Monday, 17 July 2017 10:23

Safe meat cutting technology

Written by 
Meat processor Alliance is investing $3.4 million in new processing technology as part of a wider programme to improve health and safety. Meat processor Alliance is investing $3.4 million in new processing technology as part of a wider programme to improve health and safety.

Meat processor Alliance is investing $3.4 million in new processing technology as part of a wider programme to improve health and safety.

The co-op says 49 band-saws featuring state-of-the art safe cutting technology have been installed at eight plants across the country.

Designed specifically for the meat industry, the band-saws are uniquely designed to stop the blade within 15 milliseconds when the unit senses a person, glove or both are in close proximity or in contact with the saw.

This significantly reduces the risk of any potential injury with the risk limited to at worst a small cut.

David Surveyor, Alliance Group chief executive says the installation of the technology reflected the company’s commitment to improving health and safety, which was a key component of the co-operative’s business strategy.

“The use of standard bandsaws is one of the highest risk activities industry-wide. We want our people to be safer and our business to be stronger and this technology will support that.

“Alliance Group is committed to achieving world class health and safety standards across our co-operative and we are continuing to invest in this area.

“We have made strong progress towards ensuring that safety is embedded in our culture as our absolute number one priority. There is still a long way to go but we are absolutely committed to working with our people, customers and suppliers to make our workplaces safe.”

Alliance Group also expects to invest more than $2 million in a phase two programme, which will see the replacement of 20 larger band-saws as soon as the technology becomes available on those models.

The technology has been rolled out to Alliance Group’s plants in Dannevirke, Levin, Nelson, Timaru, Pukeuri, Makarewa, Mataura and Lorneville (Invercargill).

More like this

Chilled cow cuts enter China

Alliance Group has secured greater access for chilled beef exports into China following approval of its Levin and Mataura plants to supply that market. With its first load of beef from Levin clearing Chinese customs in early January and a shipment from Mataura recently arriving in China, journalist Leo Argent talked to Alliance general manager safety and processing Wayne Shaw.

Co-op boosts chilled exports to China

Alliance Group has secured greater access for chilled beef exports to China, following approval for two of its processing plants to supply the market.

Alliance Group re-set delivering results

Alliance Group has turned a corner on a challenging two years following a comprehensive re-set over the past 18 months and is forecasting a return to profitability, farmer-shareholders were told at the company’s annual meeting in Gore today.

Featured

Top innovators announced

The Fieldays Innovation Award winners have been announced with Auckland’s Ruminant Biotech taking out the Prototype Award.

National

Machinery & Products

Calf feeding boost

Advantage Plastics says it is revolutionising calf meal storage and handling, making farm life easier, safer, and more efficient this…

JD's precision essentials

Farmers across New Zealand are renowned for their productivity and efficiency, always wanting to do more with less, while getting…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Are they serious?

OPINION: The Greens aren’t serious people when it comes to the economy, so let’s not spend too much on their…

A hurry up!

OPINION: PM Chris Luxon is getting pinged lately for rolling out the old 'we're still a new government' line when…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter