August 27, 2024 – Key Technology (Key), a member of Duravant’s Food Sorting and Handling Solutions group, announces the appointment of Ricardo Andrade to Director of Latin American Sales. Andrade is responsible for the strategic management and execution of sales activities that bring Key’s optical sorters and food handling systems, as well as food handling and processing solutions from sister-company PPM Technologies, to food processors across Central and South America.
“We’re at an exciting moment right now with the launch of new products including Key’s COMPASS® optical sorters and PPM fryers. As we expand the range of food processing solutions we offer, we also work on strengthening our ability to bring those solutions to more customers, including in the growing Latin American food processing markets,” said Jack Lee, Duravant Group President - Food Sorting and Handling Solutions. “Ricardo has a proven track record of fostering enduring client relationships and leading cross-functional teams that outperform in high-stake markets. His experience will be invaluable as we continue to expand our capabilities in the Latin American region.”
Andrade brings over 25 years of experience in the food processing and packaging industries with a track record of achieving outstanding customer satisfaction levels with clients in Latin America and Europe. Most recently, he was Sales Director and Key Account Manager for Tetra Pak, a leading global food processing and packaging equipment manufacturer. Andrade holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Universidade Federal De Minas Gerais and an MBA from Fundação Dom Cabral, both in Brazil. He is fluent in English, Portuguese and Spanish.
“I’m excited to join an industry leader with such a broad portfolio of integrated solutions. Key and PPM’s expansive customer base, which includes many of the top food processors in the Latin American region, speaks to the value of their innovative systems,” said Andrade. "I look forward to leveraging my deep knowledge of the Latin American market, alongside the expertise of the talented sales team here, to help even more customers improve the profitability of their operations."
About Key Technology, Inc.
Key Technology is a global leader in the design and manufacture of automation systems including optical sorters, conveyors and other processing equipment. Applying processing knowledge and application expertise, Key helps customers in the food processing and other industries improve quality, increase yield and reduce cost. Key manufactures its products in Walla Walla, Washington, USA; Redmond, Oregon, USA; and in Beusichem, the Netherlands. Key offers customer demonstration and testing services at five locations including Walla Walla and Beusichem as well as Hasselt, Belgium; Sacramento, California, USA; and Melbourne, Australia; and maintains a sales and service office in Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico. Key is a Duravant Company. For more information, visit www.key.net.
About Duravant
Headquartered in Downers Grove, IL, Duravant is a global engineered equipment company with manufacturing, sales and service facilities throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Through their portfolio of operating companies, Duravant delivers trusted end-to-end process solutions for customers and partners through engineering and integration expertise, project management and operational excellence. With worldwide sales distribution and service networks, they provide immediate and lifetime aftermarket support to all the markets they serve in the food processing, packaging and material handling sectors. Duravant’s market-leading brands are synonymous with innovation, durability and reliability. For more information, visit www.duravant.com.
Buffy Hagerman
Key Technology
150 Avery Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362 USA
Tel: +1 509 540 7415
bhagerman@key.net
www.key.net
Cat McBride
McBride Public Relations
527 27th Street
Richmond, CA 94804 USA
Tel: +1 650 384 5727
connect@mcbridepr.com
www.mcbridepr.com