Mechanical Aids At Freezing Works

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31143, 20 August 1966, Page 1

Mechanical Aids At Freezing Works

The Belfast freezing works of Thomas Borthwick and Sons would introduce new beef dressing and killing facilities and mechanical boning facilities costing tens of thousands of pounds this year said the company’s South Island manager (Mr T. C. H. Miller) yesterday.

The improvements were being carried out to meet rigid Department of Agriculture hygiene requirements,

in liaison with those of the United States Department of Agriculture, he said. Mr Miller said the Belfast works was introducing a cradle for beef dressing. When the beef was slung hack on the rail, the cradle stopped the beef from touching the ground. “The movements of all parts of the beast should be synchronised even where a part is detached from the beast,” said Mr Miller. “This is so that the inspector can correlate each part when he inspects it with the beast.” Mr Miller said that under this new system, the hide, when taken off, would not touch the meat after it had become detached. The boning improvements, he said, were necessitating the moving from one room to another. “We have built a new room to transfer the boning, with the accent on hygiene and temperature control,” said Mr Miller.