GEM Equipment Celebrates Grand Opening of Expanded Manufacturing Facility in Mt. Angel, Oregon
Facility Expansion Strengthens Manufacturing Capacity, Consolidates Operations, and Supports Future Growth as Part of the FPS Food Process Solutions Global Organization
MT. ANGEL, Oregon, October 30, 2026 – GEM Equipment of Oregon, Inc., a member of the FPS Food Process Solutions group of companies, celebrated the official opening of its newly expanded and renovated manufacturing facility in Mt. Angel, Oregon on October 16.
The grand opening marks a significant milestone in GEM's continued growth and reinforces its role as a key manufacturing partner within the FPS organization, supporting food processors across North America and around the world.
The expansion significantly increases GEM's manufacturing capacity, enhances production capabilities, and improves operational efficiency. The project also included the consolidation of GEM's former Woodburn operations into the upgraded Mt. Angel location, creating a centralized manufacturing hub designed to support future growth and customer demand.
Located at 1010 North Main Street, Mt. Angel, Oregon, the 100,000 sq ft enhanced facility features expanded manufacturing space, improved production workflows, and upgraded capabilities that will enable GEM to deliver projects with greater speed, precision, and efficiency.
The official opening welcomed customers, suppliers, industry partners, and employees for a facility tour and lunch celebration, recognizing the dedication and teamwork that made the expansion possible.
"Today marks an exciting new chapter for GEM Equipment," said Chris Imdieke, Chief Executive Officer of GEM Equipment of Oregon, Inc. "This expansion represents a significant investment in our people, our capabilities, and our future. By bringing our operations together in a single, state-of-the-art facility, we are strengthening our ability to deliver exceptional quality, innovation, and service to our customers while supporting continued growth across North America and beyond."
The consolidation of operations under one roof is expected to enhance collaboration across teams, streamline manufacturing processes, and provide customers with even greater responsiveness and support.
"The expansion of GEM's Mt. Angel facility reflects FPS's long-term commitment to investing in world-class manufacturing capabilities that support our customers globally," said Jeffrey Chang, President of FPS Food Process Solutions. "GEM has been an integral part of the FPS organization, and this facility enhances our ability to deliver innovative food processing solutions across our global business."
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About GEM Equipment of Oregon, Inc.
Established in 1968, GEM Equipment of Oregon, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of food processing equipment and a global leader in frying technology. From its 100,000-square-foot facility in Mt. Angel, Oregon, GEM delivers innovative processing solutions that help food manufacturers worldwide improve efficiency, product quality, and operational performance. GEM is a member of the FPS Food Process Solutions group of companies.
For more information, go to https://www.gemequipment.com/
About FPS Food Process Solutions
FPS Food Process Solutions is a global leader in turn-key food processing solutions, serving customers across six continents. Founded in 2010, FPS employs over 1,000 professionals worldwide and operates more than 1,280,000 ft² (119,000 m²) of space across 23 locations, including its Canadian headquarters, manufacturing facilities, and international sales offices. Through our subsidiaries and strategic partnerships, FPS delivers comprehensive, end-to-end processing solutions—providing a true “one-stop shop” for food processors around the world.
For more information, go to https://www.fpscorp.ca/
Contact:
Shirley Wong | Communications Manager
Phone: 604 232-4145 Ext. 1239
shirley.wong@fpscorp.ca
www.fpscorp.ca
FPS Food Process Solutions Commits to Safe Food, Sustainable Systems on World Food Safety Day
Vancouver, Canada – FPS Food Process Solutions, a global leader in turn-key food processing technology, reaffirms its commitment to safer, more sustainable food systems on World Food Safety Day. By highlighting how engineering‑driven equipment design and optimized cleaning solutions directly support both food safety and environmental performance, a more sustainable solution can be achieved.
At FPS, food safety and sustainability are engineered together. By applying hygienic principles at the earliest stages of design development, FPS equipment minimizes contamination risk while reducing resource consumption across the entire production lifecycle. Robust construction, smooth continuous welds, sloped surfaces, and the elimination of moisture‑trapping features enable faster, more effective sanitation with less water, chemicals, and energy.
Engineering design plays a critical role in sustainability outcomes. FPS equipment solutions are designed for cleanability, longevity, and operational efficiency, helping food processors reduce downtime, eliminate food waste, and extend equipment life.
Integrated cleaning solutions further enhance sustainability by standardizing sanitation practices, improving repeatability, and reducing variability in cleaning cycles, not to mention, improving food and worker safety.
On World Food Safety Day, FPS Food Process Solutions underscores that well‑engineered, hygienic equipment is essential not only for protecting food and consumers, but also for building resilient, efficient, and sustainable food processing operations worldwide. By doing our part as a food equipment manufacturer, FPS is making proactive steps toward reducing contamination risk before it occurs and implementing cleaning processes in equipment design and sanitation strategy to advance food safety and sustainability goals.
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About FPS Food Process Solutions
FPS Food Process Solutions is a global leader in turn-key food processing solutions, serving customers across six continents. Founded in 2010, FPS employs over 1,000 professionals worldwide and operates more than 1,280,000 ft² (119,000 m²) of space across 23 locations, including its Canadian headquarters, manufacturing facilities, and international sales offices. Through our subsidiaries and strategic partnerships, FPS delivers comprehensive, end-to-end processing solutions—providing a true “one-stop shop” for food processors around the world.
For more information, go to https://www.fpscorp.ca/
Contact:
Shirley Wong | Communications Manager
T: 604 232-4145 Ext. 1239
E: shirley.wong@fpscorp.ca
www.fpscorp.ca
FPS Food Process Solutions Partners with Quality Engineered Solutions to Strengthen Global Utilities Expertise
Vancouver, Canada – FPS Food Process Solutions (“FPS”), a global leader in turnkey food processing technologies, announces a strategic partnership with Quality Engineered Solutions (QES) to further expand its growing portfolio, with a strengthened focus on utilities‑driven services.
With more than 25 years of experience, QES specializes in industrial ventilation projects for food and beverage processing plants as well as industrial manufacturing facilities. Their deep expertise and reputation for excellence significantly enhance FPS’s ability to deliver a fully integrated, global product offering.
Recognized as “utilities experts” within industrial engineering, QES brings extensive capabilities in ventilation infrastructure and MEP design for complex industrial and commercial environments. As part of this integration, Rick Allen joins FPS as Director of Global Utilities. In his new role, he will build a strong technical foundation for utilities processes and expand the company’s engineering depth as FPS continues to scale to meet increasing global demand.
“It was only a matter of time before adding QES as a valuable partner to enhance our engineering capabilities to new heights. With their expertise, they will strengthen our growth in food and industrial plant ventilation systems,” says Jeffrey Chang, President, FPS Food Process Solutions Corp.
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About FPS Food Process Solutions
FPS Food Process Solutions is a global leader in turn-key food processing solutions, serving customers across six continents. Founded in 2010, FPS employs over 1,000 professionals worldwide and operates more than 1,280,000 ft² (119,000 m²) of space across 23 locations, including its Canadian headquarters, manufacturing facilities, and international sales offices. Through our subsidiaries and strategic partnerships, FPS delivers comprehensive, end-to-end processing solutions—providing a true “one-stop shop” for food processors around the world.
For more information, go to https://www.fpscorp.ca/
Contact:
Shirley Wong | Communications Manager
Phone: 604 232-4145 Ext. 1239
shirley.wong@fpscorp.ca
www.fpscorp.ca
FPS Food Process Solutions Welcomes Southern Fabrication Works to Expand Rapidly Growing Portfolio
Vancouver, Canada – FPS Food Process Solutions (“FPS”), a global leader in turn‑key food processing solutions, announces the addition of Southern Fabrication Works (SFW) to further strengthen and expand its rapidly growing portfolio.
SFW is widely recognized for its expertise in designing and manufacturing custom industrial food processing equipment. Well established in the potato processing industry, the company has built a strong reputation for delivering integrated, high‑precision systems supported by meticulous engineering and seamless project execution.
By joining the FPS global family, SFW enhances FPS’s capabilities with advanced hydro-cutting systems, cutting‑edge water knife technology, innovative water recycling and waste‑handling solutions, and comprehensive plant engineering expertise. These additions further strengthen FPS’s ability to offer robust, end‑to‑end processing solutions to customers worldwide.
“The SFW family is super excited to partner with a progressive company such as FPS, who shares similar ideology. The FPS team has been extremely welcoming and respectful. We appreciate the value they place in all their partnerships and look forward to contributing to their global initiatives,” says Neil Justesen, President and Owner of Southern Fabrication Works.
“FPS has always aimed to provide full End‑to‑End solutions for our customers,” says Jeffrey Chang, President, FPS Food Process Solutions Corp. “The timing was right to join forces. We’re pleased to welcome a trusted and respected name into our group.”
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About FPS Food Process Solutions
FPS Food Process Solutions is a global leader in turn-key food processing solutions, serving customers across six continents. Founded in 2010, FPS employs over 1,000 professionals worldwide and operates more than 1,280,000 ft² (119,000 m²) of space across 23 locations, including its Canadian headquarters, manufacturing facilities, and international sales offices. Through our subsidiaries and strategic partnerships, FPS delivers comprehensive, end-to-end processing solutions—providing a true “one-stop shop” for food processors around the world.
For more information, go to https://www.fpscorp.ca/
Contact:
Shirley Wong | Communications Manager
Phone: 604 232-4145 Ext. 1239
shirley.wong@fpscorp.ca
www.fpscorp.ca
FPS Food Process Solutions Brings in Symotab to Expand Compact, High Performing Coating Solutions for Protein and Snack Processors
FPS+Symotab 3-in-1 CombiCoater
Vancouver, Canada – FPS Food Process Solutions (“FPS”), a global leader in turn-key food processing solutions, announces the addition of Symotab Kft, a specialist in advanced coating technology for protein and snack applications. Headquartered in Hungary, Symotab is known for the 3-in-1 CombiCoater, a compact coating system that integrates flatbed, drum breader and flip functionality into a single machine. Designed to reduce line length, simplify sanitation, and improve coating consistency, the CombiCoater addresses key challenges faced by modern food processors operating under increasing space, labor, and yield pressures.
This addition expands FPS’s portfolio of integrated processing solutions and strengthens its ability to offer flexible, space-efficient coating systems as part of complete processing lines for protein and snack producers worldwide.
“Joining FPS allows us to further develop and scale practical coating solutions that help processors save space, reduce complexity, and improve process stability,” says Ad Bontje, Managing Director, Symotab Kft. “Together with FPS, we are already working on next-generation solutions that support cleaner line layouts and more consistent coating performance.”
“We were impressed with the offering provided by Symotab – synergy, creativity, and the mindset to work together to build a solution. We welcome Symotab to the FPS family,” adds Jeffrey Chang, President, FPS Food Process Solutions Corp.
FPS + Symotab will showcase the 3-in-1 CombiCoater at the International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE) 2026 taking place January 27 – 29, 2026, at Booth C26143 in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, visit https://info.fpscorp.ca/fps-ippe-2026
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About FPS Food Process Solutions
FPS Food Process Solutions is a global leader in turn-key food processing solutions, serving customers across six continents. Founded in 2010, FPS employs over 1,000 professionals worldwide and operates more than 1,280,000 ft² (119,000 m²) of space across 23 locations, including its Canadian headquarters, manufacturing facilities, and international sales offices. Through our subsidiaries and strategic partnerships, FPS delivers comprehensive, end-to-end processing solutions—providing a true “one-stop shop” for food processors around the world.
For more information, go to https://www.fpscorp.ca/
Contact:
Shirley Wong | Communications Manager
Phone: 604 232-4145 Ext. 1239
shirley.wong@fpscorp.ca
www.fpscorp.ca