Off The Bone. Clean And Quick

From the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology
For immediate release

OFF THE BONE, CLEAN AND QUICK

Meat processors using a new boning machine built in Hamilton are finding they can make cleaner slices of mutton, much quicker.

"The boner removes the meat with minimal damage, so to the untrained eye it looks as if it has been done manually," says Macpro Engineering Ltd managing director and chief executive Colin Roberts.

A butcher using the machine can bone up to nine legs a minute, an impossible feat for a butcher boning manually. This creates considerable cost savings.

The project to design and build the boner was supported by Technology New Zealand, which invests in research into new products, processes or services as part of the Government's drive to build a knowledge-based economy.

"The investment helped us to sort out a couple of flexible parts that needed a lot of work," Mr Roberts says. "As well as cutting costs and speeding processing, the boner gives more meat from carcasses."

The first two machines built were sold to Australian processors and two more are on order.

"We design and build high-value equipment and machinery for the agricultural industry," Mr Roberts says. "This project has contributed to our being able to make better machinery for our customers." Mr Roberts founded Macpro in Hamilton 10 years ago. The firm has 11 employees. -ends-

Contact:

* Colin Roberts, Macpro Engineering Ltd, 7 Devon Rd, Hamilton. Ph: (07) 847-7060. Fax: (07) 847-7047. Email: croberts@macpro.co.nz

* Tony Hadfield, Technology New Zealand (Christchurch Office) at the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, (03) 377-9340. Website: www.technz.co.nz

Prepared on behalf of the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology by ID Communications. Contact: Ian Carson (04) 477-2525. Email: ian@idcomm.co.nz

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