Land O'Frost Lansing Plant Balances High-Volume Production and Flexible Automation

The Illinois facility combines rapid SKU changeovers, advanced palletizing robots, and a skilled workforce to drive efficiency, product development, and innovation.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

Land O'Frost's Lansing, Illinois plant is one of the company's most versatile and high-volume facilities, producing around 128,000 pounds of deli meats and hot dogs daily. The plant is designed for rapid SKU changeovers and tight end-of-line footprints, balancing throughput with operational flexibility to respond quickly to customer needs and test new technologies. The facility recently integrated multiple gantry-style palletizing robots, which handle up to 12 picks per minute, reducing manual strain on employees and maintaining consistency across every pallet.

Why it matters

The Lansing plant serves as a proving ground for new technology within Land O'Frost, allowing the company to accelerate product development and ensure solutions are informed by operational knowledge. The combination of experienced staff, advanced equipment, and continuous improvement creates a flexible operation capable of supporting diverse product portfolios.

The details

The robotics complement the facility's high-paced production lines without replacing human expertise. Operators manage the advanced systems, switching pallet patterns with the touch of a button, which streamlines changeovers and allows for faster turnaround on new SKUs. Product development is another key function at Lansing, with the plant working closely with Land O'Frost's R&D, quality, and commercial teams to pilot new products and adjust packaging or case configurations.

  • The Lansing plant recently became the first in Land O'Frost's network to integrate multiple gantry-style palletizing robots.

The players

Land O'Frost

An American food processing company that produces deli meats, hot dogs, and other protein products.

Formic

A company that provides automated robotic solutions for industrial applications.

Alfred Williams

The vice president of manufacturing at Land O'Frost.

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What they’re saying

“Lansing is one of our highest-volume and most versatile facilities. It also serves as a proving ground for new technology within Land O'Frost.”

— Alfred Williams, Vice President of Manufacturing (provisioneronline.com)

“By automating repetitive tasks, employees can focus on higher-value work, fostering growth, collaboration, and continuous improvement while reducing physical strain.”

— Alfred Williams, Vice President of Manufacturing (provisioneronline.com)

The takeaway

The Lansing facility's success in balancing high-volume production, flexible automation, and a skilled workforce demonstrates Land O'Frost's commitment to operational excellence, innovation, and employee-centric values. This approach positions the plant as a central hub in the company's deli and protein operations, enabling it to meet evolving market demands while maintaining quality and efficiency.