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Your Product · Fresh Meat

Fresh meat packaging automation
from whole muscle to ground.

Steaks, chops, roasts, ground beef and pork, fresh sausage, and sliced deli — JLS’s VOB 2.0 tooling handles the wet, sticky, slippery raw protein that are genuinely difficult to automate. Made to get wet. Built to fit USDA-inspected meat plants.
Talk to an application engineer Schedule a facility tour
Over 70 years
Built on precision, reliability & trust
Multiple
U.S. patents (food)
Full washdown
IP69K-rated components, per application
U.S. Built
Engineered in-house

JLS builds robotic packaging automation purpose-built for fresh meat — vision-guided systems that load whole-muscle cuts, ground, fresh sausage, and sliced deli into trays, thermoform and vacuum-skin packs, flow wrappers, chubs, and cases. JLS-engineered VOB 2.0 tooling handles the wet, sticky, slippery raw protein that demands specialized tooling, and IP69K-rated components can be specified for daily caustic washdown in USDA-inspected plants. Every line is engineered, programmed, and supported entirely in-house by JLS.

In action

Watch JLS handle fresh meat —
at full production speed.

Ground beef brick pack case packing Ground Beef

Ground beef brick pack case packing

Vision-guided robots case pack ground beef brick packs at full production speed.

Pain points

Fresh meat's toughest
packaging headaches. Solved.

We've spent decades on protein lines. These are the problems fresh meat processors bring us most — and how JLS robotics solve them.

Sanitation & washdown The challenge

Sanitation & food safety under constant washdown

How JLS solves it
Every JLS fresh meat system can be built with IP69K-rated robots and components, NEMA 4X-rated control enclosures, and open frame stainless, and designed to fit USDA-inspected meat plants — made to get wet so daily high-pressure washdown never threatens compliance or uptime.
Gripping wet, sticky raw protein The challenge

Wet, sticky, slippery raw protein that's hard to grip

How JLS solves it
VOB 2.0 — JLS's Vacuum on Board tooling — carries its own vacuum at the end of the arm to grip wet, sticky, slippery raw protein. With custom EOAT it picks raw beef, pork, sausage, and portioned cuts straight off the belt — no mechanical sorting, no product damage.
Cold, wet cut-room labor The challenge

Labor that's hard to staff in cold, wet cut rooms

How JLS solves it
Vision-guided robots take over the cold, repetitive packing positions, fill chronic labor gaps, and free your people for higher-value work.
Throughput & line speed The challenge

Throughput & consistency capped by hand-packing

How JLS solves it
Talon, Osprey, and Hawk run at line speed with repeatable placement every cycle — from the grinder and portioner through the tray line and into the case.
Applications

Fresh meat packaging automation,
loading to case packing.

From primary loading through case packing — matched to your pack format and line speed.

1

Thermoformer & vacuum-skin packs

Talon places steaks, chops, and portioned cuts into thermoformer pockets and vacuum-skin packs with proper orientation — vision-guided, no mechanical sorting. Finished packs are then case-packed at line speed.
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2

Foam, MAP & paperboard trays

Talon TL loads fresh cuts and ground portions into foam, corrugated, or MAP trays; Osprey TL then loads finished trays into cases — fragile seal zones handled without contact, up to 180 trays/min in a Tri Head Osprey TL configuration.
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3

Ground beef & pork chubs and brick packs

Osprey CL case-packs ground beef and pork chubs at high speed, and Osprey BP handles brick packs — the V-TRACK™ pick conveyor prevents chub rolling, with quick-change tooling for chubs from 8 oz to 10 lb. Integrates with Reiser/VEMAG stuffing upstream.
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4

Retail-ready cases & cartons

Load MAP, foam, and thermoformed packs into RSC or retail-ready cases with Hawk’s compact top-loading, or form, load, and close cartons with Peregrine — a compact-footprint cartoner.
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Have a custom fresh meat need?

If your product, pack format, or line doesn't fit the cases above, our application engineers will design, test, and prove the right solution — before you commit.

Talk to an application engineer

Test before you commit

Send us your meat products.
We'll put them to the test.

Before the design is finalized, send product samples — whole-muscle cuts, ground, sliced deli, or sausage — or a close proxy, subject to project scope and availability. JLS application engineers test tooling, pick method, and pack pattern to establish feasibility; final rate is confirmed during FAT on your system.

Feasibility
Tooling & pick method tested
U.S. Built
York, PA Flight Lab
Pre-sale
Application testing, subject to availability
Schedule a Flight Lab test

Designed to get wet. Built to be cleaned.

In a USDA-inspected meat plant, sanitation isn't a feature — it's the whole game. Every JLS fresh meat system is engineered for your plant's sanitation program — from cleanable construction to full washdown with IP69K-rated components where the application requires it — so your line stays compliant and your downtime stays low.

IP69K*
Rated components for washdown
NEMA 4X
Rated control enclosures
USDA
Designed to fit inspected plants
Open-frame
Sloped, minimal harborage

* IP69K refers to the ingress-protection rating of selected components (robots, motors, enclosures) specified for an application — not a rating of the complete machine. Contact JLS for your application.

FAQ

Fresh meat packaging automation FAQs.

Common questions about sanitation, tooling, throughput, ROI, and integration.

Payback is commonly evaluated in the 24–36 month range, depending on labor cost, shift schedule, production volume, uptime improvement, and the specific fresh meat application. For fresh meat processors, the business case is often driven by labor savings, reduced manual handling, improved pack presentation, more consistent loading, less rework, better ergonomics, and more predictable packaging performance. Labor savings scale with line speed, labor model, and platform, with additional value from improved throughput and reduced product handling. JLS reviews the product mix, cut type, package format, line speed, staffing model, sanitation requirements, and current production challenges to help determine where automation can create the strongest return.

JLS automates whole-muscle and portioned cuts including steaks, chops, filets, roasts, ground beef and pork chubs, brick packs, fresh sausage in casings, and sliced deli products. Systems can be designed to load fresh meat into thermoformer pockets, foam trays, MAP trays, VSP trays, cartons, and cases.

JLS designs the product handling, end-of-arm tooling, conveyor control, and system layout around the specific raw protein application. For wet, sticky, slippery, or inconsistent products, custom tooling and JLS VOB 2.0 Vacuum on Board technology can help pick and place raw beef, pork, sausage, sliced deli, and portioned cuts with controlled handling. Each application is engineered and tested around the actual product so the system can protect product quality, reduce manual handling, and maintain consistent placement.

Yes. JLS fresh meat systems can be designed for washdown environments and USDA-inspected meat plants, with construction matched to the product contact area, sanitation requirements, and packaging environment. For primary product handling, JLS can build full sanitary washdown construction intended to comply with NSF/ANSI/3-A SSI 14159-1 and EHEDG hygienic design principles. For a feature-by-feature breakdown, see what hygiene design features matter for fresh meat packaging machines. Depending on the application, systems may include stainless-steel construction, open frame design, sloped surfaces, washdown-capable components, IP69K-rated robots and components where required, and NEMA 4X-rated control enclosures.

Yes. JLS can integrate with upstream and downstream equipment including grinders, extruders, portioners, conveyors, thermoformers, tray sealers, cartoners, case packers, checkweighers, metal detectors, labeling systems, and other packaging equipment. JLS also works closely with Reiser to support coordinated fresh meat line solutions where upstream processing and downstream robotic packaging need to work together.

Yes. JLS systems can be designed to pick and place sliced deli shingle stacks into thermoformer pockets, MAP trays, or other package formats while helping preserve stack presentation. The handling approach depends on the product, shingle pattern, spacing, orientation, line speed, and package format. JLS reviews and tests the application to determine the right tooling, robot configuration, and product handling method.

Throughput depends on the product, package format, line layout, robot configuration, tooling, and required placement accuracy. Ground meat chubs, portioned cuts, sliced deli, sausage, trays, cartons, and cases may all require different handling approaches and different rates. JLS sizes the automation around the actual product, SKU mix, line speed, and packaging equipment so the system is built for the production requirement rather than a generic rate claim.

Changeover depends on the product family, package format, tooling, and system configuration. Many JLS systems use recipe-driven changeover through the HMI, with tooling and format changes designed to be as simple and repeatable as possible. During project development, JLS reviews the SKU mix, product dimensions, package formats, sanitation needs, and changeover goals so the system can be designed around how the plant actually runs.

Yes. Product testing is often an important part of fresh meat automation projects. Raw protein can vary by temperature, moisture, fat content, shape, weight, surface condition, and how it arrives at the automation. JLS Flight Lab can test product samples, or a close proxy, subject to project scope and availability, to establish the right tooling, pick method, conveyor control, and placement approach before final design — reducing project risk. Final rate and performance are confirmed during FAT on your system.

Yes. JLS fresh meat automation can often be integrated into existing production and packaging lines. The final design depends on available floor space, product presentation, line speed, controls, sanitation access, upstream equipment, and downstream packaging equipment. JLS reviews the full line so the automation fits the way the plant actually runs, instead of forcing the plant to work around a standard machine.

To evaluate a fresh meat automation project, JLS typically reviews the product type, cut type, product dimensions, product weight, photos or videos of the current line, package format, target speeds, current labor model, sanitation requirements, available floor space, upstream equipment, downstream equipment, SKU mix, and the main production problem the system needs to solve. For raw protein applications, product behavior matters — wet, sticky, slippery, flexible, or inconsistent products may require testing to validate the right handling method, tooling, conveyor control, and robot configuration.

JLS fresh meat automation systems are designed, built, programmed, and tested at JLS Automation in York, Pennsylvania. Support comes from JLS's in-house support team, working directly with the engineers who built your system, including remote diagnostics, on-site service, training, parts support, and preventive maintenance.

Yes. JLS has robotic systems running in fresh meat and protein packaging applications across North America, including ground meat, portioned cuts, sausage, sliced deli, and case packing applications. For each project, JLS reviews the product, packaging format, line speed, sanitation requirements, and production goals to design a system that fits the processor’s actual plant environment.

Talk to an automation expert

Have a fresh meat product or package you need automated?

Tell us what you’re packaging and what you’re trying to solve. A few sentences is enough.

Prefer to talk? Call (717) 505-3800.

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Ready for the realities of your meat line?

Bring us your product. We'll test it in our York, PA lab, engineer the automation, and prove the application — before we say yes.

Schedule a facility tour Call (717) 505-3800
JLS + Reiser: Expertise across the line

Planning a complete fresh meat line?

JLS engineers the automation for complete fresh meat lines — from the grinder and portioner discharge through tray loading, case packing, and cartoning — owning its defined scope and coordinating the agreed interfaces with your other equipment suppliers.

Full food production line — JLS + Reiser: expertise across the line Ten production-line stages across four zones. JLS-built robotic automation stages are shown in purple; stages available through Reiser's OEM portfolio in blue; customer-selected or partner equipment in gray. Dashed lines mark coordinated integration points. Prepare. Portion. Form. Load. Seal. Case. Carton. Collate. Stack. Secure. 01Mixing &blendingGrindingEmulsifyingMarinatingTumblingAvailable throughReiser portfolio 02Forming &portioningStuffingExtrudingPatty formingDepositingAvailable throughReiser portfolio 03FurtherprocessingSlicingDicingShreddingTenderizingAvailable throughReiser portfolio 04PrimaryloadingPick & placeVision-guidedLane loadingProduct collationJLS TALONJLS KESTRELJLS Automation 05PrimarypackagingThermoformingTray sealingVacuum / MAPSkin packAvailable throughReiser portfolio 06CasepackingRobotic case loadingRobotic loadingWashdown configurationsWashdown optionsJLS OSPREYHAWK · PATTY HAWKCase erecting & sealing via partner equip.JLS Automation 07CartoningForm, load,close cartonsCompact footprintWashdown-capable designJLS PEREGRINEPEREGRINE ISJLS Automation 08Collation /bundlingCount & stackBundle packMultipackPartner equipmentscope-dependent 09PalletizingLayer buildingRobotic palletizingSlip-sheet placeLayer padPartner equipmentscope-dependent 10LoadsecurementStretch wrapBandingCorner boardTop sheetPartner equipmentscope-dependent Tier 1 Primary Packaging The package that touches the product Tier 2 Secondary Packaging Cases, cartons, and multipacks for retail or distribution Tier 3 Tertiary Packaging Stretch wrap, ship-ready unit

Together, JLS and Reiser help food manufacturers develop coordinated processing and packaging lines—from product preparation and primary package loading and sealing through cartoning and case packing, with third-party collation, palletizing, and load securement coordinated into the plan.

Illustrative line architecture. Stages, equipment suppliers and sequence vary by product and project scope. Not every food line uses every stage, and slicing, cooking, freezing, inspection and other processes may occur in different positions.

Scroll left and right to scan the full line. Open the printable line map →

JLS-built robotic automation Available through Reiser’s OEM portfolio Customer-selected / third-party equipment Coordinated integration point

Reiser role across the line

Food-processing expertise, application development, equipment selection, product testing, and sales & lifecycle support.

JLS role at robotic packaging stages

Robotic engineering, product & package handling, controls interfaces, and integration & FAT when included in project scope.

Let’s talk more about planning your full line.

Tell us who you are and a bit about your line. An automation expert will reach out — and we’ll bring the right people from JLS and Reiser to the conversation.

Your details
Facility location
Your line today
What you're planning
What solution(s) are you interested in?* Select all that apply.
Project timeline

By submitting, you agree that JLS Automation and Robert Reiser & Co. may contact you about your inquiry.

Over 1,000 custom installs. Predictable performance. Premier, dedicated service.

  • Factory-tested reliability
  • In-house programming — York, PA
  • In-house support team, backed by the engineers who built your system
  • Fast dispatch from York, PA — within a day's drive of most East Coast and Midwest plants
  • Remote diagnostics + on-site support
Have a product you need loaded, packed or cartoned?
Start with whether it’s a fit — not with a quote.
Tell an application engineer what you’re packaging and what the line looks like today. A few sentences is enough. If the product suits it, JLS can test it in the Flight Lab before any design is finalized.
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