Foodmate Equipment
Scope
OBJECTIVE
Fieldale’s need to expand their leg deboning operation to accommodate their clients’ demands came with some challenges. With a tight labor market, it had been increasingly difficult to meet their weekly production goals. Their primary objectives were to reduce labor and increase yields. To achieve these goals, highly automated equipment was a necessity.
Having had previous experiences collaborating with the Foodmate US team, Fieldale approached Foodmate when the Cornelia plant was looking at thigh deboning solutions. The success of the thigh deboners led to the order of three (3) OPTI Flow Cut-up Systems. So, when Fieldale started to look for an efficient whole leg deboning strategy, it was only natural that Fieldale approached Foodmate for a solution, and Foodmate had the “ULTIMATE” answer! While still in its final stages of R&D, Foodmate installed the ULTIMATE Whole Leg Deboner at Fieldale’s Murrayville processing facility; they were the first plant ever to test the ULTIMATE.
The testing period lasted about 12 weeks, and the results convinced the Fieldale team that the machine would be a significant improvement over their current process and help with their challenges in labor, quality, consistency, and yield. After an extensive testing experience, the plant proceeded with the purchasing of the system, along with an additional three ULTIMATE Whole Leg Deboning Systems. The three other machines were installed once Fieldale’s planned building expansion was completed, in August 2018.
Results
Labor and yield improvements have both succeeded our expectations. Fieldale management was pleased to discover that their return on investment is exceeding all the goals. “We particularly like the x-ray and auto adjustment on shackle features, it is very unique, it gives the ability to treat each whole leg individually, we had never been able to do that before with any system”, stated David Rackley, Plant Manager.
