What DFT Technology does

DFT Technology GmbH is a German manufacturer of STOCK-brand batch-type food autoclaves and retort systems used for thermal sterilization of packaged foods, headquartered in Neumünster, Germany. Founded in 2000 by three former STOCK employees and subsequently acquiring the historic STOCK brand in 2008, the company operates from the original STOCK industrial site with more than a century of machine-building tradition. Its core products encompass full water immersion retorts (Automat/Rotomat), steam water spray retorts (Autovap/Rotovap), the configurable Multiprocess Rotomat MRX, oscillation retorts, the cost-optimized Basic Autoclave BAX shower series, and a Pilot Rotor R&D line for scientific and development work. Control and documentation are delivered through SIEMENS Touch-Panel TP1200 and S7 PLC systems paired with JUMO LOGOSCREEN nt paperless recorders and ELLAB ETI reference thermometers, validated against IFS and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 standards; ISO 9001:2015 certification has been held since 2017.

The company generates revenue across six streams: equipment sales (the dominant stream, ranging from small 2-cage units to large 10m+ industrial systems with various automation levels), aftermarket parts and consumables for own and competitor brands, validation and certification services, inspection and maintenance contracts, training and process advisory services, and system modernization and retrofit work (energy-saving modifications starting at €10,000). Pricing is custom and quote-based given the engineered-to-order nature of the systems. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales in Germany with an international agency network covering more than 20 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, supplemented by dedicated North American coverage through STOCK America; following ProMach's December 2025 acquisition, DFT also gains cross-selling synergies with Allpax, STOCK America, and Ferlo within ProMach's Systems and Process business unit.

DFT serves large-scale food processing manufacturers across seven primary verticals: seafood, baby food (HiPP, Nestlé, Alima Gerber), meat and sausage, ready-meals and soups (Hilcona), dairy and beverages (F&N Foods, Thai Dairy, Green Spot, DFA), vegetables and fruits, and pet food (Burns Pet Nutrition, Propesko, Pannon Baromfi). Customer outcomes include shelf-life extension through thermal sterilization at 105-130°C, regulatory compliance validation, energy and water consumption reductions of approximately 30% via half-water-immersion modifications, and 10-40% shorter process times via oscillation technology, supported by quantifiable savings in steam and water costs.

Name

DFT Technology

Legal name

DFT Technology GmbH

Website

https://www.dft-technology.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DFT Technology GmbH is a German manufacturer of STOCK-brand batch-type food autoclaves and retort systems for thermal sterilization of packaged foods, serving global food processors across baby food, dairy, seafood, pet food, ready-meals, meat, and beverage segments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Food Sterilization Equipment

NAICS

Food Product Machinery Manufacturing (333241), Packaging Machinery Manufacturing (333993)

SIC

Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Filling & Dosing Equipment (Liquid, Powder, Aseptic) (IMALAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tray Sealing & MAP (Modified Atmosphere Packaging) Equipment (IMAHAOAL), Bagging, Pouching & Sachet Packaging Equipment (IMAHAOAH)

Keywords

• Food autoclave manufacturing
• Thermal food sterilization
• Industrial retort systems
• Batch food processing equipment
• Sterilization machinery

Headquarters

HQ city

Neumünster

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Autoclave/Retort Equipment Sales: Sale of batch-type food retorts including full water immersion, steam spray, oscillation, and multipurpose models. Equipment ranges from small 2-cage units to large multi-cage systems with various automation levels. Includes rotary and static configurations.
2. Validation and Certification Services: Commissioning, validation, and certification services for sterilization systems ensuring regulatory compliance (IFS, FDA). Includes temperature distribution measurements, heat penetration testing, container pressure tests, and documentation.
3. Aftermarket Parts and Equipment: Spare parts, cage equipment, spacer mats, bottom plates, and accessories for own and competitor autoclave brands. Consumables including door seals and recorder pens.
4. Inspection and Maintenance Services: Preventive maintenance programs including 6-month inspections covering filters, vessels, seals, corrosion checks, tubing, rollers, valves, and calibration. Service contracts with spare parts discounts.
5. Training and Process Advisory Services: Training courses on microbiology and thermal processing fundamentals. Process advisory including recipe development, sensory evaluation, packaging development, and process optimization consulting.
6. System Modernization and Upgrades: Retrofitting services including half-water immersion mode conversion, automation upgrades, control system modernization, and energy efficiency improvements. Starting from €10,000 investment.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DFT Technology manufactures STOCK-brand batch-type autoclaves (retorts) for thermal sterilization of packaged food, including full water immersion, steam spray, oscillation and multipurpose processing systems. The company also delivers control and documentation systems, loading/unloading equipment, cages, accessories and energy-saving modifications, and supports customers with validation, process advisory, training, and inspection/maintenance services. Target customers are industrial food manufacturers worldwide producing canned, jarred, pouched and tray-packed products.

Product overview

DFT Technology offers a comprehensive portfolio of STOCK batch-type food retorts and sterilization solutions for the thermal processing of food products. The core product line centers on STOCK-brand autoclaves manufactured in Germany, including full water immersion retorts (Automat/Rotomat), steam water spray retorts (Autovap/Rotovap), multipurpose oscillating retorts, and shower-type units. The Multiprocess Rotomat MRX enables free selection of sterilization procedures (full-immersion, semi-immersion, spray, static, rotation) configurable per batch. Complementary offerings include S-Control documentation systems (SIEMENS/JUMO-based), loading/unloading equipment (from manual Packfix to fully automated systems), cage accessories, and energy-saving modifications (half-water-immersion, heat exchangers, cooling water recycling). The company also provides validation services, process advisory consulting, training, and inspection/maintenance. The Pilot Rotor R&D series serves scientific institutes and product development laboratories. A web-based Retort Generator tool assists customers in selecting appropriate autoclave configurations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STOCK: The historic brand acquired by dft technology in 2008, representing 75 years of autoclave and sterilization solutions for the food industry. Product lines include Rotomat, Automat, Autovap, Rotovap retorts and autoclaves.

Products and services

• Automat / Rotomat (Full Water Immersion Retort) Universal full water immersion retorts that submerge product containers in heated water under counterpressure with optimized water circulation, oxygen-free processing and optional end-over-end rotation. Used by dairy, baby food and convenience food manufacturers for batch thermal sterilization.
• Autovap / Rotovap (Steam Water Spray Retort) Steam water spray retorts using direct steam injection combined with fine water droplets for homogeneous heat transfer, available in static and rotary versions. Designed for minimal energy consumption, quick heating, uniform heat distribution and rapid cooling across diverse packaged foods.
• Multiprocess Rotomat MRX Retort series providing free selection of sterilization procedures (full-immersion, semi-immersion, spray, static, rotation) for each batch, configurable by content, packaging, safety, and consumption of energy, water and time. Targeted at food manufacturers running multiple products and packaging formats on the same line.
• Autovap Oscillation (Steam Water Spray Oscillation Retort) Steam water spray retorts that pivot product containers around the longitudinal axis in standard cages or stackable trays, accelerating heat transfer by 10-40% versus static processing and increasing plant capacity up to 40% with gentle heat treatment.
• Basic Autoclave BAX (Shower Type) Economically optimized shower-type autoclave with 100 m³/h circulation capacity and a 460-litre water reservoir, designed for products and packagings that can be sterilized in static mode with simplified installation and maintenance.
• Pilot Rotor (Research and Development Retort) R&D autoclave for scientific studies, process optimization and test production, performing all known heat sterilization methods in static or rotary (axial or end-over-end) modes. Indispensable for scientific institutes, food technology schools and development laboratories.
• Half-Water-Immersion System (Energy Saving Modification) Energy-saving modification for full-water-immersion retorts achieving approximately 30% savings in steam and water consumption, reducing batch times and improving product quality through intensive and even processing. Investment starts at €10,000 with payback typically within months.
• Heat Exchanger System

Quantifiable outcome

• 30% reduction in steam and water consumption with half-water immersion mode
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ProMachcoreOthers · 4 December 2025ProMach, a worldwide leader in processing and packaging machinery, acquired DFT Technology GmbH in December 2025. DFT becomes part of ProMach's Systems and Process business unit led by Group President Ryan McCart. The acquisition expands ProMach's capabilities in the retort and sterilization market, adding DFT's water immersion technology and STOCK brand to their portfolio alongside existing sterilization companies Allpax, Stock America, and Ferlo. DFT's owners Tim-Christian Schnack and Michael Timm remain with the company, with Schnack as General Manager reporting to Greg Jacob, SVP of Sterilization.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• GEA Group: German-listed global supplier of food processing equipment, including separators, homogenizers, and thermal treatment systems. Competes with DFT at the multi-line food plant level, though its retort share is narrower than its broader portfolio.
• JBT Corporation: Large US-listed provider of food processing and packaging solutions, including sterilization and thermal processing equipment. Broader portfolio than DFT but competes for the same food manufacturer capex budgets through its food tech segment.
• Tetra Pak: Global leader in dairy and beverage processing and packaging equipment, including thermal sterilization systems. Competes with DFT for dairy, beverage and ready-meal manufacturer capex with a much broader product portfolio.

Regional players

• Zacros (formerly Fujimori): Japanese flexible packaging and retort-pouch specialist with significant presence in Asian food sterilization markets. Comparable to DFT on pouch-based sterilization customers, but primarily competing in Asia rather than Europe/North America.

Direct peers

• Stock America: North American arm of the STOCK sterilization brand, now also within ProMach's Systems and Process unit. Directly comparable autoclave/retort portfolio for food processors in the US, Canada, Mexico and Latin America.
• Ferlo: Spanish autoclave manufacturer for the food industry, integrated into ProMach's sterilization portfolio. Overlaps with DFT on batch retort systems targeted at canned and pouched food processors in Europe.
• Allpax Products: US-based manufacturer of batch retorts and autoclaves for the food industry, also part of ProMach's sterilization portfolio alongside DFT/STOCK. Most directly comparable competitor and now sister brand; both target food manufacturers with batch thermal sterilization systems.
• Surdry: Spanish-headquartered manufacturer of autoclaves and batch retorts for canned and preserved foods, with strong presence in Europe and Latin America. Closest independent competitor to DFT outside the ProMach portfolio.

Emerging players

• OMVE Netherlands: Dutch manufacturer of pilot-scale and R&D food processing equipment including small-batch retorts. Comparable to DFT's Pilot Rotor R&D line, targeting food technology institutes, universities, and product development labs.
• Hiperbaric: Spanish specialist in high-pressure processing (HPP) equipment for food sterilization. Addresses the same customer use cases as DFT (shelf-stable and refrigerated packaged foods) via non-thermal technology, posing a long-term substitution threat.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

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 DFT Technology