An eye on each fish

Cabinplant, a market leader within processing lines for foodstuffs such as fish, vegetables and dairy products, once again takes the lead with a state-of-the-art consumer fish grading system.

The grading system was developed during a pilot project conducted in cooperation with Erik Taabbel Fiskeeksport A/S in Skagen, Denmark, following several years of preliminary work.

It is based on high-speed vision grading of fish and takes consumer fish handling to a new level.

Capable of keeping an eye on each fish and identifying it accurately according to size, species and colour, the system offers significant advantages in terms of logistics and resources.

It therefore creates the basis for using the raw material at the best possible point in the production. As an extra bonus, the grading system also eliminates monotonous, manual grading.

Graded on roller conveyors

Until recently, consumer fish were graded according to thickness on roller conveyors followed by manual fine grading.

Vision grading is performed using a camera which 'spots' the fish and assesses it in terms of length, width, colour and other features which the vision system is asked to take into account.

This enables automatic sorting of fish species; a material point when up to 25% of a herring catch may consist of mackerel, which must not end up in the herring filleting machines.

When it comes to the production of herring fillets, it is also crucial that the remaining herring be size-graded with a very high degree of accuracy to ensure that the correct herring are conveyed to the correct filleting machines.

The production breakdowns which may occur when the wrong fish are fed to the filleting machines are thus prevented. Improved grading also increases the quality of the end product.

Competitive edge

The vision system provides in no time a highly accurate profile of the fish factory's daily supply of raw material, and this in turn means that the manufacturer can very quickly get a clear picture of the day's production.

This also gives the sales department a competitive edge over other competitors.

In addition, it becomes much easier to sell by-products separated from the herring, e.g. mackerel and coalfish, when the quantity is known. Up to now, by-products have largely gone to waste.

Vision grading has turned out to be extremely accurate boasting an error percentage of max. one per thousand. Despite every single fish being filmed, the grading systems installed in the individual lines are each capable of grading three tons of fish per hour. At the moment, ten high-speed vision systems are operating at Erik Taabbel Fiskeeksport A/S in Skagen, Denmark.

In conclusion, it can be said that the high-speed vision system ensures faster and more accurate grading of a non-homogeneous raw material and thus paves the way for improved utilisation of all the parts of the fish.

Fat measuring is on its way

Scarcely has Cabinplant introduced its new vision system before it is ready with improvements to further optimise consumer fish handling.

The next feature on the line will in all likelihood be a non-tactile fat meter capable of exactly assessing the fat content of each fish.

This is an important parameter in the production of the fairly expensive matje cured herring (a type of dried fish); the favourite dish of the Dutch.