Innovative Engineering
Solutions to Improve Operations
NuTrend Enterprises relies on its exceptional team and leadership to develop effective solutions to serve the wine industry and much more, helping clients embrace efficiency.
NuTrend’s Mission
NuTrend Enterprises is an engineering, consulting, and manufacturing company that supports the wine and sparkling wine industries. Nearly five decades ago, we innovated and revolutionized the wine industry and several other marketplaces by designing and manufacturing the Riddling Machine (VLM), and continue to carry on the tradition of effective and efficient solutions to this day.
We fabricate stainless steel tanks and custom winery innovations, mixers, riddlers, and even earthquake safety systems to address local needs and worldwide demands. We take pride in bringing the best solutions together to meet your company’s innovation needs.
Our History
Our Founder
The Story of our founder begins in 1958, when a 19-year-old John Kalua was hired to work for the Knipschild Dehydration Company. There, he learned different trades such as designing automation equipment and much more. It didn’t take long before he was running the company for its owner, Mr. Knipschild, supervising up to 63 employees during his 12-year tenure at the company.
Innovative Roots
The firm was mainly involved in building winery equipment, such as gondolas, stainless steel tanks, crushers, and hoppers, but it also developed steel framing for major hospitals and churches. At the request of a customer, John Kalua designed, manufactured, and installed a 120-foot bell tower, but that was not the end of his innovative capacity. During the late 1970s, he designed and patented what is now known in the Champagne industry as the Riddling Machine (VLM) for Domaine Chandon. Mr. Knipschild and John Kalua then formed a partnership called K&K Metal Construction at St. Helena, California. The business existed there until 1975, when John Kalua became the sole owner and relocated the company to Napa, California.
New Beginnings
To take his company further, John Kalua purchased a metal fabrication shop in Lakeport, California, where the company continued its manufacturing and development for 12 years. It developed products such as mold-injected plastic strong-backs for LED billboards, and fiberglass pontoons for houseboats, among other amazing inventions.
NuTrend Enterprises Emerges
This mechanical expertise and inventive capacity eventually led him to found NuTrend Enterprises. Among his other inventions is the Highway Litter Bag Retriever Truck, which he designed with UC Davis of California, an invention years before its time. NuTrend Enterprises has over 50 years of experience with projects around the globe, including the United States, Australia, the Philippines, and China. The manufacturing and development of specialized equipment for innovative projects is still the focus today. In 2025, NuTrend Enterprises is emerging, with new technology, as a leader in its trade.
Company Developments
Retorts, a mercury
recovery oven for chemical
plants for Bechtel Steel
Large, fiberglass
compound, curved projection
screen, and fiberglass
pontoons
Mold-injected, plastic
strong-backs for LED
billboards
Riddling Machine (VLM)
Throughout our company history, we have had the honor of inventing and developing many efficient and automated solutions for a number of clients. With a strong commitment to innovation, we still break the mold today and develop effective solutions.
Patents
NuTrend Enterprises has a number of patents under its belt.
“Safety Lock” Hook, tested by Bechtel Steel engineers in San Francisco
“Highway Litter Bag Retriever” for U.C. Davis
A patent pending on “Plastic Cages”
A patent pending on “Oval-Square Tanks”
A patent pending on “5 Star Seismic Safe Guard System” securing Wine Barrels to Rack
A patent pending on “Bio Fuel Technology Process System”
A patent pending on “Smart Green Case,” a reusable, collapsible box for shipping
A patent pending on “Smart Cool Box,” a reusable cooler box for shipping wine bottles and other goods as well.
A patent pending on the "Fire Barricade system"
Current Projects
client testimonials
Lilly
“Working with NuTrend has been a fantastic experience. They helped to create an efficient solution that makes my winery more money than ever.”
Angelina
“At first, I was skeptical about working with NuTrend, but John’s experience and eye for detail made the whole experience worth it. His inventions and tweaks made our operations run smoother than ever.”
Lilly
“Working with NuTrend has been a fantastic experience. They helped to create an efficient solution that makes my winery more money than ever.”
Angelina
“At first, I was skeptical about working with NuTrend, but John’s experience and eye for detail made the whole experience worth it. His inventions and tweaks made our operations run smoother than ever.”