Illinois Tool Works has expanded the cooking options available in its Vulcan line through the acquisition of certain assets from TEC.

Illinois Tool Works Food Equipment Group North America acquired several assets from the commercial business of TEC (Thermal Engineering Corporation) for use within the Vulcan line of cooking equipment. As part of the acquisition, Vulcan will own the exclusive rights to TEC's infrared cooking technology in the commercial cooking industry and a license to sell TEC's Searmaster Charbroiler product line.

TEC, founded in 1961 and based in Columbia, SC, will continue operations and will focus on their other lines of business which include residential bar-b-ques and industrial paint drying systems as well as research and development.

The infrared technology was developed by Bill Best, the founder of TEC.