ABOUT US

photoaboutFounded in 1969, Process Engineering & Fabrication, Inc. has a long-standing reputation of meeting and exceeding customer needs. Located in a 13,000 square foot facility which includes a full machine and metal fabrication shop with precision tooling, we are nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains outside of Charlottesville, VA.

We have a long history of meeting customer demands with spiral freezers and custom spiral solutions to reduce labor and alleviate electrical and material handling needs. Charley Marckel started the company in 1969 and built his first spirals in the 1970’s under a license from Ashworth Brothers. Many of these spirals are still in use today.

Over the years Process Engineering & Fabrication has been a market leader in compact spiral freezers for the seafood industry with the Mini-Spiral and the Super-Mini.

Our commitment to quality, customer design, and lean manufacturing continues today as we produce cost-effective solutions for the many industries we serve. Process Engineering & Fabrication is a private, veteran owned business that contributes to the local community with support for the arts and for children’s programs throughout the Charlottesville area.


LEADERSHIP TEAM

  • BOB AMACKER – CEO

    Bob’s engineering background began with a stint in the U.S. Naval Nuclear program and continued with many years as a process engineer for some of the world’s largest companies. His unique background in lean manufacturing and refrigeration enables him to help customers sort through their various processing needs. Bob later returned to Central Virginia where he grew up and attended the University of Virginia, in order to go to graduate school at the McIntire School of Commerce at UVa. He now enjoys his time away from work canoeing and fishing in local streams and rivers.

  • JIMMY SOKORA – SALES MANAGER

    Jimmy grew up in Stuttgart, Arkansas and studied Agricultural Economics at the University of Arkansas. After 25 fruitful years of management and sales experience in various industries, Jimmy has joined us to become an integral part of the Process Engineering team. His demeanor and insight make him particularly valuable as the Sales Manager, and customers have come to expect the honesty and diligence that have long been at the heart of Jimmy’s sales reputation. Depending upon the season, you can usually find him on the hunt, on his boat, or on the slopes.

  • CHARLEY MARCKEL – CHIEF FREEZING OFFICER

    Mr. Marckel started the business and he is still a valuable
  resource when there is no substitute for his 40 years of experience with
 spirals.  He stays busy building various projects at home when he is not 
acting as a consultant for Process Engineering and Fabrication.

  • BART SHELLABARGER – PRESIDENT

    Bart comes to Process Engineering after a distinguished career at Cambridge International where he focused on sales and the processing areas of manufacturing facilities. Bart has 22 years of experience providing custom solutions to challenging opportunities for many industrial clients. Bart has traveled to every country in Asia and has much experience working internationally.