AUSTIN, MINN. — Hormel Foods Corp. has opened its newest production facility in Papillion, Neb. Papillion Foods will produce salami and dry sausage products for the company under the Columbus Craft Meats and Hormel brands.

The 535,000-square-foot plant features sustainability-based technology, such as automated guided vehicles for product transport throughout the plant, automatic rack assists for lifting objects, and LED lighting with motion sensors. Hormel plans to hire nearly 350 workers during the first year of operations. The company said many of the positions will be filled locally.

“We are excited to be opening up this facility to not only help meet the demand for our branded sausage products, but also provide fantastic career opportunities in our community,” said Ed Finnegan, plant manager at Papillion Foods. “We’ve been able to hire a great team thus far and are looking to welcome even more to our family at Papillion Foods.”