January 12, 2011

Pork cutting robot used in Australia's major processing firm

A major pork processing plant in Western Australia is using a laser guided pork cutting robot which costs AUD$700,000 (US$689,388).

"It scans the carcass, takes an image of it and then directs the robot to exactly where it should be cutting," according to general manager, Ron Penn, of the meat and livestock division in Liney Valley.

Penn further added that the robot is accurate in its method and wastage caused by accidental cuts to the stomach occurs less frequently.

The federal government provided the company with a grant (which it had to match dollar for dollar) on the condition that other companies were permitted to view the robot's working operations.