Exhibit 5.1

John Bean Technologies Corporation

70 West Madison Street, Suite 4400

Chicago, IL 60602

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are providing this letter in our capacity as special counsel to John Bean Technologies Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing by the Company of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) relating to the registration of up to 2,242,952 shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the “Shares”), issuable under the John Bean Technologies Corporation 2017 Incentive Compensation and Stock Plan (the “2017 Plan”).

In connection therewith, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records and other instruments as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of this opinion, including (i) the corporate and organizational documents of the Company, including the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company; (ii) the Rights Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2008 (the “Rights Agreement”), between the Company and National City Bank, as rights agent, providing for the issuance of the preferred share purchase rights (the “Rights”) associated with the Common Stock; (iii) minutes and records of the corporate proceedings of the Company; (iv) the 2017 Plan and the forms of award agreement used thereunder; and (vi) the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto.

For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies and the authenticity of the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of the signatures of persons signing all documents in connection with which this opinion is rendered, the authority of such persons signing on behalf of the parties thereto other than the Company and the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by the parties thereto other than the Company. We have not independently established or verified any facts relevant to the opinion expressed herein, but have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others.

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John Bean Technologies Corporation

May 26, 2017

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Based upon and subject to the foregoing qualifications, assumptions and limitations and the further limitations set forth below, we advise you that the Shares are duly authorized and, when (i) the Registration Statement related to the Shares becomes effective under the Securities Act and (ii) the Shares have been duly issued pursuant to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the 2017 Plan and the award agreements thereunder, and when the Shares are registered by the Company’s transfer agent, and upon receipt by the Company of the consideration to be paid therefor, and when the Rights that will be associated with the Shares have been duly issued in accordance with the Rights Agreement, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and the Rights that will be associated with the Shares will be validly issued.

With respect to our opinion concerning the Rights, we express no opinion regarding the Rights Agreement or whether or not the board of directors in adopting the Rights Agreement and approving the issuance of the Rights acted in a manner consistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable law, and such opinion is based upon the assumption that such adoption and issuance were consistent with such duties. Furthermore, this opinion does not address the determination a court may make regarding whether the board of directors would be required to redeem or terminate, or take other action with respect to, the Rights at some future time based on the facts and circumstances existing at that time. This opinion addresses the Rights and the Rights Agreement in their entirety, and it should be understood that it is not settled whether the invalidity of any particular provision of a rights agreement or the purchase rights issued thereunder would invalidate such rights in their entirety.

Our opinions expressed above are subject to the qualification that we express no opinion as to the applicability of, compliance with, or effect of any laws except the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (including the statutory provisions, all applicable provisions of the Delaware constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting the foregoing).

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.

We do not find it necessary for the purposes of this opinion, and accordingly we do not purport to cover herein, the application of the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the various states to the issuance and sale of the Shares.

This opinion is limited to the specific issues addressed herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion should the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise after the date hereof.

John Bean Technologies Corporation

May 26, 2017

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This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise relied upon for any other purpose.