JLS Automation announced Tuesday that it has appointed Russ Stroner as President and CEO. Stroner succeeds Craig Souser, who retired Oct. 12 after nearly five decades leading the company.
Souser will remain with the York, Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of hygienic robotic packaging systems as chairman emeritus. Stroner previously served as executive vice president at Reiser Holdings and has been a member of JLS Automation’s advisory board for several years.
The leadership change marks a transition for the family-founded company, which has evolved into a manufacturer of vision-guided robotic packaging systems for food processors.
“My father always said that at the end of the day, all you have is your reputation,” said Souser in a statement. “Russ has spent his career with processors on the plant floor, and he understands what our customers count on us for. I’m proud to hand him the company and I’ll be here to help whenever he wants me.”
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Experience across the food processing industry
Stroner’s career in food processing equipment began in 1998 in the service division of Provisur Technologies, where he eventually became director of sales for the Americas.
He later served as president of MP Equipment, a Middleby brand, and held global sales leadership positions at Bettcher Industries and Cantrell-Gainco Group before becoming executive vice president at Reiser Holdings.
“JLS has a team that knows how to put robots to work in some of the toughest washdown environments in food production,” said Stroner. “Craig built that, and I’m grateful he trusted me with what comes next. My first priority is spending time with our customers and our people in York.”
Nearly five decades of leadership
Souser has led JLS Automation since 1978. His father, Joseph L. Souser, founded the company in 1955 as a manufacturers’ representative firm for power transmission equipment.
Under Craig Souser’s leadership, the company expanded into variable frequency drives and motion control before entering packaging automation in 1993.
JLS later shifted its focus to the food industry, developing vision-guided, washdown-ready robotic packaging systems for protein, bakery, cheese, prepared foods, and seafood applications.
Today, the company designs and manufactures robotic pick-and-place, carton loading, and case packing systems for food production environments.
Packaging OEM has previously covered JLS Automation’s Peregrine robotic cartoner, Kestrel robotic collate-and-load system, and featured the company in our special report, Reshoring in Packaging: How OEMs are Building U.S. Manufacturing Capabilities.
