Upscale oven maker expanding in Canada

July 8, 2014, Richmond Hill, ON – The Alstoft family of American-based
V-Tech Engineering/VenO America is growing its Canadian presence with a newly
opened manufacturing facility and a recent acquisition.

Left to right: Benjamin Alstoft, Filander Lima (Amada Canada sales representative), Chad Latvala, Franz Streiter and Bo Alstoft.

July 8, 2014, Richmond Hill, ON – The Alstoft family of American-based
V-Tech Engineering/VenO America is growing its Canadian presence with a newly
opened manufacturing facility and a recent acquisition. 

Bo Alstoft, patriarch of the upscale bakery equipment
company he started 20 years ago, struck up a conversation at this year’s Bakery
Showcase in Toronto that led to the purchase of AHBM Systems, an automation
and robotics equipment manufacturer owned by Paul Pink and operated out of
Waterloo, Ont. The technology will complement V-Tech’s existing product line of
ovens, conveyer systems and oven loading/unloading equipment. Alstoft has
changed the name of AHBM Systems to VenO Automation in order to better reflect
the core capabilities of the company. AHBM founder Paul Pink will continue to
serve as president of the newly named company.  

In early May, prior to the acquisition of AHBM, Alstoft formed
VenO Canada. The company moved into a 39,050-square-foot building in Richmond
Hill, Ont., on June 1. He enlisted
Canadian bakery industry veteran Franz Streiter to serve as CEO. His son
Benjamin, who is president of VenO America, is now vice-president of VenO
Canada. Alstoft, who has built his company up to a worldwide client base, is
visibly buzzing as he talks about his bigger footprint in the Canadian market.

“I am investing in Canada because I believe the future of my
business is here,” he says. “The last couple of years, I discovered the infrastructure,
skilled labour force, health care system, and quality of life here is the best
in North America. We’re going to continue to produce for the U.S. market in the
U.S., but now we will produce our tunnel ovens for the Canadian market at our
Richmond Hill facility.”

“Our family is so happy about our new presence in Canada,”
emphasizes his son. “All employees in our four manufacturing facilities across
the U.S. and Canada are excited about the future. Everybody is motivated. In
the end you know, it’s all about love and enjoying life. That is what my family
brings to the table.”

The new facility will create jobs and opportunities in the
bakery market, as the building will serve a number of purposes. A large test
bakery is being constructed in the east side of the building. People entering will
be able to see the action first-hand glancing through the windows. The two-level
site, formerly occupied by Tetra-Pak, has ready-made areas for reception,
presentation and meeting rooms, office space, fitness centre, and the extra
high vaulted ceilings and mass hydro hook up needed for manufacturing and
assembly space. Here, VenO Canada will continue V-Tech’s emphasis on customized
equipment, particularly with the tunnel ovens, because as the younger Alstoft
Benjamin notes: “No two factory layouts are the same.” 

The installation of a complete high capacity oven line at
Create A Treat in Brampton, Ont., was the first trigger in the series of events
that led the Alstoft family to Canada.