Rockwell Automation Chosen by Middleby to Power First Automated Bacon Line

Rockwell Automation, Inc., the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, has been selected by Middleby Food Processing to help develop the food industry’s first fully automated bacon production line—unveiled at the IFFA tradeshow, which took place from 3rd to 8th May in Frankfurt, Germany. As demand grows for more efficient, flexible and sustainable food processing solutions, Middleby Food Processing turned to Rockwell to deliver a unified automation platform capable of transforming production.

Headquartered in Elgin, Illinois, Middleby Food Processing is a global leader in foodservice innovation. The company needed a scalable solution to support customers facing rising labor costs, space constraints and stricter sustainability goals. Rockwell stood out for its deep engineering expertise, seamless integration capabilities and proven ability to future-proof manufacturing systems.

“Premier integration of Rockwell Automation equipment across the Middleby Food Processing brands was key to our decision,” said Mark Salman, president, Middleby Food Processing. “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 standardizes operator interfaces and application code libraries, such as Machine Builder Library and Device Objects, which 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 labor 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 customers to tailor systems to unique operational needs and stay ahead in a competitive market.

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