Automation development likely in meat handling

Press, 9 October 1987, Page 30

Automation development likely in meat handling

PA Hamilton World developments in automated carcase handling are likely in the next few years as the meat industry looks for cost savings, according to a spokesman for the Meat Industry Research Institute. The newly appointed head of the development engineering division of M.1.R.1.N.Z., Mr Graeme Longdill, said that while his group was leading the world in lamb dressing, they had only “scratched the surface" in boning andcuttlng. He anticipated boning and cutting of carcases would take more and more research resources. “Sixty per cent of the industry’s costs are labour. Combined with out exchange and infla-

tion rates it is putting increased pressure on processing costs,” Dr Longdill said. For every 100 jobs lost through lack of stock, one would be lost as a result of new technology, he said. “Loss of stock numbers, is more of a threat. If works don’t get new technology they will become uneconomic, and won’t be able to give returns to the farmer, who will produce less stock to be killed at the works,” he said. Dr Longdill expects new developments In the packaging and storage of carcases. The case for packing meat for export more efficiently was obvious when thejfost of getting a carBritain was $ll —

the same amount of •money it cost to process it, he said. There would' also be spin-offs for the goat and deer industries as what had been developed would , be applicable to them. ' Electronic engineering is another field from which Dr Longdill expects big progress in the near future. In times of research funding cuts, engineering projects had been well financed, he said. “The industry sees the direct benefit and has funded well. There have also been significant contribr from end manuao will use the mechanised . processes whenfethey /are, devafope<grne said. '• y