This award recognises outstanding activities associated with the development of improved or new products, processes or services using mechanical engineering, mechatronics, or those which arise in the manufacturing sector.

Ovine Auto Processing Systems Development
Milmeq Ltd

Developing an automated solution for brisket cutting and evisceration involved revisiting existing practices  using a base zero approach. The re-engineered outcome is a substantially different system and incorporates  novel conveyor design, independent robotics with custom end-effectors and task reconfiguration. The brisket cutter units’ cutting action is hydraulically powered for instantaneous action, and achieves consistent results through stabiliser bars which hold and ensure exact orientation of the brisket for cutting. The key to the evisceration success is the skid and gambrel support conveyor which captures, orientates and holds the free-swinging skids correctly. The system makes labour savings by re-engineering the process line and adding automation. It has achieved safer working by eliminating difficult tasks and, through automation, is providing higher surety of hygienic processing. Patents have been applied for.

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