Whitley's Peanut Factory gets a helping hand

Loading player for https://video.vt.edu/media/1_p328rhyu...

impact 2:21 Whitley's Peanut Factory gets a helping hand

By:

Craig Newcomb

21 Feb 2025 584

When the famous Hokie-founded Virginia peanut company couldn’t keep up with demand for its tasty treats, a serendipitous encounter with two brothers from the College of Engineering, lead to an innovative partnership. Started by Marion Smith in 1986 and run by three generations of Hokies, Whitley’s peanuts needed to produce more of its customers’ holiday favorite – a hand-dipped chocolate peanut cluster – and hoped to automate the process without sacrificing the quality of the product. They commissioned INPRO Technologies – owned by Mike Couch and Eric Couch – to design a robotic arm capable of dipping the clusters while preserving the handcrafted touch. Within a year of meeting, the successful collaboration culminated in the installation of two 9-spooned robotic arms into Whitley’s factory. The new technologies have increased Whitley’s output to the point of needing to hire new employees and they have continued plans to work with INPRO. Several hundred pounds of chocolate later, the creative solution serves both family businesses the Virginia Tech way.

Academics

Campus Experience

Culture

Impact

Research

Global Impact