Thomas Madsen: Academy of Distinguished Engineers - 1999

Tom Madsen is President and CEO of Key Technology, Inc., a company that is a world leader in the manufacture of food processing machines. A native of Portland, Oregon, he graduated from OSU Mechanical Engineering in 1969. He was one of the first to realize the potential of high-tech cameras, first invented for the space program, in the food processing industry. Key Technology's image processing software coupled with high-powered cameras that can detect the smallest of blemishes are at the heart of his equipment. Today, systems developed at Key Technology are the industry standard. In the processing of french fries, Mr. Madsen's equipment has over 90 percent of the world market.