembly automation
• ProFab’s meat and poultry equipment 

SPI will remain a standalone brand and continue to support its existing customers.

Related: Value-added conveyors can move a bakery operation’s bottom line