Bettcher Industries, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, acquired Cantrell, a Gainesville, Ga.-based manufacturer of equipment and systems for the poultry processing industry. 

With this acquisition, Bettcher Industries expands its presence in the poultry industry, including the ability to offer a wider range of equipment and system solutions to processors. 

Cantrell manufactures evisceration and picking equipment, second processing equipment, wing segmenters, vacuum systems and spare parts to leading poultry processors in the United States, Canada and Latin America.

“Total commitment to customers is, as always, our top priority. Every Cantrell customer will have access to the same fine products, parts and support that have defined our success in the marketplace,” says Dane Woods, general manager of Cantrell.

The day-to-day operations of Cantrell will be unaffected by the ownership change.

“Dane Woods and Tony Rice remain as co-general managers, and Cantrell customers will see no changes in how we serve them. We anticipate offering expanded solutions and services by building synergies with our companion businesses,” adds Joe Cowman, president of Cantrell and Gainco Poultry Group, a Gainesville, Ga.-based provider of solutions to optimize yields in poultry and meat processing plants.

“These are exciting times for the company,” says Don Esch, chief executive officer of Bettcher Industries. “With Cantrell joining the Bettcher family of businesses, we are positioned for accelerated growth and further expansion of our market activities, giving us opportunities to support our poultry processing customers in more ways than ever before.”