The red meat processing sector's investment into advanced manufacturing has resulted in an artificial intelligence-driven automated beef scribing system being installed at Kilcoy Pastoral Company's processing plant in Queensland.
The system has a small footprint, operates on artificial intelligence, and was installed in March 2023. The system works by first stabilising the carcase.
An AI system then analyses an image of the carcase and instructs a robotic cutting saw on where to make the appropriate cuts.
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Australian Meat Processor Corporation chief executive officer Chris Taylor said: "It's one of the first AI-driven automated beef scribing systems in Australia. The benefits include improving yields, greater consistency in scribing operations and most importantly assisting worker safety.
"It will be trialled over a 12-month period to determine whether the technology can achieve the necessary performance benchmarks. We are upbeat about this investment which could deliver significant returns to the processing industry and look forward to seeing the results."
The investment involves the design and manufacture of the system which is able to perform the four scribing cuts required for their operations. The project also includes testing and installation.
The system is heavily focussed on the principles of artificial intelligence. This technology relies on building data to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the operation of the equipment. Accurate scribing cuts are extremely important due to the high value primals located within the rib structure.
The industry has trialled other beef scribing applications in the past.
Kilcoy Global Foods president Jiah Falcke said: "The adoption of the new AI beef scribing system is an example of the modern practices being adopted in the industry to improve efficiency, safety and yield.
"We are thrilled to have this technology at our Kilcoy plant. Its implementation has been driven by our leadership team for a number of years and its successful adoption reinforces our position as a leader in the beef industry.
"Prior to automation this was a skilled manual task which required the use of a hazardous circular cutting saw. We will now be able to extract more value from the carcase while improving workplace safety and contribute to labour supply sustainability."
AMPC is working together with Intelligent Robotics on this investment.
