GREENFIELD — Whether you’re working at a construction site in Greenfield or you’re an astronaut at the International Space Station, if you’ve sprayed something, you’ve probably come across a nozzle made by BETE, now in its 75th year of operation.
BETE Fog Nozzle LLC, now an internationally renowned spray nozzle company, first launched on Wells Street in 1950 after its founder John Bete invented the spiral nozzle, capable of producing fine liquid droplets at a low pressure. The business remained in the Bete family for 74 years before it was sold to EXAIR, a manufacturer of compressed air products, in 2024.
“Our nozzles are used for construction, fire suppression — really any industry you can think of, we have nozzles in. We have nozzles in the International Space Station. You don’t really think of nozzles really as its own industry, per se, because it’s a part of everything,” Chief Financial Officer Lee Skiffington said. “We do a lot in the oil and gas, in the large smokestacks and the refineries, and a lot of what we do is part of larger projects, and we’re such a tiny, tiny part of those projects, but for us, it’s huge.”
Now located on 50 Greenfield St., Skiffington said the company still manufactures some of its spray nozzles using the same cast and mold technology it did in 1950. Although the business expanded, opening two locations in Germany, Skiffington added that the company takes pride in its ability to remain in Greenfield.
Although Skiffington described the nozzle industry as being “mature,” explaining that fog nozzles and spray systems have been used for decades across a multitude of industries, he said BETE has recently been working to expand into the food and beverage industry, too. One of the company’s 2019 nozzle models is being used by Smucker’s for its Uncrustables sandwich line.
“We’ve had some good success with Smucker’s. We have our nozzles spray on their Uncrustables line, spraying peanut butter oil,” Skiffington said. “The mission of BETE is to be the most trusted partner in spray technology and we really take that to heart. Customers return to us because they trust that we will do what we say and that we can deliver on time and get them what they’re needing. … People call us when they don’t know what they need and usually we help them determine what the right solution is for them. We’re not the biggest, we’re not the cheapest, but we are the most trusted.”
On Sept. 6, BETE Fog Nozzle held a “carnival-style” celebration in recognition of the company’s 75th anniversary, which featured activities for employees and their families, along with an appearance by former owner David Bete and a barbecue.
Skiffington explained that throughout the business’ history, loyalty to its customers and employees has been crucial. He said when the pandemic brought challenges to businesses across the country, BETE’s mission was to retain as many of its employees as possible.
“We want to be an employer of choice in the area, a place where people want to come and work. We want to be a thoughtful employer that puts employees first. … The COVID pandemic was a great example of that. We did everything we could to make sure we maintained as many employees as possible, while also keeping people safe. We sent people home and paid them while they were not working,” he said. “Profitability was not the main driver, but being a good citizen of the community, providing good-paying jobs — those were really the main drivers from the Bete family.”
