New Marel Poultry technology brings labor-saving quality assessment and distribution.
Today, wing products are so popular that customers demand for both higher volumes and more consistent quality. That is why Marel Poultry has introduced Q-Wing, an automated quality assessment and distribution solution for wing parts. Apart from considerably increasing yields, Q-Wing is objective and unique to the industry.
Marel Poultry has made it possible to individually assess each drummette or wingette of each right and left wing. If, for example, only the left second joint is damaged, the first joint part can still be processed as an ‘A’ grade item. This will dramatically help to secure quality consistence and increase wing yields.
Existing modules
The wing part assessment and distribution process can be integrated into a Marel Poultry ACM-NT cut-up line. Q-Wing consists of IRIS vision grading, an Innova PDS software control module and a specific layout of (partly existing) cutting modules and conveyor belts.
If IRIS has detected a defect in a wing part, this part is cut selectively and ends up in the ‘B’ grade product stream. ‘A’ grade parts end up in a separate product stream, straight to downstream processes or packing stations.
Sophisticated logistics
Once this selective wing cutting has been done, sophisticated logistics follow. Multiple conveyor belts lead to separate packing stations for the different ‘A’ grade and ‘B’ grade wing parts. Such an accurate sorting procedure reduces considerably the amount of products to be trimmed.
Saving labor
Q-Wing gives better product flows. In principle, it can handle 60,000 wing parts per hour when processing 15,000 bph. Normally, such volumes would mean a lot of people. Q-Wing, however, does away with the need for manual quality grading. It can save the operators who are currently assessing, sorting and reworking wings.
Q-Wing not only saves labor but also removes the subjective human element from the grading process. Human assessment can leave room for doubt often leading to manual rework. It makes confident objective. Q-Wing, however, makes confident objective decisions in all situations and ensures fast automated grading. It sorts product into ‘A’ and ‘B’ grades immediately and directs them to their correct destinations with minimal human involvement.
More information: marel.com/Q-Wing
