Pictured on-site in Japan last month were AMPC’s Dr Koentadi Hadinoto and Stuart Shaw, consultant Dr Fraser Border, Tadashi Kimura and Masashi Imagawa.

THE first prototype of a machine for lamb leg deboning suitable for Australian meat processing has been built and tested in Japan.

The Australian Meat Processor Corporation has teamed up with global food processing automation company Mayekawa to build the machine, known as a LALDAS, based on adaptations of a commercially-available machine used for turkey legs.

AMPC’s Advanced Manufacturing team of Stuart Shaw and Koentadi Hadinoto were in Japan last month inspecting the machine, which is due to arrive in Australia later this year where it will be trialled for six weeks in a lamb processing plant.

The six-week Australian plant trial will assess yield, reliability and speed performance.

Several Australian meat processors joined AMPC in Japan to see the testing first-hand.

Dr Hadinoto said Mayekawa had successfully achieved deboning automation of similar machines for poultry and pork processing and earlier work with AMPC had delivered much enthusiasm for a cost-effective and practical automation solution in lamb.

“LALDAS constitutes one of the first machines that meets the specific requirements of the Australian lamb sector and it will establish the methodology and approach to solving deboning steps in butchery for the sector,” he said.

“This project has helped build a valuable relationship between a leading deboning automation provider and a significant part of Australia’s red meat sector.”

The Japan visit also included a facility tour in Moriya, Mayekawa’s main manufacturing site, where other automated deboning technology was able to be viewed in action.

“We also were able to have a great discussion with Shin Maekawa, Mayekawa’s chief executive officer, and the wider team, with the aim of continuing to work together and ensure the final machine will meet what our processing industry needs,” Dr Hadinoto said.

Source: AMPC