VISCERA CUTTING: Innovative system for the multi-cutting process of viscera in the slaughterhouse and reduction of water consumption

Descripció del projecte

The meat sector is the fourth largest industrial sector in the territory. The optimization of the processes involved in the slaughtering and processing of the products obtained is vital to increase the competitiveness of the sector. One of the key points is to be able to combine productivity with the saving of both energy and water resources, improving the working conditions of the workers, without losing the quality and food safety of the products.

In this context, the main need of the project arises which, at the same time, is the main objective of the project: carry out an industrial research project to design a prototype that allows the automation of the large intestine cutting process in the slaughterhouse, through a multi-cut system of viscera that allows the water consumption of the process to be reduced. It should be noted that the prototype being investigated is unique on the market.

This project also has as objectives:

• Reduce the risk of cross-contamination in the slaughterhouse production process, increasing the food safety of the product.
• Increase work safety:
  • Reduce the noise generated by the guts when they are cut
  • Look for safer alternatives for the cutting of pig large intestines
  • Reduce the repetitiveness of the operator’s tasks
• Eliminate a manual and slow process for a more optimal and controlled one
• Reduce human errors in the cutting of large intestines, consequently reducing resources
• Reduce water consumption both in the process of cutting the large intestine in the slaughterhouse and in its cleaning

It should be noted that it is an intercluster project, where INNOVACC (coordinator) and the Catalan Water Partnership (CWP) cluster will work to spread the word about the project among its associates in order to provide tools to improve the competitiveness of the sector.