FlexXray has announced that it has acquired Connecticut-based Total Quality Corporation (TQC), a provider of inspection solutions for food producers throughout the U.S. and Canada. The combined company will operate as FlexXray effective immediately.

FlexXray helps food plants quickly and cost-effectively detect and recover foreign material contamination that can occur during production or packaging. The company works with more than 500 production plants in the U.S., including 90 percent of the top protein and processed-food producers in the country.

Along with in-house inspection, TQC also provides manufacturers with mobile product-inspection equipment to deliver frontline protection against contamination events. By inspecting products and avoiding the costs associated with recalls and potential lawsuits, both FlexXray and TQC save customers millions of dollars annually.

“This acquisition is a vital step toward our strategic vision of providing the food industry with a national network of inspection facilities,” said FlexXray CEO Kevin Fritzmeyer. “In combining the efforts, experience and capabilities of these two industry leaders, we further our mission to provide cost-effective solutions with 100 percent customer satisfaction.”

“We are proud of FlexXray’s growth and are excited that it allows us this opportunity to better serve our customers by expanding our services and national footprint with locations in Texas, Connecticut, and California.,” said Chris Keith, vice president of sales, marketing and customer service for FlexXray. “We are pleased to welcome the Total Quality team of professionals into the FlexXray family. With a shared dedication to customer service and growth, the future is bright for our new, combined team.”

With the acquisition, FlexXray can now provide customers with more cost-effective inspection solutions; at one of FlexXray’s USDA registered and temperature controlled facilities or at the client’s facility. The acquisition also means that customers of the newly combined company will now be closer to an inspection facility, leading to better response times as well as lower shipping and transportation costs.