P&L Specialties Acquires the Tom Beard Company

P&L Specialties, an original equipment manufacturer that is very well known for its winery crush pad equipment, has acquired the Tom Beard Company, an original equipment manufacturer making winery barrel washing systems.

The Tom Beard Company was founded in 1983 in Healdsburg California while P&L Specialties was founded in 1984 in Sebastopol California. Both companies have focused primarily on the wine industry. While the Tom Beard brand will continue with a separate identity, manufacturing, administration, and design will take place at a central facility in Santa Rosa, California.

The two companies will also share common executive management and manufacturing facilities. “We think that combining our 51 years of machinery design and fabrication experience under one roof will make both companies more innovative and robust. We are really exited to be working with Tom Beard and his team” P&L chief executive Ed Barr said.

“In exploring this opportunity it was of utmost importance to both Tom Beard and I to ensure this would benefit both companies and most importantly our customers,’ Barr said. “It became instantly obvious to both of us that we share common passions for machine innovation and design as well as a common ethic of fair dealings and good business.”

Barr said that he and Beard had discussed the deal over a period of five years. “This provided an opportunity for Tom to transition his business and to continue working on his terms,” Barr said. “It’s really the perfect setup.”

Barr said the company is currently focused on water conservation for barrel washing and on half-ton bin washing machines that save energy with heat-transfer devices. Because wastewater and fresh water are major issues for the industry the company is focused on making machines that recycle as much water as possible. Barr noted that the company is in research and development on a half-ton bin washing system that will recycle water, reduce energy use and increase safety. “We want to be able to come to market later this year with a bin rinsing system that will be affordable to medium sized wineries,” he said. “We are working on a prototype now.”

“The most important part is we get to serve the industry and our clients in the way that both companies have all along,” Barr said. “Their company has a lot of integrity and has stood behind its products.”

For more information, visit www.pnlspecialties.com