Integration of Food Processing Solutions for Automated Meat Portioning Lines

JBT Corporation and Marel have combined their technology portfolios to deliver unified digital infrastructure and automated systems for meat processing facilities.

  marel.com

The collaboration integrates thermal treatment, volumetric portioning, robotic packaging, and centralized software control into a continuous production line. This combined system addresses the operational demands of industrial beef and pork processors by automating material handling from initial crust freezing to final case packing.

Operational Challenges and Partner Roles
Industrial meat processors face significant challenges regarding raw material yield, strict weight specifications, and labor availability in high-volume environments. Manual handling between discrete process steps often introduces product variability and increases contamination risks.

To resolve these inefficiencies, JBT Corporation and Marel have merged their respective engineering expertise. JBT Corporation provides specialized thermal processing and high-capacity tray sealing systems, while Marel integrates precision portioning, dynamic checkweighing, and robotic styling systems.




Technical Solution and System Architecture
The combined production line functions as a synchronized, automated system governed by AXIN software, which serves as the central digital infrastructure. The software collects real-time data from inline sensors to monitor throughput and adjust machine parameters dynamically.

• Thermal Preparation: The process begins with Frigoscandia ADVANTEC impingement freezers. These units employ high-velocity air streams to create a uniform crust on the raw protein, stabilizing the material structure for precise mechanical cutting without the operational costs of cryogenic gases.
• Portioning and Feedback Loops: Downstream from the portioning units, the M-Weigher Process Check systematically weighs unpacked portions. This scanning system transmits continuous weight data upstream to the portioning software, enabling real-time adjustments to cutting parameters to minimize product giveaway.
• Robotic Packaging and Sealing: Automated tray packing is executed by the RoboBatcher Flex and RoboPacker systems, which utilize integrated vision systems to identify, orient, and style portions into trays. These trays are then transferred to Proseal tray sealing systems that maintain hermetic seal integrity to preserve shelf life.
• Labeling and Case Packing: Weigh price labeling systems process up to 160 packs per minute, printing and applying logistics and consumer labels. Finally, the Proseal Case Packer uses 2D delta robotics and quick-release tooling to automate the placement of finished trays into secondary shipping cases.

Deployment and Industrial Use Cases
The integrated line architecture is engineered for direct deployment within existing industrial food automation frameworks. Because the mechanical interfaces and data protocols are pre-configured between the JBT and Marel sub-systems, factory floor space utilization is optimized via compact equipment variants like the ADVANTEC Narrow. Technical support, line commissioning, and lifecycle maintenance are managed under a unified service framework to ensure continuous process stability.

"Our customers need more than individual machines," says Dirk Gruyters, Industry Specialist Case Ready at JBT Marel. "They want a fully connected line where every step contributes to higher yields, greater consistency, and reduced manual handling."

Edited by Evgeny Churilov, Induportals Media - Adapted by AI.

www.jbtmarel.com

  Ask For More Information…