Federal Manufacturing, Milwaukee, a supplier of dairy filling equipment, said Otis Cobb, president and a principal of the company, retired on May 31.Frank Johanek will continue to lead Federal as vice president and general manager.

Cobb credits the durability and simple design of Federal’s filling machines with the company’s success – machines the dairy industry can depend upon.
“We have machines that are 50 years old that are still running, still being used every day,” Cobb said.

Cobb began his dairy foods career in 1958 with Sealtest Foods. He later worked for M.G. Newell Co., a firm that distributed dairy processing and filling machinery for a number of companies, including Federal. 

David Fee, who founded Federal Manufacturing in 1946, urged Cobb to join him. Cobb did, starting as sales manager in 1979. He was able to purchase stock in the company, becoming over time a principal owner. He was promoted to president of Federal in 1992.

Cobb partnered in Federal’s development of a new type of filling valve for lightweight plastic bottles that he cites as the company’s greatest innovation during his tenure. He oversaw Federal’s move into large models of fillers and capping systems, all still in use today. Federal expanded its export market under Cobb’s leadership, first to the UK and other commonwealth nations, and later to the Middle East. The company developed the ability to fill products aseptically, extending the shelf life of dairy products.

Tobacco road leads to dairy foods
Otis Cobb grew up on a tobacco farm in North Carolina, and graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in natural science and dairy and food manufacturing.

“My advisor said to me as long as boys and girls are growing up, falling in love, getting married, and having kids, there will always be work in the dairy and food industry,” Cobb said.

The population trend has changed since he received this advice in the 1950s, however, and Cobb cites the decline in population growth and per capita consumption of dairy products as one of the top challenges in dairy manufacturing today. Specialist products such as soymilk and almond milk also subtract from sales of basic dairy products.

Challenge leads to opportunities, however, and Cobb thinks development of new products, such as “grab and go” small sizes of flavored milk, will appeal to consumers and boost the dairy industry.

As for retirement, Cobb says “This will be the first time in 55 years that I will not be drawing a paycheck. It will take some getting used to. During my retirement I will still answer phone calls from my loyal customers if they need my help. They have been my partners for more than 35 years.”

This information was submitted to Dairy Foods on behalf of Federal.