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Somat's history, how it all started...
Somat's history dates to the late 1940's when Kurt Wandel, a German immigrant farmer and inventor, developed a small pulping
unit that could be used by home gardeners to convert organic wastes (food scraps, leaves, grass clippings) into an instant mulch
or fertilizer. The same unit, called an AgroMat, was used to grind up waste paper in a water medium and turn this material into a
slurry that could be poured around plants, trees, etc. for use as a soil conditioner. Eventually, a dewatering system evolved to
complement the waste pulping concept. Wandel studied the needs of various markets and saw potential for his waste pulping
systems in both commercial and industrial applications.
In 1962, at the age of 75, Wandel sold his controlling interest in the company to a group of private investors. The name of the
company was then changed to Somat Corporation. In February 1998 Somat became a subsidiary of Hobart Company and our name
changed to Somat Company. Hobart at that time was an operating division under Premark International's Food Equipment Group, which
has since been acquired by Illinois Tool Works. Somat Company is a member of the Illinois Tool Works Food
Equipment Group - ITWFEG. Illinois Tool Works is a publicly held corporation that trades on the New York Stock Exchange, symbol ITW, with
annual sales of approximately $13 billion.
From small pulping units to commercial waste handling systems.
 Today Somat Company engineers and manufactures waste handling systems used throughout the world. The company pioneered systems
for pulping and dewatering foodservice wastes in schools, hospitals, casinos, colleges, employee cafeterias, cruise ships and other mass
feeding operations. Our dewatering presses are used in wastewater treatment plants, for sludge dewatering and thickening and for industrial
dewatering applications.
In the 1980's, the cruise ship industry was faced with tough environmental regulations to eliminate the dumping of waste at
sea. Somat's technology was ripe for this market, and we were able to develop our waste pulping systems to meet the unique requirements
of oceangoing vessels. Today over 80 of the world's cruise ships have a Somat Waste Handling System on board!
Over twenty (20) years ago Somat Company developed two small pulping systems for installation in the galleys of U.S. Naval Ships. Today, every
surface ship in the U.S. Naval Fleet is equipped with one or more of our units.
Our facility is located at 165 Independence Court, Lancaster, PA 17601 approximately 50 miles west of Philadelphia.
Somat Company has dedicated itself to being a key player in the world's waste reduction efforts. We welcome the opportunity to discuss
your waste reduction needs and desires. Contact us to get started.
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