About Us

Hermann Rudolf Stock founded STOCK America® in 1975, launching the company’s long-standing role as a supplier of batch retorts to food and beverage processors. He also owned Germany-based Hermann Stock Maschinenfabrik (HSM), where he invented the original STOCK rotary overpressure batch retort in 1951.

The initial focus in the 70’s and early 80’s was introducing the U.S. food industry to the technological advantages of full water immersion processing with end over end (E-O-E) rotation, otherwise known as the “Rotomat” batch retort. These types of retorts had found favor in European and Asian markets decades earlier due to the flexibility of the equipment, radical reductions in process times, and the increased quality of the end product. This was a novel approach compared to the simple steam retorts that dominated the U.S. market at that time.

STOCK America continued to grow and expand U.S. based competencies throughout the 1990’s and into the 21st century. In 2019 ProMach acquired STOCK America, strengthening its in-container sterilization capabilities. Supported by ProMach’s global network of more than 60 integrated packaging and processing companies, STOCK provides scalable food-processing and sterilization solutions, from standalone machines to fully integrated systems. STOCK also enhances retort safety and performance through advanced control technology. The award-winning ICON control system received FDA acceptance in 1994 and has continued to evolve, delivering greater safety, accuracy, efficiency, and functionality.

Explore our food-processing machinery and retort-room products to find the right solution for your operation.