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There's definitely a better way.

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There's definitely a better way.

Do it right the first time.

Contact the team that specializes in the design and construction of hygienic food production facilities.

A food facility is subject to unique conditions over its lifespan. Most other facilities do not endure the physical, chemical, and biological abuse that is common in food plants. A sustainable food plant design must consider elements that affect food safety, sanitation, durability, energy use, and maintenance.

A proper design will enhance the ability to maintain sanitary conditions. Below are a few of the more common issues specific to food plant design and construction:

  • Floors

    Food plant floors are under constant strain from the physical abuse of heavy traffic, thermal shock from temperature variations between cleanup and operation, and chemical attack from harsh cleaning chemicals. Determining the correct flooring material for each application is the key to finding a long-lasting floor.

  • Freezer Floors

    Freezer floor slabs are subject to heaving from the ground freezing below the slab. Proper floor insulation and energy-efficient heating methods are paramount to protect the floor from heaving.

  • Condensation

    Condensation problems often stem from improper vapor barriers in insulated panel construction, vapor pressure issues, or infiltration/exfiltration between different types of rooms. These pitfalls can be avoided with proper design and construction techniques.

  • Walls

    Walls are subject to physical abuse from traffic and chemical abuse from cleaning. The proper application of the materials coupled with protection methods leads to long-term sustainability.

  • Floor Drains

    Floor drains are a source of potential contamination and must withstand the sanitation process. Drains that are easy to clean and durable reduce risk, sanitation costs, as well as maintenance costs.

  • Lights

    Food plant lighting fixtures must be easy to clean and maintain. Application of food-grade fixtures, coupled with recent advances in lighting design, can reduce energy and maintenance costs.

  • Pipes and Conduits

    Food processing facility piping and conduit materials must be sanitary on the interior and exterior. The proper application of materials that are sanitary, can withstand the abuse of chemical cleaning, and hold up to temperature variations are key factors to food safety and long-term viability.

  • Air Conditioning/Refrigeration

    When air comes into contact with food products in a facility, it can cause both quality and contamination issues. Proper air treatment, filtering, and balance are critical to maintaining an environment for the safe production of food.

  • Utilities

    Food processing plants usually require different types of energy sources to operate, and sometimes choices can be made between sources. Determining the most efficient source for each process can help reduce energy usage and cost.

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They have a get-it-done attitude. They'll do whatever it takes.

Bernie Coyle, Perham Egg
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FPE was honest, knowledgeable, hardworking, pleasant, and did their best to make sure that we ended up with the best building and equipment layout for our future.

John Edd Wampler, Family Brands International
[quote-right]

They brought a lot of new concepts and ideas that we really didn't think of, so their expertise is going to make our business better now and in the future.

John Anthony Orlando, Orlando Baking

Considering an expansion, renovation, or new building project?

Let us help you get started!

Want to learn more about us?

Come visit our homepage, explore our projects, and learn more about our services.

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Stuck?

  • Food Plant Engineering, LLC
  • 10816 Millington Court, Suite 110
  • Cincinnati
  • OH
  • 45242
  • United States
  • +1 (513) 488-8888
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Stuck?

You need a better plan.

For process improvements, facility upgrades, expansions and new construction projects, contact us for help.

Planning will address your questions, help you avoid costly mistakes, and turn your vision into a feasible business strategy. We do this by evaluating your options for growth and the investment needed for an expansion, renovation, or new construction project.

Process Planning

Process Planning develops your requirements for storage and production based on food processing capacity needs. Considerations for process flow, process equipment, technology, storage, and food safety are used to generate a process definition and space requirements for a new or expanded operation.

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Facility Planning

Facility Planning is an iterative process where various concepts for the floor plan are developed for your expansion, renovation, or relocation project. These floor plans are created using production flow and layout requirements developed during Process Planning.

Learn More

Site Planning

Site Planning establishes the space available on a property for an addition or new building based on factors such as planning, zoning, and building code requirements. The Site Planning process also considers needs for parking, truck and car access, and availability of utilities such as water, sewer, and gas when locations on a site are being developed.

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Master Planning

Master Planning is the augmentation of information developed during the Facility and Process Planning phases. Starting with the refinement of the process plan and facility plan, it also may include development of preliminary site plan information. Major building utility systems—such as HVAC, refrigeration, and electrical—are also quantified in order to develop building and process utility requirements.

Learn More

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FPE was honest, knowledgeable, hardworking, pleasant, and did their best to make sure that we ended up with the best building and equipment layout for our future.

John Edd Wampler, Family Brands International
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It's a very, very clean environment: the number of aerobic bacteria and mold has gone down dramatically and we're getting an extended product shelf life.

Mike Weber, Smith Provision Co Inc.
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Keeping people accountable: that's where you're really good… Fair, professional and accessible. You can adapt quick. That's your strength.

Ron Ramsted, Emil's

Considering an expansion, renovation, or new building project?

Let us help you get started!

Want to learn more about us?

Come visit our homepage, explore our projects, and learn more about our services.

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Outgrowing Your Facility?

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Outgrowing your facility?

We'll help you expand.

Whether your plant is old, new, or a series of additions, our team can design and build a sustainable food facility that fits your needs.

Food-Safety Focus

Every food manufacturer shares an essential concern: food safety. No matter how appealing your product, you cannot produce it in an unsanitary environment. To maximize food safety, we analyze your process and delineate high-risk and high-care areas for proper hygienic zoning.

Process Focus

Maximizing productivity is critical for your long-term success. We study your process flow, space allocation, and equipment capacity needs to create an operation that offers efficiency and flexibility for future growth.

Sustainability Focus

A sustainable operation is critical to the ongoing success and reputation of your business. Our team strives to minimize utility consumption, reduce waste discharge, and improve thermal energy performance to create an environmentally-friendly, cost-effective investment.

Food Plant Engineering has the specialized knowledge required to design a food facility. As you're considering an expansion, renovation, or a new building, we will discuss with you the many options and cost/benefits of different design solutions and material options such as:

All Floors

Condensation

Walls

Drains

Lights

Pipes & Conduits

HVAC

Refrigeration

Equipment Utilities

Equipment Connections

Sanitation Systems

Biosecurity

[quote-right]

FPE was honest, knowledgeable, hardworking, pleasant, and did their best to make sure that we ended up with the best building and equipment layout for our future.

John Edd Wampler, Family Brands International
[quote-right]

You listen—the people doing the work are the great value of Food Plant Engineering. It's not something you find everyday—such capability, personality and character.

Spiro Sayegh, International Delights
[quote-right]

They brought a lot of new concepts and ideas that we really didn't think of, so their expertise is going to make our business better now and in the future.

John Anthony Orlando, Orlando Baking

Considering an expansion, renovation, or new building project?

Let us help you get started!

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Below are questions we are frequently asked.  You can also search our site:

  • What is the cost of expanding, renovating, or building a new food plant?

    Costs vary widely and depend on many factors such as the type of food operation, type of project (renovation, expansion, new construction), type of materials and finishes, and geographic location of the project.

    Please visit our Planning section to learn more about our services for Process Planning and Facility Planning. These services will help determine the feasibility of your project by providing an estimate of project costs.

    Learn More

  • Do you provide both design and construction services?

    Yes. We provide services from planning through plant start-up.

    You can learn more about project delivery methods by visiting our Construction section.

    Learn More

  • How much do you charge for your services?

    Fees for our services are based on the scope and size of your project.

    Please contact us if you would like to discuss your project and receive a proposal for our services.

    Contact Us

  • What are the sizes of your projects?

    We design and construct projects of all sizes for a variety of clients. We work with family-owned businesses and closely-held companies as well as large corporations.

    Visit our Projects section for some examples.

    Projects

  • How long does it take to design and build a project?

    This depends on the size and scope of the project.

    Please visit our Planning section to learn more about how we create a project plan and schedule or contact us to discuss the specifics of your project.

    Contact Us

  • What geographic areas do you serve?

    We tackle a variety of projects throughout North America. We are licensed as engineers, architects, and contractors in most states.

    Please contact us for more information.

    Contact Us

  • Do you design food production equipment?

    Yes we do! If an vendor for food processing equipment does not offer what you need, lets talk! We can provide custom, one-of-a kind solutions!

    We can also provide integeration of standard food production equipment into a processing line. Please see our Process Design section to learn more on this option.

    Learn More

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About Us

  • Food Plant Engineering, LLC
  • 10816 Millington Ct., STE 110
  • Blue Ash
  • Ohio
  • 45242
  • United States of America
  • (513) 488-8888
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A Brief History of Food Plant Engineering

Brining design and construction solutions to the table of food processing facilities

Foth | Food Plant Engineering is a specialized company that offers planning, design, and construction services for food production, processing, and distribution facilities.


Our doors opened in 1953 as Henry A. Lurie & Associates with a mission to provide innovative design solutions for USDA-inspected facilities. While working as an engineer for a meat packing company, founder Henry Lurie heard complaints that the design firms in the industry, "didn't understand their business and brought little or nothing to the table,” so he founded a firm to do just that: understand the unique production and facility needs of food processing companies.

Over the years, the firm became Hendon Lurie & Associates, then Hendon & Redmond, and finally Food Plant Engineering before joining Foth in 2025

As Foth | Food Plant Engineering, we tackle a variety of projects throughout North America, from small additions and renovations to large, new plants.

We can implement our designs using your preferred contractor or provide single-source construction management services. Our food industry areas of expertise include:

  • Meat/Poultry/Seafood

  • Bakery/Snack

  • Dairy/Cheese

  • Prepared Food

  • Commissary/Culinary Center

  • Frozen Food

  • Fruit/Vegetable

  • Flavor/Ingredients

  • Nutraceuticals
  • Beer/Wine/Seltzers

Eight Key Food Facility Design Principles

Key takeaways from our experience planning, designing and constructing food facilities

As a result of our many years of working with food industry clients, we have observed eight distinctive facility characteristics of leading food processing, production, and distribution companies. These first-class facilities exemplify the best industry practices in these eight areas. Our team strives to integrate the optimal features of the following characteristics into the planning and design of every project:

  • Food Safety

  • Sanitary Design

  • Productive Workflows

  • Smart Automation

  • Sustainable Construction

  • Energy Efficiency

  • Food Defense

  • Regulatory Compliance

Services

  • Facility Planning

  • Process Planning

  • Facility Design

  • Process Design

  • Facility Construction

  • Process Installation

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Services

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Your Source for Food Plant Design and Construction

Using imagination, innovation, and ingenuity, we help food manufacturing companies improve food safety, gain productivity, and grow capacity.

Plan

Everything starts with a plan, whether you are expanding your current operation, relocating to a different facility or building from scratch. Process planning, facility planning, site planning and master planning are specific types of planning, each tailored to address your unique needs and circumstances. We can help you determine what type/s of planning will best establish the path to your goal.

Design

Food process design and food facility design establish the details necessary to implement your plans. Our facility design services strive to incorporate your operation into an energy efficient, hygienic facility that can adapt to your future needs. When coupled with our process design services, you gain process equipment specifications and installation details for your operation.

Build

Constructing your facility or addition to meet the design intent is essential, and the optimal way to do this is to work with our construction team. Our construction professionals have an open line of communication with you, together with project designers, engineers, and architects. Such synergy allows for a smooth transition between the design and construction phases. We can help you choose between  several project delivery methods.

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Careers

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Foth | Food Plant Engineering is always looking for talented and dedicated professionals. Below are some of the positions for which we typically hire. Please free to send us your resume at anytime even if it is for a position that is not currently listed or advertised.
  • Architects/Designers
  • Mechanical Engineers/Designers
  • Electrical Engineers/Designers
  • Process Engineers/Designers
  • Construction Managers/Supervisors

Who Are We?

For more than 70 years, Food Plant Engineering has been known for the design and construction of central food manufacturing facilities. Joining The Foth Companies in 2025 has allowed us to maintain our client-focused ethos while expanding resources and opportunities for both our clients and our team.

We are now part of a 100% member-owned firm with 32 locations and more than 750 members. With a 92+% member retention rate, we are consistently ranked among the top 150 firms by Engineering News Record. If you seek a collaborative, values-based culture and flexible work environment with opportunities for professional growth, learn what positions are available here.

Our Culture

Find out more about our culture

Read more

Openings

Find out more about current job openings

Read more

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Contact Us

  • Foth | Food Plant Engineering, LLC
  • 10816 Millington Ct, Suite 110
  • Cincinnati
  • Ohio
  • 45242
  • United States
  • Featured Article Order: 1

Let's Start a Conversation

We'd love to hear from you!

Select one of the options below to fill out a form. If you prefer, pick up the phone, and give us a call!

I have a project in mind.

Are you a food company thinking about expanding, renovating, or building a new operation?

Would you like to learn more about our services and how we can help with your project?

Do you have questions and would like to speak with us?

Connect With Us

I have a general question.

Are you a supplier, contractor, or other company that would like to introduce yourself?

Would you like to talk with someone about providing services or products to us?

Do you have a general inquiry and want to contact us?

Submit Question

513-488-8888
8 am to 5 pm EST
Monday through Friday

Foth | Food Plant Engineering, LLC
10816 Millington Ct, Suite 110
Cincinnati , Ohio 45242

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Homepage

  • Food Plant Engineering, LLC
  • 10816 Millington Ct., Suite 110
  • Cincinnati
  • Ohio
  • 45242
  • United States
  • (513) 488-8888
  • Featured Article Order: 1

We are pleased to announce that we have joined The Foth Companies

Read the full announcement!

Your Source for Food Plant Design and Construction

Comprehensive solutions for expanding your food production operation

Solving your toughest Food Plant Engineering and Construction Challenges

Comprehensive solutions for your food production operation

We are designers and builders of sustainable food production facilities.

Using imagination, innovation, and ingenuity, we help food manufacturing companies improve food safety, gain productivity, and grow capacity.

  • plan.

  • design.

  • build.

Food-Safety Focus

Every food manufacturer shares an essential concern: food safety. No matter how appealing your product is, you cannot produce it in an unsanitary environment. To maximize food safety, we analyze your process and delineate high-risk and high-care areas for proper hygienic zoning.

Process Focus

Maximizing productivity is critical for your long-term success. We study your process flow, space allocation, and equipment capacity needs to create an operation that offers efficiency and flexibility for future growth.

Sustainability Focus

A sustainable operation is critical to the ongoing success and reputation of your business. Our team strives to minimize utility consumption, reduce waste discharge, and improve thermal energy performance to create an environmentally-friendly, cost-effective investment.

Plan-Design-Build for the Food Industry

Food Plant Engineering is a market leader in the design and construction of facilities for the safe and efficient production and storage of food. Our specialized knowledge encompasses a wide variety of meat, bakery, dairy, food processing, and cold storage operations.

  • Bakery

  • Commissary

  • Prepared Food

  • Cold Storage

  • Meat, Poultry & Seafood

  • Dairy Plant

72

Years in Business

500+

Total Clients

1,000+

Completed Projects

Featured Projects

Food Plant Engineering creates innovative solutions for the design and construction of food processing plants and distribution centers for thriving food companies.

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