Gainco, Inc., a U.S.-based manufacturer of weighing, packaging, food inspection and other yield enhancement systems for the meat, poultry and food processing industries, announces new managerial appointments at the company.

Stephen P. Abram has been named Regional Sales Manager – Southwest Region. In this position, Abram is responsible for managing customer relationships and developing new business with poultry, red meat and seafood processing facilities located in the states of Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Louisiana, plus California.

Abram brings more than 30 years of experience in food processing equipment to his new post.  He has strong capabilities in evaluating and improving manufacturing processes based on an in-depth knowledge of plant production dynamics – skills that will support customers in a variety of ways such as equipment ROI analysis and production planning.

Prior to joining Gainco, Abram held a variety of sales management and business development positions for several industry-leading equipment manufacturers. His early career was with Baader-Johnson Food Equipment where held positions of increasing responsibility, culminating as director of sales and marketing. Abram has also worked as a regional sales manager and business development specialist for Stork Food Systems, Conveyor Technology, Inc. and UltraSource.

Gainco also announces that Michael D. Wright, Jr. has been appointed Parts & Service Manager. In this position, Wright manages Gainco’s Blue Ribbon Service division and is responsible for the delivery of all parts and contracted service work to the company’s customer base. Wright also works closely with Gainco’s regional sales managers in supporting their key accounts on parts and service needs.

Wright has more than 20 years of experience in the food industry, primarily poultry growing and processing equipment. Before joining Gainco, he was employed by Jamesway Incubation Company as a regional sales manager. Wright also held managerial positions, including parts management, at several other food processing companies including Merial Select Labs, Coca-Cola, and Systeng Automation Systems. He holds a B.A. degree in business administration from West Georgia College in Carrolton, Ga.

Commenting on the two new managerial appointments at Gainco, Joe Cowman, General Manager, said, “Steve and Mike bring extensive experience and a solid record of accomplishment to their new positions, as well as to our company. Both of them have been successful in solving processing challenges for major processing firms in the food industries. Their consultative approach and knowledge of equipment, systems and components will help our customers improve their efficiencies, productivity and real-time information reporting capabilities.”

Since 1984, Gainco, Inc. has been a developer of online electronic weighing, sizing and distribution systems for the poultry, meat and seafood processing industries. The company’s comprehensive product line includes sizing and distribution systems, weigh/bagging and bulking systems, vertical form-fill-seal systems, x-ray and metal detectors for detection of foreign objects, as well as a complete range of scale equipment.
All Gainco systems are engineered for online, real-time information-gathering and reporting, thereby enhancing plants’ abilities to evaluate, refine and improve their processing practices.

Gainco serves the needs of domestic and international customers. Its systems and equipment are installed in major meat processing plants nationwide and outside the U.S. The company is a subsidiary of Bettcher Industries Inc. Web site address: www.gainco.com.