Andrew (Andy) Caridis, founder of equipment supplier
Heat and Control, turned 100 years old on June 1. The company says he continues to be passionate about solving problems and finding better ways of doing things, and to this day is involved in R&D projects and engineering teams within the company.
He's known as a family-oriented business owner, creative problem solver and trailblazer in the industrial food production community. Andy began his career in engineering in the early 1950s, as companies started investing in new ideas and technologies around the automation of food production to make better products, increase volume, improve efficiencies, create new product categories and reach new markets.
After serving in World War II, he joined with some friends to create Heat and Control. He's credited with or has supervised more than 130 patents over the course of 70 years, including advances in the production of french fries, snack foods and prepared foods -- that according to President Tony Caridis, Andy's son.
Heat and Control remains a privately-owned company with a global team, 11 manufacturing facilities, 12 test centers and more than 30 offices globally.
