unibloc, Author at Unibloc Hygienic Technologies

Unibloc Hygienic Technologies Expands Capacity with CNC Machining Investment in UK

Posted on December 8, 2022April 22, 2024 by unibloc

New Machining Technology to Boost Output 50-60%

KENNESAW, GA — (December 8, 2022) — Unibloc Hygienic Technologies, Inc. (UHT), a global leader in hygienic positive displacement pumps, AODD pumps, drum pumps, and other flow control products, has expanded production capacity at its Bolney, UK facility with a significant investment in additional machining technology. The investment continues UHT’s ongoing strategy of increasing production capacity to reduce production lead times and improve customer service.

UHT recently commissioned a new Matsuura H. Plus-405 PC12 horizontal CNC machining center. The Matsuura is a 12-pallet, four-axis machining center offering the capacity to replace three older machines with one, while increasing productivity. UHT selected this technology for its remote monitoring capabilities and advanced automation. The machine can run 24/7, allowing the facility to increase its capacity by 50-60% while occupying the same plant footprint as the previous machines.

“Our Bolney workforce consists of highly skilled CNC machinists,” said Chris Stevens, UHT CEO. “Adding this machine helps leverage their experience and knowledge while automating repetitive processes that are highly detailed and time-consuming. We selected the 12-pallet machine for its ability to stack work runs and then run autonomously. We will use the Matsuura to machine shorter-run custom parts during the daytime shift and then machine longer production runs during evenings and weekends.”

Councillor Howard Mundin, the Mayor of Haywards Heath Town Council and Councillor Victoria Hawken, the Vice-Chair of Bolney Parish Council, attended a ribbon cutting ceremony on December 7th.

“I’d like to congratulate Unibloc and their great local workforce on this major investment,” said Mayor Mundin. “It’s wonderful to see a progressive business like Unibloc, a pillar in our community, continuing to contribute to the area’s economic growth and technical development.”

UHT also recently invested in two new state-of-the-art lathes for the Bolney facility, with anticipated deliveries in January and June of 2023. The new equipment increases machining accuracy, speed, and reliability.

“Our ongoing investments enable us to adhere to a strategy of constant improvement that overcomes supply chain challenges and provides quick deliveries. Our focus centers on customer responsiveness coupled with the assurance they will receive the highest quality hygienic flow control equipment,” said Stevens. “Building our in-house machining capabilities helps us better serve our customers with great quality and industry-leading lead times.”

The Bolney facility is known as the location where the Flotronic ‘One-Nut’ Pump was pioneered, featuring a single-nut diaphragm design. This design significantly reduces process downtime by simplifying pump assembly/disassembly and providing savings in operating costs, along with best-in-class performance. The Flotronic One-Nut pump serves more than 1,000 companies worldwide, including iconic brands in food and beverage, consumer product goods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other critical process manufacturing operations. The workforce in Bolney has expanded by 15% in the last year and as capacity increases, the company anticipates adding more staff.

Click here for a high resolution image of the machine.

About Unibloc Hygienic Technologies

An industry leader in flow control technology and performance, Unibloc Hygienic Technologies offers precision-engineered positive displacement pumps, AODD pumps, drum pumps, and other highly engineered products for demanding hygienic flow control applications. UHT serves a variety of hygienic industries, including food, beverage, bakery/confection, meat and poultry, brewery, pharmaceutical, and transportation, under the Unibloc, Flotronic, Standard Pump, and Hygenitec subsidiary brands. UHT’s highly efficient, easy-to-maintain products help customers fight downtime, achieve a lower cost of operation, and meet deadlines with confidence. Learn more at www.unibloctech.com.

Unibloc Pump, a Global Provider of Hygienic Flow Control Solutions, Acquires Standard Pump, a Leading Manufacturer of Hygienic Process Pumps

Posted on January 5, 2022April 22, 2024 by unibloc

Acquisition represents the second in four months for Unibloc Pump

Equipment at modern dairy plant with stainless tanks

Kennesaw, Georgia – January 5, 2022 – Unibloc Pump, a 38-year manufacturer of lobe and gear pumps, air-operated double-diaphragm pumps, and other flow control products continues to grow its family of hygienic flow control brands through the acquisition of Standard Pump. Both Unibloc Pump and Standard Pump are located in the greater Atlanta metro area of Georgia.

Co-founded in 1992 by Don Murphy, Standard Pump is a 30-year manufacturer of hygienic and industrial process pumps, including drum pumps and other fluid handling equipment. Standard Pump serves food and beverage, chemical, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and other diversified process manufacturing industries in more than 50 countries.

Currently led by Don Murphy’s sons, Chris Murphy, Director of Operations, and James Murphy, Director of Sales, Standard Pump’s 21,000-square-foot Duluth facility provides engineering, fabrication, testing, shipping, and receiving all under one roof. Both Chris Murphy and James Murphy will assume leadership roles within Unibloc, where they will utilize their expertise to support commercial and operational excellence in partnership with Unibloc leadership.

“We are thrilled to welcome Standard Pump to the Unibloc family of companies,” said Chris Stevens, CEO of Unibloc. “Standard Pump’s precision-engineered drum pumps, and hygienic pump packages position Unibloc Pump for accelerated growth. Additionally, Standard Pump’s in-house fabrication strengths, and its robust distribution network will provide new opportunities to grow sales across all flow control brands under the Unibloc banner,” added Stevens.

“As a long-time supplier to Unibloc Pump, we couldn’t be happier merging with Unibloc,” said Chris Murphy. “We’ve known and respected the company for years and have a great relationship with their team. Plus, our skilled staff brings many strengths that will complement the product lines and customer services provided by Unibloc,” Chris Murphy added.

“Our deep distribution network and sales processes makes partnering with Unibloc an excellent match,” said James Murphy. “When combined with the talent, precision, and pride of our seasoned tradesmen, and our reputation for impeccable customer service, we’re confident in the value we’re providing to our customers through our partnership with Unibloc,” he said.

This is the second acquisition in four months for Unibloc Pump, a May River Capital portfolio company. In September 2021, the company announced its acquisition of Flotronic Pumps, a UK-based manufacturer of specialized hygienic, air-operated, double-diaphragm pumps and related accessories.

“Under Chris Murphy’s and James Murphy’s leadership, Standard Pump has been experiencing accelerating growth within attractive categories such as food and beverage processing,” said Dan Barlow, Partner, May River Capital. “We’re excited to welcome Chris, James, and the Standard Pump team to the Unibloc platform,” said Barlow.

“The addition of Standard Pump greatly expands Unibloc’s capabilities, product line offering, and access to attractive channel partner relationships,” said Pat St. John, Principal, May River Capital. “It’s a great fit for Unibloc across all categories,” he added.

ABOUT UNIBLOC PUMP

Since 1984, Unibloc Pump has provided manufacturers in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, bakery and confection, meat and poultry, brewery and transportation industries with precision-engineered sanitary pumps, strainers, valves, bubble traps, and other accessory products to tackle the toughest sanitary jobs. Unibloc Pump is the premier designer of efficient, easy-to-clean pumps that help customers fight downtime, achieve a lower cost of operation, and meet deadlines with confidence. For more information, please visit unibloctech.com.

ABOUT STANDARD PUMP

Standard Pump, Inc., based in Duluth, GA., is a global manufacturer of sanitary and industrial process pumps and other high quality fluid handling equipment serving the food and beverage, chemical, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and other diversified process manufacturing industries in more than 50 countries. Since its founding in 1992, Standard Pump has paired masterful craftsmanship with exceptional customer service through consistent delivery and quick response time. In the past twenty-nine years, the company’s product line has grown to include drum pumps, Air-Operated Double-Diaphragm pumps, and metering systems.

ABOUT MAY RIVER CAPITAL

May River Capital is a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on investing in lower middle-market, industrial growth companies. May River Capital invests in high-quality industrial growth businesses, including precision manufacturing, engineered products and instrumentation, specialized industrial services, and value-added industrial distribution services. For more information, please visit www.mayrivercapital.com.

Unibloc Pump, a US-based Provider of Sanitary Flow Control Solutions, Acquires Flotronic Pumps, a UK-based Diaphragm Pump Pioneer

Posted on September 8, 2021April 22, 2024 by unibloc

Kennesaw, Georgia – September 8, 2021 – Unibloc Pump, a 37-year leader in the manufacture of positive displacement pumps, strainers, valves, bubble traps, and other solutions for sanitary flow control applications, today announced the acquisition of Flotronic Pumps, a UK-based manufacturer of specialized, Air-Operated Double-Diaphragm (AODD) pumps, and associated accessories. Founded in 1990, Flotronic Pumps has a global reputation as the inventor of the ‘One Nut’ AODD pump. Flotronic Pumps’ pioneering single bolt design significantly reduces process downtime by simplifying pump assembly / disassembly, providing savings in maintenance costs along with best-in-class air pump performance. Flotronic Pumps serves more than 1,000 global companies operating manufacturing facilities of iconic brands in food and beverage, consumer product goods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other critical process manufacturing applications.

Flotronic Pumps is a world-leading manufacturer of Air-Operated Double-Diaphragm pumps (AODP). With the invention of our ground-breaking ‘One Nut’ pump design, Flotronic have revolutionised the application of diaphragm pumps throughout the industry.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Flotronic Pumps will be solely owned by US-based Unibloc Pump while retaining its name, Flotronic Pumps Ltd. Joining the leadership team at Flotronic Pumps as chief executive officer will be Chris Stevens, the CEO of Unibloc Pump. Stevens will provide commercial leadership with strengths in business-to-business marketing, channel management, sales, and overall business management.

“This acquisition is a perfect hand-in-glove fit for Unibloc Pump.” Stevens said. “Unibloc Pump and Flotronic Pumps are ready to drive accelerated growth by offering customers products and solutions fueled by our passions for innovation, safety, and simplicity in maintenance to avoid downtime and increase efficiencies,” Stevens added.

Through the leadership of owner Stuart Whitehouse and the deep expertise of Director of Sales Leighton Jones, Flotronic Pumps has witnessed significant growth in Europe, as well as North America.

“What we really like most of all about joining the Unibloc Pump family is that we share many of the same cultural values of simplicity in product design, quality in products, unabashed customer-focus, deep industry expertise, and a penchant for strong innovation,” said Jones. “These qualities will ensure that Unibloc Pump and Flotronic Pumps will be successful moving forward by flourishing through common bonds,” added Jones.

“Important to this acquisition is that both companies share complementary market footprints,” commented Whitehouse. “The combination will enable Unibloc Pump to grow its UK and European business, while also giving Flotronic Pumps an unmatched North American foothold. That should pay off in greater market coverage and increased overall value delivered to the customer,” Whitehouse added.

Unibloc Pump seeks to expand its vision to build a global sanitary flow control platform that delivers operational excellence, while targeting highly regulated hygienic end market applications, such as food and beverage, meat and poultry, and pharmaceutical processing. Unibloc Pump’s investment in Flotronic Pumps will provide resources to allow both companies to continue to grow and strengthen their global businesses.

The acquisition will allow Flotronic Pumps to leverage Unibloc Pump’s operational, manufacturing, sales, and distribution capabilities in North America out of its Kennesaw, GA facility. Likewise, Unibloc Pump will utilize Flotronic Pumps’ operations, manufacturing, sales, and distribution footprint in the United Kingdom and other European markets to further complement Unibloc’s existing European operation, Unibloc-R&H GmbH, based in Beckum, Germany.

Unibloc Pump is a portfolio company of May River Capital, a Chicago-based private equity firm devoted to helping high-caliber, lower middle-market industrial businesses grow and thrive. May River Capital takes pride in its unique approach and track record of building businesses through long-term partnership and collaboration. Its leadership team has broad experience helping promising companies become successful mid-size industrial businesses.

ABOUT UNIBLOC PUMP

Since 1984, Unibloc Pump has provided manufacturers in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, bakery and confection, meat and poultry, brewery, and transportation industries with precision-engineered sanitary pumps, strainers, valves, bubble traps, and other accessory products to tackle the toughest sanitary jobs. Unibloc Pump is the premier designer of efficient, easy-to-clean pumps that help customers fight downtime, achieve a lower cost of operation, and meet deadlines with confidence. For more information, please visit www.uniblocpump.com.

ABOUT FLOTRONIC PUMPS

Based in West Sussex, United Kingdom and founded in 1990, Flotronic Pumps is a manufacturer of specialized AODD pumps and associated accessories. Flotronic’s products take performance far beyond traditional style AODD pump technology with a distinctive single bolt design that allows for in-line assembly / disassembly to be accomplished quickly and efficiently, significantly reducing process downtime, while providing best-in-class performance. For more information, please visit www.flotronicpumps.com .

ABOUT MAY RIVER CAPITAL

Unibloc Pump, A Leading Provider of Sanitary Flow Control Solutions, Acquired by May River Capital

Posted on January 7, 2021April 22, 2024 by unibloc

KENNESAW, Ga., Jan. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Unibloc Pump, a 36-year leader in the manufacture of positive displacement pumps, strainers, valves, bubble traps and other solutions for sanitary flow control applications, today announced it has been acquired by May River Capital, a Midwest-based private equity firm focused on helping high-caliber industrial businesses grow and prosper.

Founded in 1984 by Harry Soderstrom, Unibloc Pump has built a strong reputation for innovation within critical sanitary process manufacturing applications, including the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, bakery and confection, meat and poultry, brewery, and transportation industries. Unibloc Pump is nationally renowned for providing precision-engineered products and solutions with uncompromising commitment to customer service. Through the leadership of Harry Soderstrom, Unibloc Pump has witnessed significant growth over the years at both its headquarters in the metro-Atlanta area as well as its second facility located in Beckum, Germany.

“Unibloc Pump is launching a new and exciting chapter with May River Capital,” said Soderstrom. “May River’s approach to building business through collaboration is exactly what I was seeking as I looked ahead to the opportunities awaiting our company. We are pleased we’ve found a partner who values the engineering, skills, craftsmanship and most importantly, the culture we’ve nurtured here. This partnership will enable us to accelerate our growth initiatives and better serve our customers’ needs,” Soderstrom said.

Soderstrom will continue with Unibloc Pump as Chief Growth Officer, where he will utilize his expertise in driving growth for the company through finding new markets, customers, products, and business partners.

Joining the leadership team with Soderstrom will be Chris Stevens, Chief Executive Officer, who will provide commercial leadership with strengths in business-to-business marketing, channel management, and sales.

“Harry’s years of industry expertise and leadership paired with Unibloc’s talented and hard-working employees have made the company the great success it is today,” Stevens said. “We are committed to building upon Harry’s rich legacy and investing in the resources to support the company’s continued growth,” added Stevens.

The timing of the news follows Unibloc Pump’s expansion in mid-December 2020. The company recently moved its U.S. operations into a state-of-the-art facility located in Kennesaw, Georgia, which is three times larger than its prior facility located in Marietta, Georgia. The new 41,000 square-foot facility supports Soderstrom’s and Stevens’ aligned vision for growth through ongoing investment in employees and the company.

“We have more than tripled our plant footprint to dramatically increase capacity to better serve our customers and expand to new markets,” said Soderstrom. “The new facility will also help Unibloc Pump maintain its competitive edge in the industry by attracting top talent in the region,” he added.

Also serving in new leadership roles are Patrick Painter, Chief Financial Officer, and Brian Comiskey, Chief Operating and Technical Officer.

Paul Hastings LLP served as legal counsel to May River Capital, while Jones Day served as legal counsel to Unibloc Pump and its shareholders.

ABOUT UNIBLOC PUMP

Since 1984, Unibloc Pump has provided manufacturers in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, bakery and confection, meat and poultry, brewery, and transportation industries with precision-engineered sanitary pumps, strainers, valves, bubble traps and other accessory products to tackle the toughest sanitary jobs. Unibloc is the premier designer of simple, easy-to-Clean-in-place (CIP) pumps or Clean-out-of-place (COP) pumps that help customers fight downtime, achieve a lower cost of operation and meet deadlines with confidence. For more information, visit www.UniblocPump.com.

ABOUT MAY RIVER CAPITAL

SOURCE May River Capital

Unibloc Pump Relocates Headquarters to Kennesaw, GA

Posted on December 18, 2020April 22, 2024 by unibloc

New facility offers three times more space to serve customer needs, including an innovative research and development lab, state-of-the art service center, exhibition room and more

ATLANTA – December 2020 – Unibloc Pump, a US-based leading manufacturer of sanitary positive displacement pumps and products, today announced the relocation of its headquarters to Kennesaw, Ga. This facility is three times larger than the previous building in Marietta, offering increased production capacity to meet customer needs and accommodating the company’s advanced manufacturing technologies.

“With the move to Kennesaw, Unibloc is well-positioned for future growth,” said Eric Soderstrom, Sales Engineer at Unibloc Pump. “This facility gives us the space needed to increase and improve our manufacturing capabilities and provide our customers with the fast, reliable service they expect.”

Increased space for rapid production, service and delivery

Located at 1650 Airport Road, Suite 110, the facility houses several production and display areas, as well as technological advancements that will greatly enhance productivity and efficiency. This includes a dedicated Research & Development and quality control lab; a pharmaceutical-only, sterile product assembly room; and a larger warehouse to stock more pumps and accessories, such as strainers, valves and bubble traps. The state-of-the-art service center will provide consistent, reliable product support for customers, including those in need of immediate solutions.

A total of eight cranes, six of which are high-capacity cranes with 360-degree swing capabilities, have been installed to provide full coverage over the entire production area. Larger workstations also have been implemented to cater to specific product sizes and higher quantities.

The increase in work space and new technologies will allow Unibloc to offer more ready-to-ship product inventory. The most popular pumps, as well as products for high-risk applications, will be kept in stock for quick delivery. The Kennesaw location also includes an exhibition room for customers to view fully-assembled products and create their ideal solution, a training room for both employees and customers to receive hands-on product training and demonstrations, and additional testing space for more opportunities for customer-specific testing. Engineers now will be able to test outside products for customer-specific applications.

In addition to manufacturing, all departments will operate out of the Kennesaw headquarters, including executive management, sales and marketing, shipping, operations, engineering, product management, accounting, and administration. Employment opportunities for inside and outside sales representatives are available, and Unibloc will be adding opportunities in the engineering and production departments later this year.

“Our new facility will create an economic opportunity for the Kennesaw area, while also being conducive to long-term growth for our employee base and acquiring new talent,” said Soderstrom. “This is our next step to becoming one of the biggest and best pump companies in the U.S.”

For more information and to view job postings, visit UniblocPump.com. Sign up for the company’s e-newsletter for the latest news and updates.

About Unibloc Pump

Since 1984, Unibloc Pump has provided the food and beverage, meat and poultry, pharmaceutical and more industries with precision-engineered sanitary pumps, strainers, valves and other accessory products to tackle the toughest sanitary jobs. Unibloc is the premier designer of simple, easy-to-clean pumps that help customers fight downtime and achieve a lower cost of operation. For more information, visit www.UniblocPump.com.

Media Contacts

Angie Maddox, Seed Factory, 404-996-4041; angie@seedatl.com

Unibloc Pump Adds Three New Models to Innovative QuickStrip FoodFirst 600 Pump Series

Posted on February 24, 2020October 18, 2021 by unibloc

Upgrades to innovative stainless pump design further protect pumps from foreign material and damage during sanitation in food processing applications

ATLANTA – September 1, 2020 – Unibloc Pump, a U.S.-based leading manufacturer of Sanitary positive displacement pumps and products, today announced the addition of three new pumps in its QuickStrip FoodFirst 600 pump series – the QS FF 602, QS FF 652 and QS FF 677. These pumps feature a patented, all-stainless design with no rotor bolts or O-ring, helping eliminate the most common causes of foreign material entering the process stream and reducing damage during sanitation.

“These additions to the QuickStrip FoodFirst product line are just another step in the QuickStrip product evolution,” said Eric Soderstrom, Sales Engineer at Unibloc Pump. “We’ve taken our extensive 35-year history of pump design knowledge in the food processing industry to make one of our best technologies even better and safer. These pumps are the ideal solution for our food processing customers and currently being used in several high-profile applications.”

New features for cleaner, safer food processing

The QS FF 600 series pumps are precision engineered from stainless steel, with an all-new free-floating rotor design that contains no rotor bolts. This upgraded rotor design is specifically for food processing applications requiring daily strip-down sanitization. With fewer components than other sanitary pumps, the Unibloc QS FF 600 pumps can be assembled and reassembled easily with no tools, minimizing wear and tear during sanitation cycles. These pumps also are the most detectable on the market, ensuring product and production safety.

The QS FF 600 series pumps use new specifications that allow them to be fully operable without the use of a front cover O-ring, in most cases. This eliminates the risks of the O-ring tearing or pinching, which is often the source of foreign material in the process stream. These pumps also feature the industry-first Safety Swing Arm, which provides an added measure of safety for both employees and the pump. By supporting the front cover and keeping it off the floor, the Safety Swing Arm reduces damage to the cover and other pump components and helps minimize the risk of accidental injury.

These state-of-the-art pumps build upon three decades of innovation to the QuickStrip product line, offering more solutions to food processors.

“We’ve continually refined our QuickStrip technology throughout Unibloc’s history,” said Soderstrom. “The new QS FF 600 pumps are a huge leap forward in our product offering and will continue setting us apart from other pump manufacturers.”

For more information about Unibloc’s new QS FF 600 pumping solutions and other products, visit UniblocPump.com. Sign up for the company’s e-newsletter for the latest news and updates.

About Unibloc Pump, LLC

Unibloc Pump Launches New Website and Updated Branding

Posted on July 31, 2019March 25, 2020 by unibloc

ATLANTA – July 31, 2019 – Unibloc Pump, a Georgia-based manufacturer of sanitary positive displacement pumps and products, has launched its new website – UniblocPump.com – as well as updates to the company’s corporate branding elements. The new website features a streamlined, user-friendly design, in-depth product information and a wealth of customer resources, including product data sheets, 3D drawings and more.

The website also showcases Unibloc’s updated corporate branding elements. Unibloc unveiled a freshly updated color palette featuring soft blues and grays, while keeping its signature red accents. The Unibloc Pump logo also received a new, more modern treatment.

“We are thrilled to introduce our visually appealing, easy-to-navigate and modern new website and brand enhancements to our customers,” said Harry Soderstrom, CEO of Unibloc Pump. “The website has undergone a transformation to offer our valued customers an overall better and more intuitive experience. Our updated corporate branding better reflects what Unibloc is all about – performance pumping solutions and great service.”

An Enhanced Digital Infrastructure and Improved Customer Experience

Unibloc’s new digital infrastructure provides a better customer experience, whether on a desktop, tablet or mobile device. Unibloc’s website features enriched content that will help customers make informed decisions about the company’s current products, which serve the food and beverage, meat and poultry, bakery and confection, transportation, brewery, dairy and pharmaceutical industries. The new site also provides customers and visitors with the latest news, case studies, tradeshows, events and more. Visitors are encouraged to explore UniblocPump.com and sign up for the company’s e-newsletter.

About Unibloc Pump

Unibloc Pump Acquires R&H, Germany

Posted on July 4, 2019January 4, 2021 by unibloc

May 2018

The Challenge

Founded in 1984, UNIBLOC-PUMP, has been a pioneer in the industry worldwide for Sanitary Pumps, Strainers and Valves. Our goal is to continue to offer the highest quality and newest innovations for a growing market. As our company grows we have kept customer satisfaction and business success in the forefront of our decision making.

Our current challenge as a growing company is to reach an increasingly globalized market. This sets us up for our next big step.

The Announcement

We are delighted to announce that Unibloc-Pump, has acquired a company in Germany, R&H GmbH. With Unibloc-Pump, as a leading US pump manufacturer, and its Swedish sister company, Unibloc Pump AB, the combined merger will make us the market leader in Europe for Road Tanker Pumps. The new company will be named: UNIBLOC-PUMP R&H GmbH. We now have 2 locations in Europe with our world headquarters in Kennesaw, Georgia, USA.

Future Impact

Together we will create new possibilities, set new standards and inspire our customers.
We will:

Provide new revolutionary, high-quality, high-performance solutions for tanker unloading
Supply the entire segment of the road tanker industry
Offer solutions for multiple products, whether liquid foods, chemicals, acids/alkalis, AdBlue, oils or liquid wastes
Increase and improve our European service network
Solidify the No. 1 position in Europe.

Customers can rely on our previous services. Contact us! We’re here to help.