At PACK EXPO Las Vegas last week, Formic hosted its inaugural Formic Automation Community Customer Awards. Attendees gathered around our booth for a lively celebration with drinks in hand, as case packing and palletizing demonstrations played out in the background.
Charcuterie boxes crafted with products from our customers sparked conversations about the wide-reaching impact of Formic automation across the United States. Manufacturers are now saying “yes” to projects they once couldn’t take on without the constant strain of bending, lifting, and twisting at the end of the line.
It was an evening that celebrated not just automation, but the manufacturers driving the transformation of the industry.
Formic Adds New Products to Portfolio
The evening kicked off with Saman Farid, Formic Founder and CEO, unveiling three game-changing additions to the Formic portfolio. Each was born from close collaboration with our team and the Formic Automation Community:
- Our Top Load Case Packer: Designed to make end-of-line automation faster, more adaptable, and easier to deploy. It works across high-speed lines, giving manufacturers the flexibility to meet throughput goals without compromising quality or safety. You can see it here behind me.
- Formic Production Intelligence: Our new real-time analytics tool that gives you full visibility into your operations. With insights into productivity, downtime, and system performance, you can make smarter, faster decisions, optimize your workflows, and proactively solve problems before they impact your team or customers. You can see that in the back corner there.
- Formic Floor Cleaning Robot: Built for industrial environments, Formic Floor Cleaning Robots handle everything from dust, powders, and fallen product, to trash, broken pallets, and other debris — helping eliminate labor gaps and disruptions to daily production tasks.
With the stage set, the real celebration began: recognizing the inspiring members of the Formic Automation Community who are leading the way in automation.
Formic Automation Community Award Winners for 2025
Formic Automation Community Premiere Automation Champion
The Premiere Automation Champion Award is the highest honor within the Formic Automation Community, recognizing a company that not only leads in deploying automation at scale but also actively shapes the future of manufacturing.
Land O’Frost has set a remarkable example by hosting Formic Automation Community events, sharing their experiences with journalists covering manufacturing automation, and continuing to expand their automation capabilities as their business grows.
Their approach combines innovation with a steadfast focus on safety, efficiency, and employee well-being. By opening their doors, sharing insights, and inspiring peers, they demonstrate what it truly means to lead with vision, courage, and collaboration.
Their work sets a new standard for the industry, proving how automation can empower teams, optimize operations, and transform manufacturing.
Formic Automation Community Founders Award
The Formic Automation Community Founders Award recognizes a company that has been at the very heart of the Formic Automation Community, shaping its growth, culture, and impact from the very beginning.
ECOS has demonstrated an exceptional openness to experimentation and a deep dedication to supporting peers, advancing automation within their own operations, while inspiring others to explore new solutions.
Their commitment to collaboration is evident in their leadership, consistently stepping up to lead panels, share expertise, and provide feedback on emerging technologies such as Formic Production Intelligence. They were the very first panelist at the inaugural Formic Automation Community event at Formic’s headquarters and embraced the community’s mission from day one.
By doing so, they have shown how curiosity, courage, and a commitment to people and processes can define leadership in automation.
Formic Automation Community Pioneer Award
The Formic Automation Community Pioneer Award honors a company boldly leading the way in automation by breaking new ground, experimenting with new technologies, and openly sharing their learnings to help others succeed.
Masters Gallery introduced robotic automation to their facility for the first time and quickly demonstrated exceptional leadership by testing innovative solutions, embracing change, and proving that curiosity and courage can deliver real results. They challenged the status quo, refusing to do things the “way they’ve always done it,” and explored new approaches to improve operations.
Equally important, they have shared their journey with the broader Formic Automation Community, inspiring manufacturers across the country to take bold steps forward. Their dedication to experimentation, continuous improvement, and collaboration makes them a true embodiment of the spirit of a pioneer.
Formic Automation Community Culture Award
The Formic Automation Community Culture Award recognizes a company that embodies the spirit and values of the community through leadership, openness, and collaboration.
MattPak has consistently gone above and beyond, leading panels, openly sharing their automation journey with peers, and demonstrating what it means to embrace innovation now rather than later.
They have engaged with media, including The New York Times, to share insights on the benefits of automation and educate the broader manufacturing industry. Beyond public engagement, they have actively consulted with other U.S. manufacturers, both independently and through the Contract Packaging Association, helping peers explore how automation can solve unique challenges. Their willingness to try new approaches to improve efficiency, safety, and employee well-being — all while growing their business — makes them a true example of the values of the Formic Automation Community.
Formic Automation Community Visionary Awards
These individuals are reimagining manufacturing: seeing automation not as a replacement for employees but as empowerment. They lead with vision, courage, and a human-centered approach that transforms both operations and workplaces.
- Frank Hacker (VP of Manufacturing, Rockline): A transformative leader who approaches automation with compassion, Frank identified the most physically demanding and repetitive roles on the production floor and implemented solutions to eliminate them. By doing so, he has elevated productivity, improved workplace safety, and set a new standard for how automation can empower people rather than replace them.
- Adam Bragg (Technical Director, Cameron’s Coffee): A forward-thinking leader who has expanded automation across multiple facilities while pioneering the use of Formic Production Intelligence. Adam has enhanced operational safety, created scalable processes, and empowered his teams to focus on higher-value work. His vision demonstrates how technology can amplify both efficiency and human potential.
- Ramon Reyes (Operations, Duche Nut): An early adopter and innovator, Ramon embraced automation to transform his operations. By introducing new technologies with purpose and care, he has created safer, more efficient workspaces while paving the way for other manufacturers to see what’s possible when innovation meets action. His leadership is a testament to the power of courage and curiosity.
These visionary leaders show that automation isn’t just about machinery, it’s about creating opportunity, safety, and a better future for the people who power manufacturing.
Formic Automation Community Champion Awards
This category celebrates companies leading by example, scaling automation across operations, pioneering new approaches, and inspiring the industry.
- Land O’Frost: Leveraged five Formic automation systems to reduce costs, speed changeovers, and improve throughput across operations. Beyond their own success, they actively hosted Formic Automation Community events, opening their doors to share their learnings and inspire peers across the manufacturing industry.
- MattPak: Recognized for innovation in The New York Times, MattPak has deployed a variety of automation solutions — from cartesian systems to robotic palletizers — and continues to pilot new technologies to push the limits of efficiency. Their openness in sharing results and lessons learned has made them a valued voice in the Formic Automation Community.
- Mi Rancho: Used automation to achieve a staggering increase of 20 million pounds of production annually. They’ve embraced transparency, openly sharing their journey with the FAC community to help others understand the path to success and the tangible benefits automation can deliver.
- ECOS: Expanded automation into four facilities across the U.S., eliminating ergonomic strain and improving safety while delivering repeatable production at scale. They have been leaders in sharing their experience and expertise, inspiring manufacturers to explore automation as a scalable solution.
- Cameron’s Coffee: Adopted a strategic approach to automation, securing systems early to meet growing demand without downtime. They pioneered the use of the Formic Production Intelligence dashboard, giving their team real-time operational insights, and openly shared their automation roadmap to inspire other manufacturers.
- Mariani Packing: Demonstrated adaptability by scaling automation to match evolving needs, seamlessly integrating new systems, and hosting Formic Automation Community events to share their expertise. Their transparency and collaborative spirit have made them a model for other manufacturers exploring automation.
These champions prove that when vision meets action, automation transforms not just production, but entire industries.
Formic Automation Community Advocate Awards
These organizations go deeper, educating peers on the benefits of automation and creating pathways for wider adoption.
- Kari-Out: Actively participates in Formic Automation Community events, sharing the benefits of automation while referring Full Service Automation solutions to fellow manufacturers seeking to close gaps and improve efficiency.
- Garrett Popcorn: One of the first to test Formic Production Intelligence, leading the way in reimagining how data can transform manufacturing. They openly share their insights to help other manufacturers harness the power of automation.
- Masters Gallery: Courageously shared their journey to automation, participating in Formic Automation Community events and sitting on panels alongside industry peers to discuss best practices, challenges, and the long-term benefits of automation.
- Taffy Town: Serves as a trusted advocate for automation, educating peers on its transformative potential and actively creating opportunities for wider adoption across the manufacturing community.
They are true advocates for innovation, sharing knowledge to help manufacturers succeed.
Formic Automation Community Promoter Awards
These companies are champions of sharing their automation journeys, inspiring others by speaking openly, hosting events, testing new solutions, and strengthening the entire community.
- Duche Nut: Ahead of the game in identifying new solutions to bolster productivity on their line, deploying one of the first Formic Robotic Floor Sweepers and freeing up their team while keeping your facility spotless.
- Wyandot Snacks: Shared their automation journey to inspire other decades-old companies that they don’t have to do things “the way they’ve always done it,” and led as an example of what successful automation looks like.
- Ver-Tech: Continues to deploy automation on its line to continuously improve operations, and serves as a visual example of the benefits of automation when implemented thoughtfully.
- Uncle Crumbles: Openly shared that automation hasn’t always been easy for them, offering a candid story that helps other manufacturers understand that challenges can lead to growth and innovation.
- Create-A-Pack: Champions the adoption of automation by actively referring solutions to other U.S. manufacturers seeking to close labor gaps and meet growing demand.
- S&F Foods: Publicly shared their automation journey with The New York Times, helping other manufacturers recognize shared challenges and consider automation as a strategic solution.
- Boxed Water: Inspires other manufacturers by openly sharing their automation story, demonstrating how innovation can transform operations while staying true to sustainability goals.
- Venus Wafer: Actively shares their automation experiences to spark dialogue and inspire other manufacturers to explore new approaches to scaling operations.
- Sunrise Family Farms: Shares their automation journey to encourage manufacturers to reimagine how technology can help them meet demand while improving efficiency and quality.
- ALTA Foods: Inspires their peers by sharing how automation has reshaped their production capabilities, showing the tangible benefits of innovation in action.
- Straus Family Creamery: Strengthens the community by participating in Formic Automation Community events, answering questions, and demonstrating why automation is essential for the future of manufacturing.
- Mariani Nut: Engages with the community by attending Formic Automation Community events and offering insight into why automation matters and how manufacturers can make it work for them.
These teams have gone above and beyond to connect the manufacturing community and champion automation.
Celebrating the Future of Automation
This might have been our first, but it definitely won’t be our last Formic Automation Community Customer Awards. PACK EXPO Las Vegas was more than just a tradeshow this year; it was an opportunity to celebrate innovation, collaboration, and the progress driving the Formic Automation Community.
From unveiling game-changing new products to honoring companies and leaders who are redefining manufacturing, the evening highlighted what’s possible when vision meets action. The winners this year are proof that automation isn’t just about machines: it’s about people and transformation.
It’s time to break out of the mindset of “doing it the way we’ve always done it.” These manufacturers did, and so can you. As the Formic Automation Community continues to grow, so too does the opportunity to learn together, test new ideas, and push the boundaries of what automation can achieve.