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Incorporated in 1993, BLT is the brainchild of John and Kim Vessa, two veterans in the food industry.
Created to provide engineering and development support to manufacturers of retail products, processing
equipment and ingredients, Bottom Line Process Technologies, Inc. has been constantly involved in
innovative and invaluable advancements in bench top process technology for ingredient applications and
food product development and research. Recognized internationally as a leader in the field, we pride
ourselves on breaking the mold – literally. Our food product development equipment is unparalleled in
quality, efficiency, and economic designs. With unique creations such as our new Small Scale Cocoa
Bean Winnower and Single-Shot Servo Depositor, we provide affordable solutions for virtually all
ingredient and food product development needs.
At BLT, we are one of very few companies that offer small scale equipment for R&D. And we are one
of even fewer companies that specialize in lab-scale equipment. We pride ourselves on our ability to
offer customer-oriented, customizable sample making equipment. We have been in your shoes -
developing new products and processes, and taking new products from concept to commercialization.
We understand the challenges associated with prototype development and small scale processing, and
we use our expertise and skill to provide food product development machinery and services of the
highest caliber.
The founders of Bottom Line Process Technologies, Inc. are John Vessa and Kim Vessa.
JOHN VESSA, Chemical Engineer - John received his B.S. degree from Washington University, and
started his career as a Process Engineer at Mallinckrodt, Inc. He later joined The Sunmark Companies
(now Nestle USA) as Senior Technical Engineer. In addition to process and packaging engineering,
John was actively involved in new product start-ups. John spent three years with Buss America, Inc. as
Process Engineering Manager, where he set up and managed their food and polymer extrusion labs for
the US. Before starting Bottom Line, John was Plant and Engineering Manager at Van Melle USA (now
Perfetti/Van Melle). At Van Melle, John directed the engineering for a major plant expansion and was
responsible for managing a three-shift confectionery plant. John offers process engineering services,
custom process equipment design and fabrication for applications labs, and custom design/fabrication
of plant equipment interfaces.
KIM VESSA, Food Technologist - Kim holds a B.S. in Home Economics, Foods and Nutrition from Tennessee
Technological University. Kim started her career in Corporate New Products at The Sunmark Companies (now
Nestle USA) working on a variety of chocolate and non-chocolate confections. She spent eight years with Van
Melle USA (now Perfetti/Van Melle), the first three as Technical Services Manager and the last five as Vice
President of Manufacturing and Development. Kim is best known for her work in the formulation and plant start
up of Van Melle's popular brand, AirHeads. Since joining Bottom Line, Kim has worked on development projects
ranging from novelties for a toy company, to applying bio-technical ingredients to candy systems and health &
beauty aids, to a variety of sugar-free/fat-free candy and snack systems, and high protein instant beverages.
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