JLS Automation appoints Russ Stroner as CEO after nearly five decades of Souser leadership

The packaging machinery sector is witnessing a significant leadership transition as York, Pennsylvania-based JLS Automation announced the appointment of Russ Stroner as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. The move, effective October 12, 2026, marks the end of an era for the manufacturer of hygienic robotic packaging systems, as Craig Souser steps down after leading the family-founded business since 1978.

Strategic transition in robotic packaging

Stroner assumes the executive role bringing extensive experience from the food processing equipment market. He most recently served as Executive Vice President at Reiser Holdings and has been intimately familiar with JLS Automation's strategic direction through his tenure on the company's advisory board over the past several years. This background positions him to maintain the company's focus on developing vision-guided, washdown-ready robotic systems tailored for demanding production environments.

The leadership change represents a pivotal moment for JLS Automation, a company that has continuously adapted its engineering focus over its history. Founded in 1955 by Joseph L. Souser as a manufacturers' representative firm for power transmission equipment, the company underwent a major transformation under Craig Souser's direction. After expanding into variable frequency drives and motion control, JLS officially entered the packaging automation sector in 1993.

Focus on hygienic design and food industry applications

Today, the company is a recognized builder of specialized robotic packaging lines for protein, bakery, cheese, prepared foods, and seafood processors. The integration of advanced vision systems and delta robots in highly cleanable constructions has become a critical requirement for food manufacturers facing strict sanitation standards and ongoing labor shortages on the pack-out line.

Craig Souser, who recently joined the Executive Committee of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), will remain involved with the company as Chairman Emeritus. The transition to Stroner reflects a broader industry trend where multigenerational manufacturing firms bring in external industry veterans to scale operations and navigate the increasingly complex landscape of industrial automation.