July 10, 2025 – Duravant's Food Sorting and Handling Group announces the appointment of Dean Ekkaia as Director of Product Management for optical sorting solutions. In this role, Ekkaia manages global activities that support development and sales of advanced sorting technologies that help food processors and packers optimize product quality, increase yield and maximize production efficiencies.
“For the first time, we're combining the optical sorting expertise of Key Technology, Multiscan and WECO under unified product management. This strategic consolidation allows us to accelerate innovation while fostering better collaboration between our teams, delivering superior equipment and aftermarket services that give our customers stronger competitive advantages,” said Jack Lee, Duravant Group President - Food Sorting and Handling. “Dean's proven track record of growing product lines and translating complex technology into practical customer-focused solutions makes him uniquely qualified to guide these industry-leading brands.”
Ekkaia brings more than 15 years of experience in product management and leadership for automation and food processing equipment. Most recently, he served as an independent consultant advising on industrial product management strategies including AI adoption. Prior to that, he spent nearly seven years at Bühler in product management leadership roles, including as Global Product Management Director. Ekkaia earned an MBA from the University of North Dakota and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota. He holds a certificate in product management from University of California, Berkeley and is a co-inventor on several patents.
“Optical sorters represent a unique data leverage point because they inspect every single object that passes through the line – every nut, every blueberry, every french fry. Food processors are seeking sorting solutions that go beyond basic defect and foreign material removal, including AI-driven capabilities and sophisticated data analytics that can achieve more traceability and reveal otherwise undetected patterns,” said Ekkaia. “Ultimately, what motivates me every day is knowing the products our sorters inspect go on to feed families just like mine. It's a privilege to help advance technologies that contribute to safer, better food for everyone."
About Duravant
Headquartered in Downers Grove, IL, Duravant is a global automation solutions and engineered equipment company with manufacturing, sales and service facilities throughout North America, South 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 protein processing, food sorting and handling, packaging and material handling sectors. Duravant’s market-leading brands are synonymous with innovation, durability and reliability. For more information, visit www.duravant.com.
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