What Nothum does

Nothum Food Processing Systems is a US-based, privately held manufacturer of industrial food processing equipment, founded in 1971 and headquartered in Springfield, Missouri. The company focuses exclusively on four core further-processing steps: predust, batter, breading, and frying, and offers a portfolio of proprietary systems including the SuperFlex multi-mode breader, BatterPro all-in-one batter and tempura machine, PankoPro specialty coater, VersaCoat flatbed breader, and ProTherm continuous fryer. Integrated support equipment (EzFlow oil filter, HydroFilter dust control, PivoFlex conveyor, AcuFeeder dry-ingredient dispenser) plus the HDX all-stainless-steel sub-brand and 54-Inch high-capacity line (up to 20,000 lbs/hour) allow Nothum to sell either individual machines or full integrated coating-and-frying lines.

The business serves large-scale industrial food processors in poultry, beef, pork, seafood, appetizers, vegetables, and alternative proteins, with a secondary food-service line (BB1 tabletop machine, ACS high-volume coating system) targeting commissaries, casinos, cruise lines, and institutional kitchens. Revenue is generated through one-time equipment sales at quote-based pricing tied to belt width and customization, supported by recurring aftermarket streams: a 3,000+ SKU parts catalog, ProTech'd multi-year preventative maintenance agreements, and Process Tech University workforce training. Go-to-market is sales-led with regional sales representatives across North America and a wholly-owned Dutch subsidiary (Nothum B.V., est. 2017) plus remote offices in Asia (2021) and the Middle East (2023); demonstrations at the Springfield Process Tech Center and major trade shows (Seafood Expo NA, IPPE) anchor the funnel.

Since April 18, 2024, Nothum has operated as a brand within Fortifi Food Processing Solutions, retaining family-led management (now in its fourth generation) and its Springfield identity, while consolidating into a 92,000 sq ft headquarters as of February 2026.

Name

Nothum

Legal name

Nothum Food Processing Systems

Website

https://nothum.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Nothum Food Processing Systems manufactures proprietary industrial equipment for predust, batter, breading, and frying, serving enterprise food processors in poultry, beef, seafood, alternative proteins, and institutional food service. The company sells integrated coating lines plus aftermarket parts, ProTech'd maintenance, and Process Tech University training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Food Processing Equipment

NAICS

Food Product Machinery Manufacturing (333241), Food Manufacturing (311), Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing (311412)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569)

akta.pro primary industry

Foodservice/Institutional Prepared Meat & Seafood Meals (Bulk/Portioned) (AFANAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refrigerated & Frozen Doughs and Batters Manufacturing (AFAKACAM), Ground & Formed Meat Products Manufacturing (Burgers, Sausages, Meatballs) (AFAKALAE)

Keywords

• Food processing equipment
• Industrial breading machines
• Batter coating systems
• Continuous frying equipment
• Food manufacturing machinery

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Food Processing Equipment Sales: Nothum manufactures and sells custom industrial food processing equipment including predusters, breading machines, batter systems, and fryers. Equipment is sold directly to food processing companies with pricing based on machine specifications and customization requirements.
2. Parts & Components: Aftermarket parts department offering over 3,000 different parts in inventory. Provides OEM-quality precision parts for processing lines including replacement belts, motors, reducers, and complete assemblies. Parts are sold individually or as part of preventative maintenance packages.
3. ProTech'd Maintenance Programs: Pre-scheduled maintenance programs combining parts and service in one agreement. Includes predetermined service dates, routine preventative maintenance, and equipment optimization. Offered as customizable plans for ongoing customer support.
4. Process Tech University Training: Training programs for customer workforce including maintenance training and production training. Enrolls up to six members of customer workforce in specialized seminars held at Nothum's Process Tech Center or on-site at customer facilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Nothum manufactures and sells industrial food processing equipment focused on four core processes—predust, batter, breading, and frying—for further processing lines serving poultry, beef, seafood, vegetable, appetizer, and alternative-protein producers, as well as food-service operators. The portfolio includes standalone machines (SuperFlex, PankoPro, VersaCoat, BatterPro, BatterKing, BatterApplicator, BatterMixer, ProTherm, BB1, ACS) and support equipment (EzFlow, HydroFilter, PivoFlex, AcuFeeder), sold individually or as integrated lines, with recurring revenue from aftermarket parts, ProTech'd preventative maintenance, and Process Tech University training.

Product overview

Nothum is a food processing equipment manufacturer specializing in a comprehensive portfolio of integrated systems for the further processing industry. The product suite centers on four core equipment categories: predust and breading (SuperFlex, PankoPro, VersaCoat), batter and tempura (BatterPro, BatterKing, BatterApplicator, BatterMixer), continuous frying (ProTherm), and support equipment (EzFlow, HydroFilter, PivoFlex, AcuFeeder). These systems are designed to work individually or as an integrated line, with complementary offerings including the HDX all-stainless steel sub-brand and the 54-Inch high-capacity line. The company also serves the food service segment with the BB1 and ACS tabletop/small-scale breading machines. Support services include ProTech'd preventative maintenance programs, Process Tech University training, and aftermarket parts. Founded in 1971 and acquired by Fortifi in 2024, Nothum operates from headquarters in Springfield, Missouri with a European office in the Netherlands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ProTech'd: Pre-scheduled preventative maintenance program encompassing parts and service for Nothum equipment.
• BatterPro
• SuperFlex
• VersaCoat
• PankoPro
• ProTherm
• HydroFilter
• EzFlow
• AcuFeeder
• PivoFlex
• BatterKing
• BatterApplicator
• BatterMixer
• Nothum BB1
• Nothum ACS

Products and services

• SuperFlex Versatile homestyle breading machine offering four modes—Drum, Flatbed, TripleFlip, and HandToss—in one unit, handling fine flour to coarse crumbs with low breading charge using incline chains instead of augers. Designed for industrial food processors needing flexible breading applications.
• PankoPro Specialty breading machine designed to handle delicate coatings such as fresh panko, coconut, and shoestring potatoes without product shearing. Aimed at food processors producing premium coated products.
• VersaCoat Flatbed breading machine with low-charge breading system for applying coatings from fine flours to coarse crumbs, featuring multiple roller options for precise taste, texture, and appearance. Built for industrial coating lines.
• BatterPro All-in-one batter and tempura machine integrating automated viscosity control, jacketed temperature regulation, gentle horizontal paddle mixing, and multiple application styles (waterfall and top submerge) into a single unit for industrial food processors.
• BatterKing Dedicated tempura system with batch processing, dual chilling zones, and automated viscosity control for 4–30 second batter viscosities, designed for industrial tempura production lines.
• BatterApplicator Batter and tempura application machine offering waterfall and top submerge methods with a built-in air knife for consistent coating and recipe-driven settings. Targets food processors needing flexible application options.
• BatterMixer Batter and tempura mixer available in horizontal (46 gallon) and vertical (50 gallon) configurations for gentle or heavy mixing applications across industrial food processing lines.
• ProTherm Continuous Fryer Continuous thermal fryer integrating product conveyor, heat exchanger, and sediment removal into a single unit, using one-third the oil of conventional fryers with a 5-hour oil turnover rate (versus a 7–12 hour industry standard). Available in 14, 24, 40, and 54 inch belt widths.
• EzFlow Low-pressure cooking oil filter for industrial fryers that filters down to one micron, reducing free fatty acids and removing sediments from cooking oil to extend oil life and improve product quality.
• HydroFilter Compact water-chambered dust control and air filtration system that removes airborne flour, dust, and particles while preserving product yields. Features automated clean-in-place cycles and touch-screen recipe control for industrial coating lines.
• PivoFlex Food-grade processing conveyor with pivot, pitch, and telescope capabilities for clean product transfers, sanitation access, and adjustable line spacing on industrial food processing lines.
• AcuFeeder Automatic dry ingredient feeder that holds 3–5 bags of breading and automatically dispenses flour, crumbs, or panko to connected Nothum machines, reducing manual handling on coating lines.
• Nothum BB1 Tabletop automated batter and breading machine designed for single-person operation in commercial kitchens, reducing breading waste by up to 40% and targeting food-service operators such as restaurants and commissaries.
• Nothum ACS (Automated Coating System) High-volume automated batter and breading system for food service operations including pilot test centers, commissaries, casinos, and cruise lines that require industrial-grade throughput in commercial kitchen environments.
• HDX Equipment Line All-stainless-steel construction versions of SuperFlex, BatterPro, and VersaCoat featuring zero blue plastics, automatic hood lifts, recipe-driven rollers, and double-door electrical cabinets for foreign material control in food processing environments.
• 54-Inch Production Line High-capacity production line covering all equipment categories from predusting to frying, achieving up to 20,000 pounds of product per hour. Features unibody hood design, expanded frying oil volume of approximately 1000 gallons, and dynamic floating tank for high-volume processors.
• ProTech'd Preventative Maintenance Program Pre-scheduled preventative maintenance program combining parts and service in one agreement, including predetermined service dates, routine preventative maintenance, and equipment optimization, offered as customizable recurring plans for Nothum equipment owners.
• Process Tech University Training Hands-on training programs for customer workforce including maintenance training and production training, enrolling up to six members of customer staff in specialized seminars held at Nothum's Process Tech Center or on-site at customer facilities.
• Aftermarket Parts Aftermarket parts offering over 3,000 different OEM-quality replacement parts in inventory for Nothum processing lines, including replacement belts, motors, reducers, and complete assemblies, available individually or as part of preventative maintenance packages.

Quantifiable outcome

• Breading loss reduction of up to 40%
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• BettcherminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNothum supplies Bettcher BB-1 and ACS breading machines to the food service industry. Nothum serves as a distribution channel for these commercial-grade batter and breading machines, integrating them into their food service equipment portfolio alongside their proprietary industrial equipment.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Heat and Control: Heat and Control manufactures coating, battering, breading, and frying equipment for snack food and protein processors globally. Directly comparable product overlap with Nothum's core predust/batter/bread/fry portfolio and similar industrial food processor customer base.
• Provisur Technologies: Provisur Technologies makes industrial food processing equipment including forming, coating, breading, frying, and chilling systems. Closely aligned with Nothum's specialization in further processing equipment for protein and appetizer manufacturers.
• FPS Food Process Solutions: FPS designs and manufactures industrial food processing equipment including coating, frying, and cooking systems with global service. Competes head-to-head with Nothum in coating/breading equipment for protein processors.
• Bettcher Industries: Bettcher Industries makes industrial food processing equipment including coating, portioning, and protein processing tools. Identified as a channel partner for Nothum BB-1 and ACS food service machines, indicating direct product overlap in coating equipment.

Broad incumbents

• Marel: Marel is a global leader in food processing equipment covering protein (poultry, meat, seafood) and further processing. Overlaps with Nothum in coating/breading/frying but offers a much broader line and global installed base.
• JBT Marel (formerly JBT Corporation): JBT Marel is a global food processing technology provider with significant presence in coating, frying, and protein processing equipment. Larger, broader portfolio makes it a competing bidder in many of the same line installations as Nothum.
• GEA Group: GEA is a global industrial equipment and process technology company serving food, dairy, and beverage processors. Competes with Nothum in frying and further processing systems for industrial customers.
• Middleby Corporation: Middleby is a large diversified commercial and industrial food equipment manufacturer with multiple brands serving processors and food service. Overlaps with Nothum in coating and frying categories via subsidiary brands.
• Bühler Group: Bühler is a global industrial plant and equipment manufacturer focused on food processing, with strength in coating, extrusion, and bulk food handling. Competes in industrial food processing equipment markets where Nothum also operates.
• Alfa Laval: Alfa Laval supplies heat transfer, separation, and fluid handling equipment used in industrial food processing including frying and cooking. Adjacent competitor in processing line components for protein and prepared food plants.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/nothumfoodprocessingsystems

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Nothum