HENDERSON, Colo. – Birko, a leader in providing food safety solutions to the protein industry, today announced a definitive agreement to acquire Chad Co., a Kansas-based manufacturer specializing in automated washing and pasteurizing systemsfor meat harvesting and processing operations.

Chad will become Chad Equipment, LLC, a Birko company. Birko will be combining its current equipment division into Chad Equipment, LLC, headquartered in Olathe, Kan.

 “We are delighted to be adding Chad’s equipment expertise to the Birko portfolio of food processing and safety capabilities,” said Mark Swanson, chief executive officer of Birko. “This provides an exciting opportunity for our customers as two of the best known food safety companies in the protein industry team up to offer integrated solutions in both chemistry and equipment.”

The combination of Birko’s expertise in processing, intervention and sanitizing chemistry, and Chad’s innovation in harvest and processing equipment, creates a synergy in food safety that will greatly benefit both Birko’s and Chad’s customers. The combined companies are now able to serve a full range of customer needs for chemistry and equipment, from harvest, to processing, to intervention, to final product.

Under the terms of the agreement, Chad Co. President Mike Gangel will stay on as Chad’s president for an extended period of time.

“We are thrilled about this opportunity to team up with Birko,” Gangel said. “Our harvest and processing equipment line blends well with Birko’s chemical dispensing equipment and will give customers a comprehensive resource for their equipment needs.”

The agreement includes Chad’s VerifEYE™ fecal identification system, based in Sebastian, Fla., and used for quality control and process evaluation in harvest and processing facilities.

Chad’s other products include the Hot Water Final Pasteurization System, the Hot Water Preevisceration Pasteurization System, the Hide-On Carcass Wash and Sanitizing System, the Hock Blowing Assembly, the Preevisceration Carcass Wash, the Preevisceration Carcass Organic Acid System, Head and Tongue Wash, Head and Tongue Pasteurization System, Viscera Table Wash, Tripe Wash and Handling System, Offal Wash System, Offal Pasteurization System, Final Carcass Wash, Carcass Organic Acid System After Final Wash, and Cold Carcass Organic Acid Spray Assembly.

About Birko

Birko is a leader in providing food safety solutions to the protein processing, food and beverage industries. Birko manufactures more than 250 cleaning, sanitation and production process chemicals, as well as specialized delivery equipment for meat, poultry, pork, produce and brewery applications. Birko also provides solutions used in antimicrobial interventions. Many Birko products are on the USDA NOP (National Organic Program) list of allowed products for use by organic processors, and many others are based on environmentally preferable or “environmentally neutral” formulas. Founded in 1953, Birko is a Certified Women’s Business Enterprise and was awarded Supplier of the Century by the National Meat Association. birkocorp.com

About Chad

Chad Co., founded in 1971 and based in Olathe, Kan., is a specialty equipment manufacturer serving small to large volume meat harvesting and processing operations, including beef, hog, veal, sheep and horse. Chad developed and patented an oscillating action wash system for high and low pressure applications and a Recirculated Hot Water Pasteurization System that is used in beef, hog, veal, sheep and horse harvest.