Relco

What Relco does

RELCO, founded in 1982 in Willmar, Minnesota, designs and manufactures custom-engineered capital equipment for the global dairy and food processing industry. Its integrated product portfolio spans cheese making systems (HORIZON® II vats, TRU-FINISH™ curd tables, TRU-BLOCK™ blockformers, OptiSet 4.1 coagulation detection), evaporators (6–75% total solids range plus the CrystaLac™ crystallizing evaporator for IFM-grade lactose), drying systems (L-TECH™ lactose and permeate drying, timing belt drying, Parvus™ pilot spray dryer), dryer components, and powder handling equipment (pneumatic conveying, packaging, bulk bag handling, blending). Underlying technology centers on thermal separation processes with proprietary IP including the patented L-Tech® Permeate Drying System (2005) and the KELLER lactose processing systems acquired from Whey Systems Inc. in 2000. The company employs 170+ people across wholly-owned subsidiaries and offices in the United States (Willmar, MN; Stratford, WI), the Netherlands (Drachten), Brazil (São Caetano do Sul), and New Zealand (Nelson), serving 500+ customers globally across dairy, nutritional ingredient, and food processing end markets.

RELCO generates revenue through four primary streams: project-based capital equipment sales (custom multi-million dollar turnkey installations of cheese, evaporation, drying, and powder handling systems), aftermarket parts and service (OEM and custom-fabricated replacement parts, equipment upgrades, and field service via regional contacts), pilot systems rental and purchase (Parvus™ spray dryers available globally for rent or purchase), and engineering and consulting services including industrial process automation and Bioscan non-dye inspection services. Pricing is custom quote-based with no published price list. The company sells primarily through direct enterprise sales via technical sales engineers in regional offices, supplemented by industry trade show participation, technical white papers, customer success stories, and membership in dairy industry associations. The GTM motion has expanded to leverage Kovalus Separation Solutions' parent distribution network for cross-selling integrated separation solutions.

RELCO was founded by Loren Corle in 1982 as a sanitary welding services provider and grew through a sequence of mergers and acquisitions — Rolland Engineering (1991), Current Electric (1997), Whey Systems Inc. (2000), Wet & Dry Technologies B.V. / SAVEL Technologies (2007–2009), and Stoelting Cheese Making Equipment (2012) — alongside organic international expansion into the Netherlands (2007), New Zealand (2011), and Brazil (2014). In December 2020, Koch Separation Solutions acquired RELCO; in August–October 2023, Sun Capital Partners acquired Koch Separation Solutions and rebranded it Kovalus Separation Solutions, with RELCO now operating as RELCO, A Kovalus Company.

Name

Relco

Legal name

RELCO, LLC

Website

https://relco.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

RELCO, a Kovalus company, designs and manufactures custom cheese making systems, evaporators, drying systems, and powder handling equipment for global dairy and food processors, serving 500+ customers across four countries since 1982.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Willmar

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Capital Equipment Sales: Design, engineering, manufacturing, and installation of custom cheese making, evaporation, drying, and powder handling systems sold as capital equipment to dairy and food manufacturers. Revenue is project-based, typically multi-million dollar turnkey installations.
2. Aftermarket Parts & Service: Replacement OEM and custom-fabricated parts, equipment upgrades, field service, and inspection/repair services for installed equipment. Contact via [email protected] in North America and [email protected] in Europe.
3. Pilot Systems Rental: Parvus™ pilot spray dryers are available for rent or purchase, enabling customers to conduct trials before committing to full-scale systems.
4. Engineering & Consulting Services: Design and engineering, construction, manufacturing, and industrial process automation services. BIOSCAN non-dye inspection and repair services provided through partnership with Bioscan LTD.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

RELCO designs, engineers, manufactures, installs, and commissions custom capital equipment for the global dairy and food processing industry, including cheese making systems (vats, curd tables, blockformers, cheese belts, coagulation detection), evaporators, drying systems (spray, belt, bustle), and powder handling systems (pneumatic conveying, packaging, bulk bag handling). The company also provides aftermarket OEM and custom parts, field service, equipment upgrades, pilot-scale spray dryer rentals, and industrial process automation and engineering services.

Product overview

RELCO is a dairy and food processing technology company offering an integrated portfolio of process solutions. The core product portfolio includes Cheese Making Systems and Equipment (vats, curd tables, blockformers, cheese belts), Evaporators (6-75% total solids range), Drying Systems and Components (including proprietary L-TECH™ lactose and permeate drying, CrystaLac crystallizing evaporators, and Parvus™ pilot spray dryer), and Powder Handling Systems (pneumatic conveying, packaging, bulk bag handling, blending). These products work together as an integrated process line from milk receiving through whey processing and powder production. RELCO also provides Industrial Process Automation services and comprehensive Aftermarket Solutions including replacement parts and Bioscan non-dye inspection services. The company is organized under Kovalus Separation Solutions and serves the global dairy and food industry with engineering, manufacturing, installation, and commissioning capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RELCO: Primary operating brand for dairy and food processing technologies including cheese systems, evaporators, drying systems, and powder handling equipment.

Products and services

• Cheese Making Systems Complete cheese making equipment and systems including SVC cottage cheese vats, OO style vats, enclosed vats, curd tables, curd pick-up hoppers, blockformers, cheese belts, and coagulation detection systems for processing various cheese types. Designed for cheese and dairy plants.
• Evaporators Industrial evaporators for dairy processing ranging from 6-75% total solids, including standard evaporators (6-62%), Hi-Con high-solids evaporators (60-75%), sweetened condensed milk systems (up to 73%), and CrystaLac™ crystallizing evaporators for lactose and permeate concentration.
• Drying Systems Comprehensive drying solutions including L-TECH™ lactose and permeate drying systems, milk drying systems, protein drying systems, and timing belt drying systems for various dairy powder applications, including U-Tube, Tall Form Bustle, and Wide Body dryer configurations.
• Dryer Components Extensive range of dryer components including U-Tube Dryers, Tall Form Bustle Dryers, Wide Body Dryers, heat recovery systems (Air-Liquid-Air and Air to Air), explosion suppression and rupture panels, fire deluge, desiccators, dehumidifiers, direct and indirect gas burners, and traditional 3A USDA and CIP-Able baghouses.
• Powder Handling Systems Complete powder handling solutions including pneumatic conveying systems (dense phase pressure and vacuum), 25kg manual and automatic packaging systems, bulk bag fillers (with optional integrated palletizing), bulk bag unloaders, bag break stations, powder gassing, and powder blending equipment for dairy and food processors.
• Aftermarket Parts and Equipment Upgrades Replacement OEM and custom-fabricated parts, equipment upgrades, and discounted items for cheese and dairy processing systems manufactured by RELCO, available globally through dedicated North American and European parts and service contacts.
• Design, Engineering and Manufacturing Services Turnkey design, engineering, construction, and manufacturing services for custom dairy and food processing systems, delivered by RELCO's in-house engineering and production teams.
• Industrial Process Automation and Controls Industrial process automation and controls engineering services for dairy and food processing systems, providing integrated automation across RELCO's installed equipment base.
• Bioscan Non-Dye Inspection and Repair Services Non-dye based inspection and repair services for spray dryers, cyclones, bag filters, fluid beds, silos, process tanks, cheese vats, finishing tables, and ducting, delivered through a global partnership with Bioscan LTD using electronic defect detection.
• Parvus™ Pilot Spray Dryer (Nomad and Multi-Stage) Portable pilot-scale spray dryer available globally for rent or purchase as Parvus Nomad (single-stage, up to 10 kg water evaporation) or Parvus Multi-Stage (wide body, up to 25 kg water evaporation), enabling customers to conduct trials before committing to full-scale production.
• HORIZON® II Vat Trademarked cheese making vat system for advanced cheese processing with precise temperature and process control, deployed at facilities globally including Milky Mist's Cheddar plant.
• TRU-BLOCK™ Blockformer Trademarked customizable cheese blockformer with vacuum Air Management System, deep vacuum curd transfer, optimized air movement, and Auto Bagger integration for large-scale cheese production. Installed globally at Parkham Farms (UK), Queseria Dos Lagunas (Mexico), and Amalgamated Dairies (Canada).
• TRU-FINISH™ Curd Table Trademarked cheese curd finishing table with permanent drain screens, CIPable drain trough, and Rack & Pinion drive Sanitator for deeper curd depths, with encoder-based carriage position tracking and Locking Collar on Cluster Shaft. Installed at Valley Queen Cheese (12 units), Mullins Cheese, and Wisconsin Dairy State Cheese.
• OptiSet 4.1 Coagulation Detection System Trademarked real-time coagulation monitoring system for cheese making that enables precise control and adjustments to ensure uniform texture and optimal yield, deployed at Milky Mist's India Cheddar plant.
• L-TECH™ Lactose Drying System Trademarked and proprietary lactose drying system, including KELLER L-TECH technology acquired in 2000, recognized as the most efficient, low-cost process for producing high-quality edible lactose from whey processing.
• L-TECH™ Permeate Drying System Trademarked and patented (2005) dairy permeate drying system co-developed by RELCO for processing dairy permeate into powder form, deployed at Arla Foods Ingredients' Argentina plant.
• CrystaLac™ Crystallizing Evaporator Trademarked evaporator system with crystallization capability for lactose production, designed to meet Infant Formula Manufacturing (IFM) grade standards, deployed in lactose plants globally including Grupo Piracanjuba.
• Star Valve Sanitary Process Valve Sanitary process valve for cheese processing with polymer veins for positive seal, available in 10" and 12" diameter models, with a sealed shaft for blowing or vacuuming curd during cheese making.
• E-Z ACCESS® Deck Trademarked access deck system for dairy processing equipment providing ease of maintenance and inspection access for operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 dairy and food processing customers served globally since 1982
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Grupo PiracanjubacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 May 2025RELCO announced in May 2025 a major turnkey project with Grupo Piracanjuba, one of Brazil's most respected dairy producers, for a cutting-edge protein and lactose processing facility in São Jorge D'Oeste, Paraná State, Brazil. The facility includes a WPC plant (TVR evaporator, Bustle Dryer, CIP-enabled baghouse, powder handling) and an IFM-grade lactose plant (TVR evaporator, crystallizer, L-Tech drying technology). Co-located with Piracanjuba's upcoming cheese plant. Discussions began in 2019.
• Milky Mist Dairy Food Private LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024RELCO partnered with Milky Mist Dairy Food Private Limited in September 2024 to deliver India's largest Cheddar cheese plant. The project involves collaborative efforts between RELCO, RELCO Pacific Ltd, and Kovalus Separation Solutions Enterprise India Pvt Ltd. The facility will feature HORIZON® II vats, IDS CheddarMaster™ cheese belt, OptiSet 4.1 coagulation detection system, TRU-BLOCK® blockformers, UF plant, and comprehensive packaging line. Milky Mist processes ~1,000,000 liters of milk daily from over 60,000 farmers. Commercial production targeted ahead of Christmas 2025.
• Arla Foods IngredientscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 January 2024RELCO was awarded a critical role in Arla Foods Ingredients' facility upgrade in Argentina, providing a complete evaporation and drying process with new equipment. The plant processes non-caking permeate powder through MVR-TVR evaporation, crystallization, and a bustle dryer timing belt system. The design maximizes moisture removal while minimizing footprint and energy consumption. The project more than doubles Arla's permeate production capacity in Latin America.
• Kovalus Separation Solutions (formerly Koch Separation Solutions)coreOthers · 24 October 2023RELCO is now A Kovalus Company following Koch Separation Solutions' rebranding to Kovalus Separation Solutions in October 2023 after acquisition by Sun Capital Partners. Together, Kovalus and RELCO provide separation solutions for Dairy, Food, Beverage, Life Sciences, and Industrial Markets. Kovalus (founded 1963, headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts, >700 employees) provides membrane filtration, ion exchange, evaporators, dryers, and proprietary cheesemaking technologies.
• Bioscan LTDcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 April 2019RELCO and Bioscan LTD partnered globally in April 2019 to promote non-dye inspections and repairs for the food and beverage industry. The partnership combines Bioscan's electronic crack detection technology (eliminating dyes/chemicals in production zones) with RELCO's repair and fabrication expertise. Services cover spray dryers, cyclones, bag filters, fluid beds, silos, process tanks, cheese vats, finishing tables, and ducting. A gantry access system eliminates scaffolding requirements, reducing shutdown time. Both companies aim to be the global leader in non-dye inspections and repairs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GEA Group AG: World's largest supplier of food processing technology with a deep dairy equipment portfolio spanning separators, homogenizers, evaporators, dryers, and complete processing lines. Directly competes with RELCO in cheese making systems, evaporation, drying, and powder handling for the same global dairy customer base.
• Alfa Laval AB: Swedish multinational providing heat transfer, separation, and fluid handling technologies, with a dedicated food and dairy division offering evaporators, heat exchangers, and high-speed separators. Direct competitor in dairy evaporation and processing equipment.
• Bucher Industries AG: Swiss industrial group with Bucher Unipektin and Bucher Foodtech divisions supplying juice, dairy, and food processing equipment globally. Direct peer in cheese making systems and dairy processing capital equipment.
• SPX FLOW, Inc. Provider of engineered flow components, process equipment, and turnkey systems for food, dairy, beverage, and industrial markets. Overlaps with RELCO in dairy processing equipment, evaporation, and powder handling, serving similar food and beverage customers.
• Paul Mueller Company: US-based manufacturer of stainless steel processing equipment for dairy, food, and beverage industries, including vats, tanks, and processing systems. Comparable specialty industrial equipment peer of similar scale, serving overlapping dairy customers.
• Feldmeier Equipment, Inc. US manufacturer of stainless steel processing equipment, tanks, and sanitary systems for dairy, food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. Direct peer in dairy and food processing capital equipment of similar mid-market scale.
• Scherping Systems: US-based designer and manufacturer of cheese processing equipment including vats, curd handling systems, and finishing equipment. Direct specialist competitor in cheese making systems within the same North American market.
• Tetra Pak: Global leader in food processing and packaging, with extensive dairy processing equipment offerings including evaporation, drying, and powder handling. Direct competitor in turnkey dairy plant construction serving the same enterprise dairy customers worldwide.

Emerging players

• ProLeiT AG: German-headquartered provider of process control and automation systems (Plant iT) for the dairy, food, and beverage industries. Partial overlap with RELCO's industrial process automation offering rather than full equipment manufacturing.

Broad incumbents

• ITT Inc. Diversified industrial manufacturer of highly engineered components and customized technology for transportation, industrial, and energy markets, with flow control products touching food and dairy processing. Broader incumbent serving industrial processing with some dairy adjacency.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/relco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Relco