Powering up a fully automated bacon line

Rockwell Automation has been selected by Middleby Food Processing to help develop what is claimed to be the food industry’s first fully automated bacon production line.

Headquartered in Elgin, Illinois, Middleby Food Processing needed a scalable solution to support customers facing rising labour costs, space constraints and stricter sustainability goals.

Mark Salman, president, Middleby Food Processing, said: “We needed long-term flexibility and interoperability across machines. Rockwell delivered that, along with robust engineering support and best-in-class programming practices.”

Rockwell’s solution includes FactoryTalk Optix, which standardises operator interfaces and application code libraries, such as Machine Builder Library and Device Objects, to create a consistent programming structure across equipment brands. This architecture makes it easier for service technicians to troubleshoot and support systems remotely while enabling real-time data strategies and production agility.

“We are proud to support Middleby Food Processing’s vision for the future of food production,” said Steve Pulsifer, senior manager, partner marketing, Rockwell Automation. “This collaboration shows what’s possible when innovation and automation come together. This fully automated bacon line improves throughput, reduces labour and wastewater usage and raises the bar for food manufacturing.”

While the bacon line is a breakthrough, Middleby Food Processing’s automation efforts extend across food segments, including bakery and protein. Its solutions, powered by Rockwell, are designed for adaptability — making it easier for users to tailor systems to unique operational needs.