Former Associates

09/01/2026

Built for every cut.

September is National Chicken Month, and for processors running high volumes of poultry, precision cutting can't be an afterthought.

The FA-27 Bandless Cuber & Perforator delivers clean, consistent cuts and perforations, shift after shift, with a bandless design that cuts downtime along with the product.

Ready to see it in action? Ask your Former Sales Partner for a demo.

08/24/2026

From grind to package, one family has your entire line covered.

🥩 Hollymatic®: grinding, mixing & portioning
🔧 Former: forming & cubing
📦 Rollstock™: flexible packaging
🧾 Patty Paper Inc.: interleaving paper

Whether you're running a small operation or a coast-to-coast manufacturing plant, this family of brands gives you integrated support across your whole process, so you spend less time managing vendors and more time running production.

08/17/2026

What's actually in a Former PM Kit? Here's the breakdown:

🔵 Large PM — Annually | 2 techs | 16 hrs on site
Con rods, center shafts, rocker arms, front seal, paper feed, shuttles + more

🟡 Small PM — Semi-annually | 1 tech | 8 hrs on site
Torque tubes/shafts, drive arms, KO arms, gear rack assembly, shuttles + more

🟠 Monthly PM — Monthly | 1 tech | 4 hrs on site
Shuttle bushings, draw bar slides, bearings, bolt kits, gaskets, U-joints + more

All labor and hardware included. All kits customizable. Travel costs vary by location.

Download the full PM Kit brochure at formerassociates.com or contact your Former Sales Partner to build a schedule that works for your line.

08/10/2026

Meet the FA-27 C/P: Former's Cuber & Perforator with 27" of usable space.

Available in both the traditional band version and the new, improved band-less version, the FA-27 is built 100% in the USA at our Countryside, IL facility, with tight controls on production and parts we manufacture ourselves for industry-leading low cost of ownership.

✅ 27" of usable space
✅ Band & band-less configurations
✅ 100% USA-made
✅ Former-built parts & tooling
✅ Factory-trained tech support, 24/7

Ask your Former Sales Partner for a demo.

08/04/2026

We see this on the floor constantly.

Processors assume an aging line means a full rebuild, but a few strategic upgrades, especially around maintenance and automation, can extend a machine's life for years. Good breakdown from The National Provisioner on how to approach it in phases.

Modernizing a protein plant does not always require a full rebuild.

This article examines how processors can use phased equipment upgrades, utility improvements, digital monitoring and targeted automation to address labor constraints, aging infrastructure, food safety requirements and production bottlenecks.

Read more: https://brnw.ch/21x4FZt



Photo credit: Getty Images / mladenbalinovac

08/03/2026

Your machine came in worn. It left like new.

Former's factory rebuild program takes your forming equipment back to our facility and restores it to like-new condition, including PLC and servo upgrades when needed.

With 200+ machines built over 20 years, our team knows these machines inside and out because they built them.

"From parts ordering to technical support to actual PMs, Former has always been my 'go-to.' I have dealt with other companies, but they do not rise to the level of support Former provides my business."

Ready to talk about a rebuild? Contact your Former Sales Partner or call (708) 579-3700.

07/28/2026

From grind to package: three brands, one production line.

Former Associates. Hollymatic®. Rollstock™. Each brand is engineered for its part of the process, but designed to work together as a complete solution.

End-to-end processing power, all under one roof. Want to see how the systems integrate into your operation? Get in touch.

07/23/2026

Tighter forming tolerances pay off in three places: product quality, throughput, and your bottom line. Equipment design, tooling maintenance, and operator training all factor in.

→ Swipe to see how we reduce waste and improve yields and help your bottom line.

Engineered to perform. Built to last.

07/21/2026

Less searching. More running.

Our Parts & Tooling Carts keep what your line needs exactly where it needs to be—durable, mobile, and built to handle the floor.

Cut downtime. Keep the line moving.

07/15/2026

🌭 Happy National Hot Dog Day!

Behind every clean, consistent dog you'll eat today: precision cutting and perforating that doesn't quit, on equipment built to run shift after shift.

The FA-27 Cuber & Perforator is engineered for exactly that. Cheers to the processors who deliver the goods all summer long and the teams that keep their lines running.