About

The Handtmann Difference

Leading In Global Technology Solutions

Handtmann is a leading global solution provider to the food processing industry with grinding, mixing, emulsifying, portioning, depositing, forming, hanging, filling, extruding, and co-extruding technologies. Innovative design, strict manufacturing standards, and a committed team of Handtmann specialists deliver dependable processing solutions known for their operational accuracy, safety, and reliability. The Handtmann Group is a 5th generation family business established and headquartered in Biberach, Germany since 1873, and Handtmann, Inc. is the wholly owned sales and service subsidiary of the Handtmann Group that serves food processors in the United States with headquarters in Lake Forest, IL. Other Handtmann Group divisions include Light Metal Casting (automotive industry), Systems Engineering (for the mobility of tomorrow), Process Technology (processing systems for the beverage, biotechnology, chemical-pharmaceuticals, and dairy industries), Plastics Engineering (LAURAMID® structural components), and E-Solutions (for agricultural and municipal equipment, industrial applications, and water electrolysis).

Begin timeline of Handtmann history
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Christoph Albert Handtmann, bell founder and master mechanic, starts a brass foundry in Biberach, Germany to make church bells for the region. The company expands into food and agriculture with its design and production of armatures for fruit brandy distilleries, brew houses and beer storage tanks. 1873

Handtmann moves to Rißstraße/Fabrikstraße, Biberach. 1929

Arthur Handtmann enters the company as a 3rd generation partner and succeeds Adolf Karl Handtmann as sole proprietor of the Handtmann family company in subsequent years. The company introduces precision aluminum sand casting. 1946

The family extends its food and agricultural involvement with the founding of Maschinenfabrik, the Handtmann Food Machinery division. Handtmann develops its first best-of-breed sausage stuffing and portioning machine. 1954

The first vane cell technology is patented and the first vacuum filling machine is introduced. 1966

Founded in the state of Baden-Württemberg and historically committed to the Biberach region, Handtmann moves to a new location in Biberach on what is today known as Arthur-Handtmann-Straße. 1967

 

Don Wallace and Rudy Theise launch T.W. Handtmann, a distributorship that became T.W. Food Machinery when they expanded to include multiple product lines. 1970

Kutter Supplies acquires T.W. Food Machinery and becomes T.W. Kutter representing Handtmann’s food processing and portioning machinery in the United States. 1980

Thomas Handtmann joins the Handtmann Group. L. Piereder Machinery expands operations to better support its customers and moves to its current headquarters location in Waterloo, Ontario. 1982

The VPF 35 is developed for portioning large ham production into roll stock packaging. The CPX25 portioning and clipping attachment was designed and manufactured in Canada to process whole muscles or emulsions directly into casing materials. 1983

Handtmann becomes an international company with the expansion of its food machinery division, Handtmann Maschinenfabrik, into England with a sales and service subsidiary, Handtmann Ltd. England. 1986

Handtmann, Inc., launched by Steve Tennis in Buffalo Grove, IL., expands Handtmann operations into the United States with innovative equipment and industry leading technical sales and support service for clients. Handtmann introduces the VF 600 series with its patented adjustable vane cell technology to create a new industry standard for portioning accuracy and production efficiency. 1990

Handtmann expands North American operations by forming Handtmann Canada Limited 1991

Handtmann introduces automated hanging and linking. 1993

Handtmann celebrates its 125th anniversary. Thomas Handtmann assumes 4th generation leadership of the Handtmann family of companies. Arthur Handtmann chairs the Handtmann Group Advisory Board. 1998

Fueled by the success of its expanding global food processing and portioning operations, Handtmann Machinenfabrik expands to stretch from Arthur-Handtmann-Straße to Hubertus-Liebrecht Straße in Biberach. 1999

Handtmann launches a new era of industry automation processing efficiency with the introduction of advanced optimization software - the Handtmann Communication Unit (HCU). 2001

Handtmann introduces the HVF 600 series featuring Integrated Vacuum Management™ (IVM) with operational flexibility for diverse products and the capacity to handle whole muscles at high volumes. 2008

Handtmann opens its subsidiary in Zittau, Germany to re-engineer Handtmann machinery for global food processors. 2009

Handtmann, Inc. expands, opening its new United States headquarters facility and the Arthur Handtmann Technology Center in Lake Forest, IL. 2011

Handtmann introduces a full line of bakery equipment with its VF 600 B series dividers 2013

Handtmann, Inc. celebrates its 25th Anniversary, opens its new US headquarters in Lake Forest, IL. 2015

Handtmann Canada Limited celebrates its Silver Anniversary with the Dedication and Grand Opening of the new Thomas Handtmann Headquarters Centre. Vacuum Filling has a new name as Handtmann launches the VF 800 Series. It features revolutionary design innovations and technological advancements. 2016