Icelandic processing equipment manufacturer, Valka, has launched the second generation of the Valka Cutter machine, for automatic bone and portion cutting.
The Advanced Valka Cutter has many new and improved features that further increases the cutting possibilities. With those capabilities, the company says that the value of every fillet can be maximised for the processor, as well as giving excellent flexibility.
Valka is also presenting a complete fillet production line that it says essentially sets a new standard in terms of throughput, product handling and automation.
Advanced Valka Cutter
Valka first released the Valka Cutter in August 2012. With more than three years’ experience of working with this new technology and millions of pin bones and portions cut, the second generation machine builds on this experience.
The second generation can cut out the belly bone, which will save significant amount of time in the pre-trimming process and ensures that fillets that have no defects from filleting can be fed untouched directly to the cutting machine.
By optimising the cutting for individual fillets, based on the defined cutting patterns, the processor is prepared to efficiently meet the increasing demand for portions with fixed weight as well as strict length, width and even height requirements. The machine can, for example, cut fillets of different size and different qualities into different patterns. The patterns can include traditional loins, tails and fillet portions, but diagonal cuts, backfillets and split loins along the fillet direction can also be accurately made to meet the specifications of a demanding market. According to Valka, there is virtually there is no limit on the possible cutting patterns. This ensures that each fillet is utilised the best possible way, into higher value portions and all cut off is minimised or eliminated.
An option with the cutter is also to add a second x-ray camera afterwards, scanning all portions to ensure that they are bone free. This feature is extremely valuable for processors selling their products into sensitive markets. A key component for this feature is automatic removal of the pinbone and the belly flap bone that comes as an option in the cutting machine.
Intelligent product routing
In addition, Valka is introducing a new product routing system that automatically distributes portions into various channels. As all products from the Valka Cutter are known by size, weight, and shape they can be routed to the appropriate product stream, maintaining the correct alignment using patent pending robotic technology. This is commonly used to guide different portions to fresh packing, to fresh vacuum packing or to an IQF where the system intelligently manages the entire sorting based on information from the cutter.
Further parts of the processing line are various machines for sorting and automatically finishing the box. That includes, for example, the Aligner packing grader, automatic ice dosing, plastic feeding, labelling and box or lid handling. The entire line is designed to maintain constant product flow, preserving quality and steady temperature and with exceptionally gentle handling and without any human handling.
Valka
Seafood Processing Global, 26-28 April 2016, Brussels, Belgium
Hall 4 Stand 4-6115
