Manufacturing food processing and commercial cooking equipment involves extensive welding and fabrication. Components and finished products must meet the highest quality levels, deliver reliable performance, and have a professional and aesthetically pleasing appearance. That is why many OEMs and manufacturers in the food equipment industry rely on Estes as a long-term manufacturing partner.
Quality is built into every Estes process. Estes operates an FDA-registered facility and maintains AS9100D, ISO 9001:2015, and ISO 13485:2016 certifications. Estes’ experience in the food industry ranges from commercial cooking equipment, like complete welded oven cavities, to processing equipment enclosures, panels, frames, guards, and assemblies.
Designed for Cleanability and Sanitation
The food industry has strict material and manufacturing requirements that Estes has extensive experience meeting. For example, food-contact surfaces must be composed of non-toxic, non-absorbent, and corrosion-resistant materials like 300-series stainless steel rather than galvanized metals. Welds, seams, and contact points must be smooth and free of pits, cracks, or sharp internal angles to prevent bacteria or debris buildup.
Equipment designs should promote sanitation and cleanability. They need rounded internal corners and sealed edges, and they should be easy to disassemble or suited to clean-in-place (CIP) procedures. Smooth surfaces and easy-to-clean joints in fabricated assemblies also help prevent cross-contamination by keeping raw materials, ready-to-eat foods, and allergens from transferring between zones.
Advanced Fabrication Technology for Food Equipment Production
To meet these requirements, Estes leverages advanced manufacturing capabilities including 3D laser welding, which is significantly faster than traditional TIG welding. Laser welding produces clean, crevice-free welds with minimal post-weld grinding, shortening production time and cost. The smooth, cleanable joints are ideal for meeting sanitary food equipment requirements.
Complementing its laser welding capabilities, Estes offers laser cutting, robotic and traditional welding, as well as tight-tolerance machining. Finishing, assembly, and inspection are handled in-house, with processes focused on delivering consistent, high-quality products.
An Experienced Partner for Industrial and Commercial Food Equipment
Estes supports challenging food industry manufacturing projects from initial design through production, providing a smooth transition from prototype to repeatable manufacturing. Estes consistently meets customer lead times while reducing complexity, cost, and production risk.
At the start of a project, Estes helps food industry customers develop better, more manufacturable products faster. Estes understands that food industry OEMs need a product produced at a competitive cost. Value engineering is a core competency, with the goal of reducing manufacturing costs and simplifying assembly.
With nearly five decades of fabrication experience and a highly skilled team, Estes specializes in light-gauge sheet metal fabrication using materials including stainless steel, carbon steel, and aluminum.
Quality from Fabrication Through Final Assembly
From laser cutting and welding to machining, finishing, and assembly, Estes helps customers in the food processing equipment industry turn designs into production-ready equipment rapidly and with fewer manufacturing headaches. For food processing equipment OEMs looking to improve quality, control costs, and keep demanding production schedules on track, Estes provides the manufacturing capabilities and partnership needed to get the job done right and keep food on America’s tables.
