CAT Squared is excited to announce that we are joining the CTB, Inc. family of brands. CTB is a trusted global designer, manufacturer, and marketer of agricultural systems and solutions. CAT Squared is CTB’s first acquisition of a software provider. This purchase adds value to the CTB family by capitalizing on the synergy between CAT Squared's manufacturing execution software for the food industry and CTB’s hardware and equipment brands such as Cabinplant and Meyn.
 
Cabinplant designs and manufactures advanced equipment for difficult-to-handle convenience foods and food products such as seafood, fruits & vegetables, meat, poultry, and dairy. Meyn provides innovative poultry processing solutions from arrival systems to final packaging and shipment of food products.
 
"This new close relationship between CAT Squared and other CTB brands like Meyn and Cabinplant brings both short-term and long-term benefits," said CAT Squared CEO Vernon Smith. "We expect our customers to see benefits as we integrate our market-leading hardware and software solutions. Our longer-term vision is to offer our customers a world-class MES system fully integrated with their plant-floor hardware. These solutions will not only provide MES capabilities but make use of advanced planning, optimization, and machine learning technologies CAT Squared has already brought to market with our TacticalOps Solution."
 
CAT Squared's software modules provide customers access to real-time data collection on the plant floor, real-time reporting for production and inventory, and full traceability for dry goods, ingredients, WIP, and final products. The multi-language software can be integrated with existing plant machines and ERP systems.
 
"CAT Squared's product line supports CTB's mission of providing a single source of supply to its processing industry customers," said CTB's chairman and chief executive officer Victor A. Mancinelli. "The software offers potential efficiency improvements for a wide variety of processing equipment, including processing markets new to CTB such as pork and beef."
 
CAT Squared's founding partners, R. Vernon Smith, chief executive officer, and Stephanus C.P. Schoeman, chief technology officer, will both continue in their present roles. Operations will remain in their existing facilities, where approximately 45 people are employed.
 
"In discussions with our customers, we've emphasized the fact that this acquisition in no way impacts our working relationships," said Smith. "The only change our customers will see is an increase in our resources and capabilities thanks to the backing provided by CTB’s investment."
 
Smith and Schoeman remarked that they were looking forward to building on previous cooperation with CTB. According to Smith, "Stefan and I have enjoyed our recent collaborations with Meyn, and we look forward to the growth potential that our new closer association will afford.” Schoeman added, "CTB has a tremendous reputation for quality and innovation, and we are really pleased that CAT Squared has found a home with such a first-class company."
 
 
ABOUT CTB
CTB, Inc. is a leading global designer and maker of systems and solutions for storing, conveying, and preserving grain; producing poultry, pigs, and eggs; and processing poultry, fish, vegetables, and other foods. The company also produces food processing software solutions, stables, buildings, and products for various other applications. CTB’s strategy for growth includes best-cost manufacturing, a product-driven focus, expanded global physical presence, strategic acquisitions, and enhanced financial strength. The Berkshire Hathaway-owned company serves its customers through a worldwide distribution network.
 
 
 
ABOUT CABINPLANT
Cabinplant is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of processing equipment for vegetables and fish. In addition, Cabinplant offers one of the most advanced weighing and packing solutions for meat and convenience foods.
 
 
 
ABOUT MEYN
Meyn designs, manufactures, installs, and services equipment and machinery for poultry processing. Chickens and turkeys are safely harvested and effectively and efficiently processed in an animal-cognizant and humane way by using an automated process for preparing the meat for consumption.
 
Kathy Barbeire

Written by Kathy Barbeire

Kathy Barbeire is a seasoned professional with a strong track record in leveraging new technology, data analysis, and storytelling to drive organizational success. As the marketing manager at CAT Squared since 2015, Kathy stays updated on industry trends to ensure our products remain adaptable to evolving standards and prepares our customers for disruptive technologies. She actively participates in a blockchain learning group associated with Blockchain for Arkansas (BC4AR), an initiative led by Governor Asa Hutchinson. Kathy's expanding knowledge and expertise enable her to create informative content that educates our supply chain partners and helps them navigate upcoming transitions. Kathy's educational background includes graduating magna cum laude from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in professional and technical writing, along with double minors in sociology and information technology. She later completed the MBA program at UALR. Prior to joining CAT Squared, Kathy applied her passion for data-driven storytelling to assist nonprofits in defining goals, tracking program metrics, and engaging donors and community stakeholders. She served as a program manager at the Our House Homeless Shelter in Little Rock and later at The Salvation Army Central Arkansas Area Command.