Urschel Laboratories, Inc., a global leader in industrial food cutting technology, has announced a strategic investment in KRONEN GmbH, becoming a minority stakeholder in the German food processing machinery manufacturer. As part of the agreement, Urschel will begin distributing KRONEN systems in the United States and Mexico starting July 2025, with Asia to follow in 2026.

The move allows Urschel to significantly broaden its equipment offering to food processors by integrating KRONEN’s portfolio of preparation, washing, drying, conveying, and packaging solutions—particularly for small- to medium-scale operations. The collaboration marks a key step in Urschel’s continued expansion strategy and offers clients in potato and fresh-cut processing access to comprehensive, end-to-end equipment lines.

Complementary Strengths, Shared Values

“Urschel is proud to announce our collaboration with KRONEN,” said Alan Major, Chief Sales Officer at Urschel. “This strategic opportunity expands and complements our current offerings and strengthens our market share in the U.S., Mexico, and parts of Asia. Our shared roots as family-run businesses and commitment to innovation make this an exciting growth venture.”

Though Urschel now holds a minority stake in KRONEN, both companies will remain independent in operations and branding. Urschel’s production and engineering base will continue at its 530,000-square-foot headquarters in Chesterton, Indiana, while KRONEN will maintain its sites in Kehl and Achern, Germany.

Sales Rollout and Market Focus

Beginning this summer, Urschel will act as the exclusive distributor of KRONEN equipment in the U.S. and Mexico, offering clients access to KRONEN systems alongside its own range of high-capacity industrial cutting machines. Sales coverage will expand to Asia in 2026 (excluding Vietnam). Urschel customers interested in KRONEN products can contact their regional Urschel office or visit urschel.com.

A Milestone for KRONEN GmbH

“The partnership is a milestone in KRONEN’s company history,” said Stephan Zillgith, Managing Partner of KRONEN GmbH. “With Urschel’s investment and increased order volume, we can expand our production capacity and accelerate new solution development—while remaining a future-ready employer and innovation hub.”

KRONEN specializes in equipment for fresh-cut produce, including salad, fruit, and vegetable lines, as well as systems for meat, fish, vegan products, and bakery items. Their solutions are known for hygienic design, energy efficiency, and modular scalability—qualities that are increasingly sought after by global processors focused on sustainable operations.

Complete Solutions for the Potato and Fresh-Cut Industries

With this partnership, Urschel now offers clients in key markets fully integrated solutions: from potato disinfection and peeling to cutting, mixing, drying, conveying, and final packaging. KRONEN’s smaller cutting units also enhance Urschel’s lineup by serving niche and mid-size processors who require flexibility and rapid changeovers.

For the potato industry, this collaboration provides a unique opportunity to streamline sourcing and service, bringing together Urschel’s industrial slicing, dicing, and strip-cutting systems with KRONEN’s washing, drying, and packaging equipment—delivered through a single supplier network.