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Fresh Beef Portioning: High-Precision Linear Combination Weigher Case Study
The Challenge: The "Sticky" Dilemma of Manual Beef Portioning
In the premium meat processing sector, consistency and yield are the cornerstones of profitability. A leading beef processor specializing in high-quality steak strips and diced beef faced a persistent bottleneck in their packaging line. The primary challenge was the inherent stickiness and moisture of fresh beef, which made traditional weighing methods nearly impossible.
Their manual portioning process was plagued by three critical issues:
·Excessive Product Giveaway: To ensure every 500g tray met the minimum weight requirement, manual operators often overfilled by an average of 8-12g per pack. Across a daily production of 5,000 packs, this resulted in over 50kg of "free" premium beef daily.
·High Labor Dependency: The line required 6 full-time workers just for weighing and tray-filling, yet they could only maintain a speed of 10-12 packs per minute.
·Hygiene and Consistency Risks: Manual handling increased the risk of cross-contamination and led to inconsistent tray presentation, affecting the brand's premium image.
To scale their operations and protect their margins, the processor needed an automated solution that could handle sticky proteins with surgical precision.
The Solution: Implementing the SameGram SBW-2512B12 Linear Combination Weigher
After rigorous testing with various automated systems, the processor selected the SameGram SBW-2512B12 Small Portion Linear Combination Weigher. Unlike traditional multihead weighers that rely on vibrating hoppers, the SBW-2512B12 utilizes a belt-fed combination system, specifically engineered for "difficult" products like fresh meat.
The system features 12 independent weighing heads, each equipped with high-precision Mettler Toledo sensors. The beef is fed via food-grade PU belts that gently transport the sticky strips into the weighing buckets, ensuring a smooth discharge without the residue buildup common in gravity-fed systems.
Key Advantages of the SBW-2512B12 for Meat Processing:
Superior Handling of Sticky Proteins: The Swiss-made PU food conveyor belts are the "secret weapon" against stickiness. They provide positive traction for wet beef strips, ensuring that every gram of product is accounted for and successfully discharged into the final combination.
Unrivaled Weighing Accuracy: Powered by the SameGram Online Weighing Control System V1.0.5, the machine calculates the optimal combination of 12 heads in milliseconds. This reduced the average giveaway from 10g down to a remarkable ±1.5g, maximizing the yield of every carcass.
Hygienic "Washdown" Design: In the meat industry, sanitation is non-negotiable. The SBW-2512B12 is built with 304 stainless steel and carries an IP65 waterproof rating. The belts and weighing buckets are designed for tool-free removal, allowing for a complete deep-clean in under 15 minutes.
Smart Production Management: The 10-inch color touch screen allows operators to store up to 100 different product formulas. The "Stop-on-Target" logic ensures the machine automatically halts once the daily quota is reached, preventing overproduction and simplifying inventory management.
The Results: 80% Less Waste and Triple the Throughput
The transition from manual labor to the SameGram SBW-2512B12 transformed the processor's bottom line within the first quarter of operation:
•Giveaway Slashed by 80%: The average overfill dropped from 10g to less than 2g per pack. This saved the company approximately 40kg of premium beef per day, translating to over $120,000 in annual savings from product yield alone.
•Labor Costs Reduced by 66%: The weighing station now requires only 2 operators instead of 6, allowing the company to reallocate 4 workers to higher-value processing tasks.
•Throughput Tripled: Production speed jumped from 10 packs/min to a consistent 30 packs/min, enabling the processor to fulfill larger retail contracts that were previously out of reach.
•Rapid ROI: Based on labor savings and giveaway reduction, the equipment paid for itself in just 7.5 months.
By integrating the SBW-2512B12, the processor didn't just buy a machine; they secured a competitive edge in a market where every gram counts.
Product Technical Parameters: SBW-2512B12
| Parameter Name | Specification |
Product Model | SBW-2512B12 |
| Combination Range | 10g - 2000g |
| Weighing Accuracy | ±0.1g - 3g |
Max Speed | 30 pieces/min |
Material | SUS304 Stainless Steel |
Waterproof Rating | IP65 |
Control System | SameGram V1.0.5 |
| Sensors | Mettler Toledo |
| HMI | 10-inch Color Touch Screen |
Ready to Optimize Your Meat Processing Yield?
The success of our beef processing partner demonstrates that "sticky" challenges have precise solutions. If your production line is struggling with high giveaway, rising labor costs, or inconsistent portioning, SameGram is here to help.
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