Fabrication that Meets Food Safety Demands

Food processing and commercial cooking equipment isn’t just functional, it’s often on display. OEMs and their customers expect a finished, professional appearance: smooth surfaces, uniform seams, and sanitary welds that are clean enough to be nearly invisible, alongside the durable and safe design the food industry demands.

Meeting those standards takes a fabrication partner who understands the food industry inside and out. With over five decades of fabrication experience and deep expertise in food-grade stainless steels — including 304, 316, and 430 — and other food-grade materials, Estes Design and Manufacturing supports projects from initial design through production, providing a smooth transition from prototype to repeatable production.

That combination of polish and performance starts at the weld. Estes invests in the latest equipment, such as automated laser welding, which is key to achieving consistent, cleanable, crevice-free welds. From component parts like panels, frames, and guards to full weldments like oven cavities, Estes Design and Manufacturing delivers on time and to exact specifications.

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Innovative Design   |   Fabrication Expertise  |   Highly-Specialized Automation

Advanced Manufacturing Solutions for Food Equipment

Estes incorporates the latest equipment and specializes in light-gauge sheet metal as well as stainless steel for the food industry.

Our capabilities include:

  • Laser welding
  • Robotic and traditional welding
  • Laser Cutting
  • Tight-tolerance machining
  • Finishing and assembly
  • Inspections and quality control
  • Equipment and processes designed to meet the unique requirements for food equipment manufacturing

Rapid and Safe Product Development

To elevate food equipment and respond to changing processing demands, OEMs need new design improvements to create production-ready products quickly. Estes Accelerator, our dedicated product development and prototyping department, helps customers move from concept to manufacturable design with speed and confidence.

Through design for manufacturability and assembly (DFMA), Estes engineers evaluate designs with production in mind and work alongside customers to improve assembly and select manufacturing processes that support efficient, repeatable production. Addressing these considerations early eliminates unnecessary complexity, controls costs and prevents production challenges before they reach the shop floor.

Estes Accelerator brings design, engineering and manufacturing expertise together for rapid prototyping to evaluate new concepts and refine designs before committing to production. Because prototypes are developed with manufacturability in mind, lessons learned during the process are incorporated into the final design.

Once the design is ready, Estes has the fabrication capabilities and production expertise to take it from prototype to repeatable production under one roof.

The Estes Difference

Estes is different from many other food processing equipment manufacturers, which is why leading companies choose to work with us. The Estes difference includes:

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Creative, Innovative Thinking

The Estes prototyping team is a core group of engineers and designers who challenge modern methods and are committed to solving problems. Our team is focused on reducing lead times and finding cost-effective solutions for our customers.

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State-of-the-Art Technology

Estes is committed to utilizing lean processes and the latest automated fabrication systems to ensure that our customers get precise, high-quality, best-in-class products.

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Ability to Scale

Estes employs a staff of more than 90 associates, has 85,000 square feet of manufacturing space, and features a high level of capacity-multiplying automation to provide even the largest companies with on-time fulfillment services.

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Trustworthy Team

For five decades, Estes has been committed to hiring people of high character who are focused on delivering the highest level of service to food processing equipment OEMs.

Quality Certifications

Estes is an ISO 9001:2015, AS9100D, and ISO 13485:2016 certified design and manufacturing facility, focused on perfecting processes that consistently deliver high-quality products to its customers.

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AS9100D ISO 9001:2015

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ISO 13485:2016

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Q. What is design for manufacturing and assembly (DFMA)?

Answer

Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) is the process of evaluating a product’s design to identify opportunities to make its components easier, more efficient and more cost-effective to manufacture and assemble.

Q. How does Estes use DFMA to improve food equipment designs?

Answer

Estes applies DFMA principles to help identify opportunities to simplify designs, improve production efficiency and reduce unnecessary manufacturing costs. Our engineers can evaluate materials, part designs, fabrication methods and assembly requirements early in the development process to help create practical, manufacturable solutions.

Q. Can Estes support food equipment projects from concept through production?

Answer

Estes provides full-service design and manufacturing support for food equipment OEMs, from early concepts and detailed designs through prototyping and production. Our engineers and manufacturing team collaborate throughout the development process to refine designs, address manufacturing considerations early and identify opportunities to improve efficiency. With in-house fabrication and advanced manufacturing capabilities, Estes can help move designs from concept to production while maintaining consistency throughout the process.

Q. What welding capabilities does Estes offer for food equipment?

Answer

Estes offers 3D laser welding for precise, repeatable welds on complex sheet metal components and assemblies. The process can minimize distortion and reduce the need for post-weld grinding and finishing, helping create clean, consistent welds that can support the cleanability and durability requirements of food equipment.