Icelandic fishing company HB Grandi has installed a Marel SensorX bone detection machine as part of its processing line.
“With SensorX now part of our line, there are almost no bone complaints and the value of our block material has risen,” says Torfi Þ. Þorsteinsson, HB Grandi Department Manager – Groundfish.
SensorX bone detection enables processors to enhance the quality of their products by reducing handling, as boneless products go through the machine without being touched.
After bone removal, fish are conveyed through SensorX, which serves as an automated quality control station. Bone-free product is directed to packing, without further handling, and any product with bone content is directed to an operator for manual bone removal.
Marel says that SensorX Fish delivers much more reliable and consistent results than manual inspection. The advanced technology provides bone detection capabilities that are said to be unprecedented among automatic bone detection systems.
As well as keeping consumers happy and safe, higher quality means higher value, and can lead to new product possibilities. “We are already seeing the potential this technology has for opening up new markets to us,” says Mr Þorsteinsson.
The benefits of more reliable bone-detection are valuable for producing the whole range of fish products, from boneless fish loins to frozen fish nuggets, and SensorX Fish works well with other equipment, such as the RevoPortioner.
The RevoPortioner from Marel Townsend Further Processing enables processors to make perfectly portioned products at low pressure, thus retaining the texture and structure of the raw material. This can be done without the need for additives to make it stick together, thus avoiding additional costs and keeping the fresh flavour of the fish intact.
HB Grandi had trialled the RevoPortioner previously, and finalised investment in the system on the first day of the Seafood Processing Global exhibition in Brussels in May.
“We believe we will be able to add value to our products with the RevoPortioner,” said Mr Þorsteinsson. “Combined with the SensorX, it produces a very consistent product with the optimum texture and bite.”
M-Check 2
Marel has also recently launched the new M-Check 2 Checkweigher. The machine is approved for process as well as end-of-line applications, making it the ideal choice for any food processing company.
The M-Check 2 Checkweigher can monitor and optimise the accuracy of processing equipment, and ensure compliance with weight legislation across a wide range of products. It features a range of metal detection and reject options that remove off-weight and metal contaminated packs from the product flow to ensure food safety and quality control.
M-Check 2 incorporates Marel's Innova Checkweighing module, which provides real-time monitoring of key performance indicators and collection of data for statistical analysis, enabling processors to track operational performance and optimise production line efficiency. Detailed 'e-weighing' reports are produced to ensure vital compliance with average weight legislation.
M-Check 2 can withstand intense high pressure and high temperature washdown procedures to IP69K, thanks to its sturdy design. Quick release belts and swivel reject bins make for easy cleaning.
Marel says that its modular construction enables the M-Check 2 to be configured to suit virtually any production requirement, thanks to a choice of weigh cells, infeed conveyors, and metal detection and reject options.
