Read the article featured in Processing Magazine by Jeff Elliott.
High-speed sorting technology recovers 25-35% more product compared to manual inspection.
Nov. 7, 2024
Poultry processors plan to recover millions of dollars in lost revenue by turning to advanced, high-speed sorting technology, which recovers 25-35% more whole chicken nuggets currently sold as low-value trim.
Here is an excerpt from the article:
With 75 years of experience in shrimp processing and grading equipment, Laitram Machinery identified similarities in the technological requirements, specifically the need to separate and scan each chicken nugget item at high speed. Intrigued by the possibilities, Laitram’s R&D team initiated a project to create a high-speed nugget sorting system several years ago.
The result is the SMART Sorter, a patented, fully automated sorter that separates the nuggets and then utilizes high-precision laser imaging and computer vision algorithms to inspect and sort each piece to the processor’s size, shape, and weight specifications.
“We developed a method of singulation at very high speeds that enables us to inspect each nugget visually. By doing that, we get a near-perfect understanding of its size and shape and can recover more prime nuggets,” said Lapeyre.
As for labor, the SMART Sorter decreases labor requirements and costs by more than 50% compared to manual processing and sorting. “Now workers only need to look for blood spots or excess fat, a much simpler task,” explains Lapeyre.
Laitram Machinery recently integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) to almost double throughput rates to 6,500-7,000 pounds of nuggets per hour. AI also enhances clump and defect detection, minimizing the risk of “out-of-spec” nuggets reaching customers and further boosting recovery rates.
The system was introduced by Laitram at IPPE (International Production & Processing Expo) in Atlanta, Georgia, and was recognized as the best innovation in 2024. Today, the system is already installed in the facilities of some of the world’s largest poultry processors.
For more information: call +1 (504) 570-5299; email lm.sales@laitram.com; or visit laitrammachinery.com.
About the Author
Jeff Elliott | Technical writer
Jeff Elliott is a Torrance, California-based technical writer. He has researched and written about industrial technologies and issues for the past 20 years.