KANSAS CITY, MO – 8 July 2005 – John D. Starr, CEO of Koch Equipment LLC, long time manufacturer and distributor of food packaging and processing equipment, announced today the receipt of a United States Patent covering their new MATRIXTM Crossweb® Labeler, which has been recognized by the patent office as an “Improved Labeling Device Having Enhanced Sanitary Design.” Designed to meet or exceed the AMI Sanitary Design Criteria, the MATRIXTM can be installed on virtually any form/fill/seal rollstock machine in use or in production today.

In a presentation before all associates, Starr recognized the two Koch Equipment engineering team members in whose name the patent was issued, Mr. Jim Harte, engineering manager and Mr. Scott Nixon, design engineer. “It is signal achievements such as these displayed by Jim and Scott that keep Koch at the forefront of the packaging equipment business” said Starr in his remarks to all company personnel. “It is Jim’s sixth patent and the second for Scott and we are grateful for their contributions,” Starr continued.

Koch Equipment has long been known for the success of its Crossweb® package and film labeler machines which are specified by more rollstock equipment manufacturers and end users than any other brand in North America. The MATRIXTM represents the next generation in terms of speed, sanitary design features and ease of inspection and maintenance. According to Roger Wakeman, product manager, “the MATRIX sets a new standard for cleanable machine design and offers almost all of its surfaces visible for inspection,” said Wakeman. “MATRIXTM has been designed and engineered to deliver label applicating speed increases up to 33% in the demanding environments of today’s packaging plants” said Wakeman.

Koch Equipment LLC is a full line manufacturer and distributor of processing and packaging equipment for the meat and poultry, seafood, cheese, produce and medical pharmaceutical industries. For over 120 years, Koch Equipment has been the name more packagers and processors trust for their equipment needs.

For more information, contact Koch Equipment LLC, 1414 West 29th Kansas City, MO 64108-3604, or by telephone at (800) 777-5624 or visit their website at kochequipment.com.