Food processing equipment maker Marlen International Inc., a subsidiary of Chicago-based Duravant LLC, has acquired Afoheat. Headquartered in Veurne, Belgium, Afoheat manufactures gas-powered heating, roasting, searing and grilling equipment solutions for the food industry.

Marlen expects Afoheat’s technologies for searing, char-marking and grilling of food products on an industrial scale to complement its existing thermal processing solutions, which include batch ovens, chillers and dehydrators.

Afoheat will continue to be based in its current manufacturing, sales and test facility in western Belgium, where it will serve as a Europe-based extension of Marlen’s manufacturing footprint and world-class solution center. The Afoheat product portfolio will be available to all Marlen customers and channel partners globally.