Many of the jobs undertaken in Freezing works are both unpleasant and relatively dangerous, however mechanization may soon reduce the number of hands on tasks workers need to perform.
According to an article in Christchurch’s Press (“Scott keen to grow use of meat-chain robots,” May 5), NZ company Scott Technology plans to increase its development of robotic lamb cutting systems. The robotic cutting arms being developed as a joint venture between Scott and the country’s biggest met processor, PPCS.
A “first stage” robotic boning arm is already in use at PPCS’s Silverstream meat processing plant, near Dunedin. The machine allows for the splitting of a carcass into three sections, while further stages are being developed to allow them to be cut into smaller cuts for export.
