JBT Marel's Florida Hub Redefines Sustainable Food Innovation

LAKELAND, FL – February 27, 2026 – In a significant move to shape the future of food processing, JBT Marel, the recently combined global leader in food and beverage automation, has officially unveiled its completely renovated Customer Innovation Center (CIC) in Lakeland. The state-of-the-art facility stands as the company's new flagship destination for sustainable food technology, designed to serve a diverse industry landscape ranging from fresh produce and beverages to complex ready meals.

The multi-million dollar renovation represents one of the first major strategic investments made public since the 2024 merger of JBT Corporation and Marel, a deal that created a diversified technology powerhouse in the food sector. This upgraded hub is engineered to be more than just a showroom; it is a collaborative ecosystem where food producers can work directly with JBT Marel experts to solve pressing challenges in efficiency, quality, and sustainability.

“At JBT Marel, we are committed to transforming the future of food in ways that create a positive impact and lasting value for our customers, our communities, and the global food system,” said Brian Deck, CEO at JBT Marel. “Our Customer Innovation Centers reinforce that mission by enabling customers to test, validate, and scale technologies that help feed the world more responsibly.”

An Engine for Accelerated Innovation

The core of the Lakeland CIC's transformation lies in its greatly expanded scientific capabilities. The facility now features a new, fully equipped microbiology lab alongside revitalized analytical and wet chemistry labs. This integration allows customers to conduct comprehensive, in-house testing on their products' quality, safety, and integrity. By bringing these critical evaluation processes under one roof, JBT Marel enables its partners to bypass the significant delays and costs associated with using their own production lines for trials or outsourcing to third-party laboratories.

This consolidation of resources is a game-changer for product development cycles. Food and beverage companies can now experiment with new recipes, validate processing parameters for novel ingredients, and conduct shelf-life studies in a controlled, expert-guided environment. The facility’s status as an FDA- and USDA-recognized process authority provides an invaluable advantage, allowing customers to confidently validate processing parameters for regulatory compliance and accelerate their path to market.

Beyond the labs, the customer experience has been reimagined. A new, second-level all-glass lounge provides a panoramic view of the production floor below, where full-scale equipment lines are demonstrated. This allows visiting teams to observe machinery in action without interrupting the controlled testing environment. Complementing the physical demonstrations is a new VR Immersive Space, where guests can virtually step inside complete production lines, exploring different configurations and workflows in a dynamic digital twin environment.

Defining Sustainable Food Tech

While 'sustainability' has become a ubiquitous industry buzzword, the Lakeland CIC is designed to give it tangible meaning. The technologies and processes tested here directly address the industry's most critical resource challenges. JBT Marel's expertise, demonstrated in the center, spans solutions that significantly reduce food waste by optimizing yield from raw materials through advanced cutting and portioning technologies. Other systems focus on converting processing by-products into valuable new revenue streams, fostering a more circular economy.

Energy and water efficiency are also central to the CIC's mission. Customers can trial automated Cleaning-in-Place (CIP) systems that drastically reduce water and chemical usage compared to manual methods. They can also test advanced thermal processing technologies like aseptic and High-Pressure Processing (HPP) which extend product shelf-life without refrigeration or chemical preservatives, cutting down on food spoilage and energy consumption across the supply chain. The new labs are crucial for validating the effectiveness of these methods, ensuring both safety and sustainability goals are met.

This focus on resource efficiency and waste reduction is a strategic response to market demands for more environmentally responsible food production. The CIC empowers companies to build sustainability into their products from the ground up, rather than treating it as an afterthought.

A Strategic Edge in a Competitive Market

The investment in Lakeland is a clear strategic play by the newly formed JBT Marel to solidify its leadership in a competitive global market that includes giants like GEA Group, Tetra Pak, and Bühler. While many competitors operate their own innovation centers, JBT Marel's Lakeland facility aims to differentiate itself through its unique combination of comprehensive, in-house scientific testing and direct regulatory authority.

The ability to move seamlessly from process testing on the main floor to microbiological and chemical analysis in the adjacent labs creates a uniquely integrated and rapid-feedback loop for innovation. This streamlined approach offers a distinct value proposition, saving customers critical time and resources in their development and compliance efforts.

The renovation also allows the center to showcase more extensive and integrated equipment lines across its three distinct production bays. This is particularly important for the combined JBT Marel entity, as it can now demonstrate how technologies from both legacy companies can be combined into a single, seamless, and highly efficient processing solution.

Deep Roots and Future Growth in Lakeland

JBT Marel's commitment extends beyond its global customer base to the local community it has called home for over 84 years. The renovation is not just a technological upgrade but a significant reinvestment in the Lakeland economy, reinforcing the region's growing reputation as a hub for advanced manufacturing and food science.

The facility supports numerous high-skill jobs for engineers, food scientists, lab technicians, and other specialists, contributing to a robust local talent pool. The long-term presence has fostered a stable economic anchor for the community, providing decades of employment and tax contributions that support public services and infrastructure.

“JBT Marel has been in Lakeland for over 84 years, growing alongside the region and supporting the local business economy,” noted Patrick Canning, the Lakeland General Manager. “The re-imagining of this CIC not only allows for elevated guidance for our customers, but it also underscores a continued investment into the local community.”

By providing a real-world factory environment for training, testing, and collaboration, the Lakeland Customer Innovation Center serves as a vital nexus for the entire food industry, connecting technological potential with practical application to help build a more efficient and sustainable global food system.