Toscano explained that the press contains all the components of tortilla-making on a mass-production scale: It mixes dough, then raises the dough in a proofer, bakes the clumps of dough to become the flat round shape of tortillas, runs the tortillas through a metal detector to ensure no slivers of machinery metal have gotten into them, exposes the tortillas to UV light to slow growth of any mold, then packages them in bags.

Don Julio will keep the older presses running and overall production will increase by 40 percent. Currently, six semis full of tortillas leave the headquarters each day with about 25,000 dozen tortillas per 48-foot trailer, Don Julio Vice President Greg Bingham said.

The new tortilla press is expected to be fired up in the next three to four weeks. Right now, Don Julio employees are working on hooking up power and ordering last-minute parts.

Don Julio contracted production of the tortilla chips to Manuel's Mexican-American Fine Foods Inc. in North Salt Lake. Clover Club potato chips are made in Hermiston, Ore. "People don't know who makes anything any more," Bingham said, but added that the company hopes to eventually bring Clover Club production back to Utah.

Don Petty, chief consultant at Line of Snacks, which helps companies improve quality, said that in the tortilla and potato chip industry, Frito-Lay is the giant and some of its production plants are outside of the United States, which gives it a cost-savings edge. Regional players in the snack foods industry have to compete with Frito-Lay. Petty was not surprised that sales are up for Don Julio in the economy, however.

"They'll basically provide a meal in a bag," he said.

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E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com