When it comes to food manufacturing, sanitation isn’t optional — it’s everything. At Corenco, we design size reduction equipment with one goal in mind: make it easy to use and clean — every single time.
To explore how that works in real production settings, we sat down with Ken Blackwell, Plant Engineer at Sonoma Specialty Foods — a long-time Corenco partner and an expert in culinary manufacturing.
Here’s what he shared about the experience, efficiency, and sanitation reliability of using Corenco machines every day.
What It’s Like on the Production Floor
Ken’s team processes large volumes of ingredients like garlic, onions, and vegetables for soups and sauces. They rely on Corenco’s M15 10HP size reduction unit for high-throughput performance, and — importantly — for fast and thorough cleaning and sanitation.
“In terms of breakdown, just a couple minutes to expose all the parts. No tools. Screens come out. Everything opens up.”
Whether cleaning in place or running parts through an industrial dishwasher, their process is straightforward, repeatable, and aligned with food safety standards — thanks to NEMA 4X-rated, washdown-ready design.
Real Culinary Training Meets Real Engineering
Sonoma Specialty Foods is staffed by chefs — and it shows. With culinary degrees and deep production knowledge, the team understands both the science and the art of flavor preparation. Their expectations for equipment are high — and Corenco meets them.
“We run garlic at 205°F all day long with no overheating. The machine holds up beautifully.”
They also tweak voltage to optimize motor performance for torque and efficiency — a sign of engineering fluency and process control.
20+ Years of Trusted Performance
In over two decades of using Corenco machines, Ken’s team has seen minimal issues and zero major failures. That kind of long-term reliability isn’t just anecdotal — it’s earned authority in the field of food equipment manufacturing.
“In 20 years, we’ve had not even a handful of problems. That’s why I’m sitting here today.”
When issues do arise, he knows who to call — and gets immediate support.
Designed for Safety, Backed by Support
Corenco’s equipment is built for total transparency and control. With easy visual access to all parts, defects or contamination risks are immediately visible and fixable.
“If there’s ever a nick or a thing, we see it and fix it right then and there.”
That’s not just good practice — it’s essential for compliance, safety, and consumer confidence.
Garlic in, Garlic Out — With Precision
Using a quarter-inch shredder screen, peeled garlic cloves are processed at high speeds with virtually unlimited throughput, thanks to the strength of the M15 system.
The key? Metering the product properly and respecting the process:
“How you meter product in defines how clean a product you get out. We can’t just jam 250 pounds in at once. That’s part of the recipe.”
Clean Design Is Smart Design
At Corenco, we don’t just build equipment — we build tools for safe, scalable food production. Sonoma Specialty Foods’ success is a powerful example of how cleanability, durability, and professional support come together to fuel real results.
📞 Call us at: 1-888-267-3626
🌐 Visit our Testing Page: Corenco Product Testing
📧 Email: neil@corenco.biz
📱 Call or text Neil Gorsuch at: 707-921-8182