For the first time, Eagle Product Inspection (Eagle) was on hand at the International Production and Processing Exhibition (IPPE), Hall B at Booth 6264, to offer expert advice to the meat, poultry and feed industries with regard to inline x-ray inspection, fat analysis and quality control checks.

The market demand for high-throughput, efficient inspection systems is increasing due to the number of producers and processors protecting themselves against contaminant–related product recalls. In addition, demand for technologies that feature data repositories that support traceability and validation of safety plans is bolstered by robust food safety regulations in the US and overseas.

From slaughterhouses to packaging operations, the need for technology that enables meeting Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) requirements is on-going for US facilities trading outside of their state, selling to major retailers or exporting to international markets. Removing contaminants such as glass, metal, stone and dense plastics and rubbers is critical for HACCP and the benefits of removing contaminants early in the process is becoming increasingly clear to the industry.

Kyle Thomas, Strategic Business Unit (SBU) Manager at Eagle Product Inspection, said: “Eagle prides itself on being the inline meat inspection expert. Working closely with facilities, we recognize the importance of providing machines that are robust, reliable and that incorporate proven x-ray technology for both contaminant inspection and fat analysis purposes. Our machines are designed to operate in harsh wash-down environments and are capable of inspecting and analyzing 100% of product inline simultaneously - enabling Eagle to offer the highest throughputs on the market. It is this deep understanding of producers and the environments they operate within that gives Eagle a unique inline inspection expertise”.

Contaminant detection

The Eagle RMI3 Series is ideal for contaminant detection for those working with unpacked bulk, open crate and carton applications, with systems having been designed specifically to operate within harsh wash-down environments. The RMI3/B ensures reliable inspection of unpackaged bulk products, such as chicken and raw beef, at speeds of up to 37 meters per minute (120 FPM). Its maximum throughput is an impressive 50 tons per hour and by utilizing a unique troughed belt, product presentation can be improved and sanitation requirements reduced.

For closed cartons or open crates of raw meat there is the RMI3/C. The x-ray system is similar to the RMI3/B, with the addition of Eagle Product Switch. Without stopping the production line, processors can minimize downtime through automatic product changeovers – perfect for manufacturers that process more than one meat product on one line.

Manufacturers producing ground meat chub, and other packaged meat and poultry products, looking to streamline operations, the Pack 400 HC eliminates the need for multiple systems on the line, such as checkweighers, metal detectors and vision systems. With multiple inspection capabilities, the system provides superior contamination detection while simultaneously measuring mass (to avoid costly giveaway), and inspecting seal integrity (such as ensuring aluminum clips are present and correctly positioned).

Fat analysis

As profit margins in the meat processing world are a constant challenge, the need to optimize production and have an accurate analysis of chemical lean (CL) is pressing. Using Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) technology, Eagle’s range of fat analysis systems give both slaughterhouses and meat processors the capability to inspect 100% of throughput inline and in real-time – providing fat analysis within +/- 1CL.

For slaughterhouses, this capability can eliminate fat claims and help them to achieve combo targets without sorting/sampling, while for processors, verification that purchased meat was accurately priced is simple. Accurate fat analysis also helps with Least Cost Formulation, enabling accurate blending targets to be achieved and reducing inconsistencies in recipe operations.

Eagle’s FA3/M is an example that has proven its capabilities time and again. It is a multi-application system capable of providing inline fat measurement and contaminant detection for a variety of products – such as unwrapped meat conveyed in plastic crates, frozen or tempered meat blocks and fresh, chilled, frozen and hot-boned loose bulk. It is a robust machine that has been designed to NAMI sanitary standards with fast breakdown for sanitation. There is no degradation in inspection performance at full throughput, which is an impressive 2,400 plastic crates or frozen blocks per hour, or up to 35 tons of bulk meat per hour.

Its AUTOCAL automated calibration system, coupled with VALIDATE, makes it the only machine in the industry to feature automatic calibration and validation. Operators are able to precisely calibrate the machine in less than one minute with a simple tap of the touch screen and are then able to validate this calibration at any time. These features remove the need to use unsanitary and potentially unsafe phantom blocks on the factory floor.

For more information, please visit: www.eaglepi.com/fa3