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  • Our History

Our History

We're a true American manufacturing success story, driven by serving our customers and feeding the world.

  • Louis A. Bettcher, Jr.

    A man and a mission...

    “Even as a child, they called me an inventor.”  Company founder Louis A. Bettcher, Jr. was a self-made man who saw a need, and proceeded to revolutionize the industrialized food processing field.
     
  • Cleveland Stockyards

    Humble beginnings...

    During World War II, meat plants found it impossible to purchase new equipment. Founded in 1944, with just $800 in capital, Louis Bettcher’s machine shop in Cleveland’s meatpacking district was close by and ready to help.
  • Bettcher carcass splitter

    First product launched (1947)...

    Inspired to do more than just equipment repairs for meat processors, Bettcher introduced a carcass splitter. It was the beginning of a long line of innovative products that changed an industry.
  • Dumbutcher/Whizard® product

    A brilliant new invention (1954)...

    Determining that just a few ounces of meat on a carcass saved from scrap could mean hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional yield and profit, Bettcher responded. The new Whizard® handheld trimmer was (and still is) a big hit with meat processors.
  • trimmer

    Trimmers take off...

    Trimmers were sold to plants all over the United States, and export sales began in 1959. Bettcher sales passed the $1 million mark in 1965.
  • Headquarters in Birmingham Ohio

    Expanding facilities for a growing company...

    Needing more space, in 1971 we opened a new headquarters facility one hour west of Cleveland – an iconic red barn structure on the edge of farm country.
  • Bettcher representation worldwide

    Worldwide expansion, too...

    In 1978, Bettcher opened a European sales and service company in Switzerland, sparking heightened growth in international markets. By 2001, our international sales volume reached half of total annual revenues for the first time. Additional offices were opened in Brazil and China, with product distribution in more than 70 countries serving more than 20,000 customers.
  • Aerial photo of Bettcher

    Another big expansion...

    In 2008, a major initiative at headquarters expanded R&D, engineering, manufacturing and warehouse space, nearly doubling the size of the facilities. Further renovations and upgrades followed in 2017, including the opening of the Bettcher Innovation Center.
  • Bettcher Innovation Center

    Innovation from the start...

    We hold more than 100 active patents in several countries. The Bettcher Innovation Center embodies our spirit of innovation. It’s where we explore, develop and commercialize the next generations of Bettcher products and market solutions.
  • Trimmer tested in lab

    Testing for long-term success...

    With Bettcher products, quality is “designed in” from the start. That means rigorous testing in our facilities as well as in the field to ensure that every product is “high-performance and high-durability.”
  • Quantum Flex® Trimmer

    Successful introductions down through the decades...

    Since 1954, we have introduced successive generations of powered handheld trimmer systems. Today, we continue to hold more than 95% share of the market worldwide.

     
  • Optimax® Batter Breading Machine

    More than just trimmers...

    In addition to our industry-leading trimmers, we manufacture other innovative tools like AirShirz® pneumatic scissors for food processing and industrial applications, as well as foodservice equipment like automated batter breading machines and breading stations.
  • Gainco Yield Management System

    Leadership in yield management, too...

    Our subsidiary, Cantrell-Gainco Group in Gainesville, GA, manufactures equipment and systems to measure and manage yield, productivity, food safety and quality. Four major categories of solutions cover product weighing, deboning, inspection and yield management.
  • Exsurco Products

    Medical products...

    We established Exsurco Medical in 2011 and achieved ISO 13485 accreditation in 2015. Exsurco devices offer a revolutionary way to perform surgeries on burn patients and for cadaveric tissue recovery. It’s new technology that’s rapidly changing industry practices.
  • Summit Image

    At the heart of everything we do - our employee-owners...

    What makes a company most successful is the quality of its workforce. In 2014, Bettcher became an employee-owned company, and in 2017 MPE Partners made a substantial investment in our business. Our 300 employee-owners are fully committed to serving the Bettcher customer base. After all, each customer’s success is our success.
For more Bettcher company history,    click here to view our presentation.
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Address
6801 State Route 60
Birmingham OH 44889
United States
  • Sales Inquiries sales@bettcher.com
  • Service Inquiries service@bettcher.com
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  • Toll Free 800.321.8763
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