LEAP4Beef – Module L4B01 Project 3 - Beef Striploin Automated Chine Removal Extended Use Readiness for Data collection (Beta prototype)

Problem: The alpha prototype system for automated beef striploin chine removal (AMPC projects 2024-1038 and 2025-1048) is currently in use at JBS Brooklyn. While yield improvements are being validated and reportedly match the performance of JBS’s best operator, the prototype’s processing speed remains a challenge. It takes approximately 2 minutes to process one striploin, whereas JBS Brooklyn’s existing facility processes 160 striploins per hour (2.7 striploins per minute). This efficiency gap limits daily production efficiency, presenting a challenge to integrating the system into full-scale operations. Solution: To address this, this proposed project will focus on refining processing speed, targeting a cycle time of approximately 1 striploin per minute. Previous development efforts have resulted in improvements to vision cameras and cut path algorithms, enhancing reliability and enabling regular use. This project will move the alpha prototype to a beta prototype and enable a more readily acceptable use of the machine by the JBS Brooklyn facility, which in turn enables the system to have on average 300-400 striploins of the available 2400 striploins a day process. It will also support ongoing data collection to inform the design and costing of the first pre-production prototype in a future project. Impact: By improving processing speed and ensuring consistent operation, the system will become a more practical solution for JBS Brooklyn’s facility. The unit is installed at Brooklyn and currently used sporadically as yield validation and speed improvements are still underway. This project will refine the prototype to ensure acceptable yield and speed, making daily use viable and providing sufficient value to operations. Additionally, the data gathered in this project will help the Scott team design a pre-production prototype. Running the system in a production environment will also support further advancements in other prototypes under the LEAP4BEEF initiatives, including the cube chine bone removal cell (AMPC Project 2025-1043) and the chuck chine bone removal cell (AMPC Project 2025-1052), while informing the Scott team on the design of the pre-production prototype.