SUPPLIER SHORTS

John Bean Technologies Corporation (JBT), Chicago, said it has namedSteve Smith vice president and division manager for theJBT FoodTech Food Processing Systemsdivision. Smith succeedsJuan Podestawho was promoted to vice president of corporate planning and development. Officials said Smith has more than 15 years of operational experience within the food processing industry. He most recently served as general manager for the America's Operations of FoodTech’s Food Solutions and Services Division. He joined JBT FoodTech (formerly FMC Corporation) in 1989 as a business planner with the organization’s petroleum equipment group in Houston.

Pro Mach, Inc., Cincinnati, said it purchasedMatrix Packaging Machinery, a Saukville, Wis., manufacturer of vertical form/fill/seal machinery. Officials said Matrix supplies machines for pillow, gusseted, zipper, stand-up, and bag-in-bag packaging. They said Matrix’s strength in vertical form-fill-seal packaging allows Pro Mach to reach new worldwide markets and offer expanded flexible packaging solutions. Matrix will join Pro Mach’s primary packaging business unit. Matrix CEO Marc Willden joined Pro Mach as vice president and general manager of Matrix. Pro Mach provides equipment, training, installation, and parts in primary packaging, end-of-line packaging, and identification and tracking.

S+S Inspection Inc., part of the German basedS+S Separation and Sorting Technology Group, said it moved its U.S. headquarters from Niagara, N.Y. to Bartlett, Ill., close to Chicago. S+S North America General Manager Werner Fleps said the company's new building incorporates an optical sorting line for recycling customers and an applications laboratory with a complete range of X-ray inspection and metal detection equipment for the food and plastics industry sectors.  These facilities allow potential customers to witness real time tests using their own materials and products, particularly important for X-ray applications in the food industry. 

Energy reduction strategies consultantCascade Energy Inc. announced two personnel moves. The Portland, Ore., firm saidGeoff Wickes  left to become product manager of emerging technology for the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA). Cascade hiredMichael Reunert as director of corporate sales. Reunert previously was a senior marketing manager at RadiSys Corporation, Hillsboro, Ore. 
 
Ross Industries, Inc., Midland, Va., said it hiredJohn Blytheras salesperson for the company’s South Central Territory. This region includes Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana. Blyther previously served at Harpak-Ulma Packaging as a territory sales manager. Ross supplies sales, service and support for Ross tenderizers, slicers and dicers; BLC chillers and freezers, macerators, meat formers, antimicrobial intervention systems and tray sealing equipment.