Tools
Bettcher 
Gregor Thomalla, Managing Director of Bettcher GmbH, and Russ Stroner, Head of Worldwide Sales at Bettcher
USA, Birmingham. Bettcher Industries turns 75. The manufacturer of innovative cutting and trimming tools for the meat processing industry celebrated its anniversary at the company’s headquarters in Birmingham. Larry Bettcher, company founder and former CEO, took employees and their families on an journey through the history of Bettcher Industries.
The company was founded in 1944 by Louis A. Bettcher as a repair shop for meat processing equipment. However, as early as 1947, the firm moved beyond repairs to present its first tool developed in-house – the Bettcher carcass splitter. From then on, Bettcher was on course for success: the award-winning Whizard hand trimmer was introduced in 1954 and was soon used throughout the USA. Since then this trimmer has been updated and today is still one of the top sellers in Bettcher’s product portfolio.
Today, Bettcher has a worldwide customer base that spans more than 70 countries. With the acquisition of Gainco, and in 2019, Cantrell – two companies that provide systems for real-time monitoring and cutting in the poultry industry – as well as the establishment of Exsurco Medical, a producer of cutting tools for medical applications, the company has again expanded its product portfolio. Now, it’s innovative products not only serve the food industry, but also the food service and the medical sector. The multi award-winning company currently holds more than 100 active patents and its handheld trimmer systems have a worldwide market share of over 95%.
The most recent step, which is designed to provide the customers with even better service, and guarantee future growth, is the gradual expansion of direct sales.
Source: Bettcher