vision of the beef automated boning room dec 09

Beef Automation – Dec 09

Beef Automation

The Automated Boning room of the Future

Dec 2009


Beef Auto boning room visionCHILLER

CT Scan

Scribing


Objective Carcass Measurement: CT Scanning

• Anatomical/Skeletal information will feed into advanced automation further down the line

• Muscle and fat differentiation will provide yield information and will match cuts with customers

• Reduction in costs (classification, sorting, automation, rework, inspection)


Shorter term solution: X-ray• X-ray already a solution for sheep

• Beef: size is the challenge

• Targeted X-ray + conventional imaging

• Some initial work done by FSA

• Splitting and rib tracking


Scribing


Banjo/foreleg boning

• Project started. RTL is the technology provider

• Double objective: Manually Assisted device and Automated leg removal and boning

• Own MLA/AMPC initiative for beef but potential to use future pork technology if successful


Banjo removal and foreleg boning


Banjo boningPotential future projects

Robotic Banjo removal

Auto foreleg deboning (continuation project)

Adaptation of pig foreleg auto boning


Brisket removal

• Cut and pull vs Scribe and scrub

• Visioning, end effector and stabilisation are critical

• Visioning: at this station or at scribing

• If separation at scribing, conventional imaging may be enough


Chuck removal

• Separation from ribs and spine very complex (boneless output)

• Bone-in separation relatively simple, but no significant benefit

• If bone-in, the whole chuck (or a bigger piece) could be processed through a similar system to the Middle machine


Tenderloin removal

• Actual location depends on what operations done at scribing

• It may be located before scribing

• Yield is critical (most valuable cut)

• Technology under development for pork


Middle processing

• Part of the carcass between Forequarter and Hindquarter

• As big as the section between the 1st rib and the 1st lumbar

• As small as the short loin

• It will include dedicated machines and cutting and handling robots


Middle processing

1. Flank and Rib set cut and removal

2. Short loin removal

3. Short loin de-boning

1. 2.

3.


Middle machine

• Based on pork technology

• Significant labour savings (3-4 FTE per shift)

• Initial aim: boneless strip loins

• Project underway with DMRI and RTL

• First prototype in May 2010

• If successful, a more ambitious machine will follow

• Full development may take years and $ millions


Middle machine


Middle machine: current pork version


Aitch bone removal

• Current aided systems

• Future automated version: similar to RTL’s Leap II?


Hind leg deboning

• Current aided systems

• Finding seams may be critical

• Current foreleg project should be applicable if successful


Variations:Quarter boning

Hinquarter separation and lifting is the first step


Variations: Robot cell


Opportunities for Collaboration

We can approach collaboration from different angles

• Project by project vs Joint strategy

• Provider driven vs Industry driven

Either way, a joint Au-NZ Steering Group should help to

• Define strategy

• Choose projects

• Choose providers


Proposed Au-NZ joint steering group

• Responsible to draft a joint automation strategy• Initially beef boning but may be extended to slaughter• Other future potential areas (OH&S, environment, food

safety, etc)• No more than 3-4 industry representatives per country• Industry initiative• Providers will be invited as required


Summary of individual opportunitiesCurrent Projects

• Scribing

• Banjo removal and foreleg de-boning

• Middle machine: striploin deboning

• Intelligent Assisted devices

Proposed work

• Objective Carcass Measurement: CT Scanning

• Sensing technologies: targeted location X-ray + conventional imaging

• Hindquarter separation and lifting (quarter deboning)

• Tenderloin removal

• Extension of Middle machine


Beef Slaughter

Front hoof removal

Splitting


Thank You

vision of the beef automated boning room dec 09

Documents

successfulbeef automation

inspectionbeef automation

porkbeef automation

enoughbeef automation

advanced automation

stepbeef automation

middle machinebeef automation

millions beef automation