Industries · Central Valley, California

Food Processing Equipment Machining and Fabrication in California

C&W Manufacturing machines and fabricates parts for food, dairy, nut and beverage processing equipment from Turlock, in the middle of California's Central Valley processing corridor. Stainless shafts, frames, brackets and fittings in 304 and 316; wear parts, guides and rollers in FDA-compliant and metal-detectable UHMW and Delrin; TIG and orbital welded stainless assemblies; and replacement parts reverse-engineered from the worn original when the OEM drawing no longer exists. Short runs and quick turnarounds are the normal work here. AS9100D quality system, established 1997.

304 & 316 StainlessFDA-Compliant UHMW & DelrinDetectable PlasticsTIG & Orbital WeldingReverse EngineeringSince 1997 in Turlock

Capabilities at a glance

What a plant engineer or maintenance manager needs to know first. Everything below is repeated in more depth on our services and about pages and documented on the certifications page.

  1. Materials304 and 316 stainless steel for product-contact and washdown parts; 303 for machinability where contact is not an issue; FDA-compliant virgin UHMW and Delrin, plus metal- and x-ray-detectable grades (TIVAR VMX, Delrin FG500MXD) for product-zone wear parts; 6061 aluminum and mild steel for frames and guards
  2. MachiningFive CNC mills (3, 4 and 5-axis, 50 in X travel), four CNC lathes including dual-turret, manual turning to 24 in diameter × 60 in for rollers, shafts and large rings
  3. FabricationStainless, aluminum and steel weldments; TIG (GTAW), MIG, stick and orbital fusion welding chosen for the joint; frames, guards, chutes, hoppers and brackets
  4. Typical partsConveyor shafts and rollers, sprockets and hubs, wear strips and guides, bushings and bearings in Delrin or UHMW, sanitary brackets and mounts, pump and valve components, replacement parts for discontinued equipment
  5. DesignSolidWorks mechanical design and reverse engineering from a worn sample; DFM review so the replacement lasts longer than the original
  6. QualityAS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 certified quality system; CMM inspection; material certs on request
  7. Location351 N. Walnut Rd. STE 16, Turlock, California, within an hour of the Valley's dairy, poultry, nut and tomato processors; shipping nationwide

Food-plant work, done right

Stainless that survives washdown

316 where chlorides and cleaning chemicals attack 304, 304 where they do not, 303 only away from product contact. Our stainless grades guide explains the choice with the numbers.

Detectable plastics in the product zone

Broken plastic that a metal detector or x-ray cannot see becomes a recall. We machine TIVAR VMX and Delrin FG500MXD detectable grades to the same tolerances as virgin stock; see UHMW vs Delrin for which one fits.

Downtime parts, fast

A broken shaft or stripped sprocket stops the line. Bring the worn part; we measure it, model it in SolidWorks, and machine the replacement, often improving the material while we are at it.

Sanitary welding

TIG and orbital fusion welds on stainless tube and frames, with the smooth, cleanable joints wet processing demands.

Large turning

Rollers, drums and rings to 24 inches in diameter and 60 inches long on the manual lathes, sizes most job shops send out.

OEM production

Repeat lots of machined components for equipment builders, with the AS9100D documentation discipline aerospace customers require applied to food machinery.

Frequently asked questions

Which stainless grade should food-contact parts use?

304 is the workhorse for most food-contact and washdown parts. 316 adds molybdenum for resistance to chlorides, brines and aggressive cleaning chemicals, so it is the choice for dairy, brine and sanitizer-heavy environments. 303 machines more easily but its sulfur content reduces corrosion resistance, so it belongs away from product contact. Our stainless guide compares them in detail.

What are metal-detectable plastics and when do I need them?

Detectable grades of UHMW and Delrin carry an additive that lets inline metal detectors and x-ray systems find broken fragments before contaminated product leaves the line. Use them for any plastic wear part in the product zone: guides, wear strips, bushings, scraper blades, star wheels. TIVAR VMX and Delrin FG500MXD are the grades we machine most.

Can you make a replacement part without a drawing?

Yes. Bring or ship the worn or broken part; we measure it, allow for wear, model it in SolidWorks and machine it. We will suggest a better material where the original failed early, for example detectable Delrin in place of an unmarked plastic, or 316 in place of 304 that pitted.

How fast can you turn a downtime part?

Short runs and emergency parts are normal work for us. Tell us the line is down when you call and we will give you a realistic date; simple turned and milled parts in stock materials are often a matter of days.

Do you fabricate stainless frames and guards?

Yes. Stainless, aluminum and mild steel weldments with TIG, MIG, stick and orbital fusion welding chosen to suit the material and the joint, from small brackets to frames, chutes and hoppers.

Where are you and who do you serve?

C&W Manufacturing is in Turlock, California, in the Central Valley, within an hour of the region's dairy, poultry, nut and tomato processing plants. We also serve equipment OEMs nationwide and ship across the United States.

Plastics question? Start with UHMW vs Delrin. Stainless? 303 vs 304 vs 316 vs 17-4 PH.

Line down, or planning a build?

Send a drawing, a photo of the broken part, or the model. We respond within one business day and will tell you what material we would use and why.