Gusmer Enterprises, Inc.
| Company type | Privately Held |
|---|---|
| Industry | Beverage, Industrial, Edible Oil, Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology |
| Founded | 1918 |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Key people |
|
| Products | Filtration, Winemaking, Brewing Equipment and Consumables, Pharmaceutical Consumables, Industrial Products |
Number of employees | 250+ |
| Website | www.gusmerenterprises.com |
Gusmer Enterprises, Inc. began operations in 1918 with a focus on the brewing industry and has since expanded its product range to serve winemaking, brewing, edible oil processing, and pharmaceutical markets. The company enhances its portfolio and broadens its market presence through strategic alliances with international leaders such as Millipore Sigma, BASF, and Chr. Hansen. Its headquarters are located in Mountainside, New Jersey, with manufacturing centers in Fresno, California and Waupaca, Wisconsin. Additionally, Gusmer provides analytical services from its Napa, California facility and maintains a retail outlet in Windsor, California.
Formation
Established by Aage Gusmer in 1918, the company initially focused on supplying advanced tank coatings to breweries throughout the Americas. Over the years, Gusmer broadened its scope to include winemaking, pharmaceuticals, edible oils, and industrial applications through a combination of proprietary production and collaborative partnerships. Now led by the third generation of the founding family, the business continues to uphold its entrepreneurial heritage.
Manufacturing
Gusmer operates manufacturing plants in Fresno, California—where it produces depth filtration products, oak alternatives for aging, cellulose-based filter aids, and fermentation nutrients—and in Waupaca, Wisconsin—where it specializes in depth filtration media for pharmaceuticals, fryer oil filtration products, laboratory animal bedding materials, and other specialized items. Recent investments at the Waupaca site have expanded pharmaceutical product capacity and enhanced molding capabilities. The Waupaca facility was recognized as the largest large-scale business in the city in 2010 and received a state grant in 2011, reflecting Gusmer’s dedication to growth and operational quality. Both manufacturing locations achieved ISO 9001 certification in 1997; additionally, Fresno includes GMP-compliant production areas tailored for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Manufactured Products
- MicroEssentials – Nutrients for fermentation
- Oak-Mor and Oak Advantage – Toasted alternatives to traditional oak barrels
- Cellupore and Cellu-Stack – Depth filtration products based on cellulose
- Carbac – Carbon-impregnated filtration media
- Cellu-Flo – Cellulose powder used as filtration aids
- Additional specialty items produced under brands other than Gusmer include fryer oil filters, laboratory animal bedding, absorbent pads, and filters meeting pharmaceutical-grade standards
Partnerships
The expansion of Gusmer’s business is fueled by strategic alliances that capitalize on its expertise in beverage applications. Among its principal partners are BASF Chemicals, Chr. Hansen specializing in yeast and bacteria, Millipore Sigma providing filtration and microbial monitoring solutions, and Foss offering analytical instrumentation. Additionally, Gusmer produces products tailored for the primary markets of several of its collaborators.
Collaborative Products
- Aber – Inline yeast monitoring systems
- AB Vickers – Antifoams and fining agents
- Arobois – Oak chips sourced from France
- BASF – Agents for fining
- Bioseutica – Lysozyme production
- Bucher Vaslin – Cross-flow filtration systems for wine filtration
- Chr. Hansen – Yeast and bacterial cultures
- D.D. Williamson – Caramel coloring agents
- Esau & Hueber – Technologies for brewhouse operations and yeast management
- FOSS – Equipment for winemaking analysis
- Funke Gerber – Analytical devices for beer production
- Hamilton – Optical dissolved oxygen measurement instruments
- Millipore Sigma – Cartridge filtration and microbial monitoring solutions
- Nalco – Specialized colloidal silica formulations
- Pacific Ozone – Ozone generation equipment
- Perlick – Valves and fittings manufacturing
- Ponndorf – Grain removal technology
- PQ Corporation – Silica gel products
- Renaissance Yeast – Yeast strains
- Zahm & Nagel – Gas measurement devices
Consultative Approach
Gusmer’s business model centers on a consultative framework, offering expertise in applications development, technical assistance, and problem-solving to optimize client processes. The company has contributed industry reference materials, collaborated with academic institutions like U.C. Davis and CSU Fresno, organized educational seminars, and actively engages in industry events such as the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium. Their guiding motto, "Service with Knowledge," embodies this dedication.
Memberships held by Gusmer include prominent industry organizations such as the American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV), Master Brewers Association of the Americas (MBAA), Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association, California Olive Oil Council, Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association, and The Wine Institute.
This consultative philosophy also extends to partnerships by supporting regulatory processes including TTB certification for new product introductions and certifying repair technicians. Gusmer’s analytical laboratory in Napa provides extensive consulting and laboratory analysis services tailored to the wine sector.
Services
- Analytical testing services aimed at quality assurance and aiding product development