Monitoring Meat Texture To Optimize Slicing Yield And Reduce Wasted Meat In High-Speed Slicing Lines

Información del proyecto

SliceWatch

Identificador del acuerdo de subvención: 651964

DOI

10.3030/651964

Proyecto cerrado

Fecha de la firma de la CE 19 Septiembre 2014

Fecha de inicio 1 Septiembre 2014

Fecha de finalización 31 Enero 2015

Financiado con arreglo a

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy

Coste total

€ 71 429,00

Aportación de la UE

€ 50 000,00

Coordinado por

LENZ INSTRUMENTS SL
Spain

Objetivo

Meat processing industry generates an annual turnover of €160.6b in the EU-25, from which 50% corresponds to meat processing SMEs. Over the past years, the demand for sliced cured meat products has steadily grown driven by the higher acceptance of consumers for ready-to-eat products. Despite the growing market demand, operational costs of automated slicing lines are significant. Meat losses represent over 5% of the total costs, and are responsible for wasting tons of meat yearly in Europe. About t10,000 and t3,0000 of meat are annually lost during bacon and ham slicing operations, respectively, with an impact of over €110M.
To a great extent, the variability in meat texture is responsible for these losses. Besides the associated economic and environmental implications, variations in product texture are responsible for frequent line stoppages, and reduced processing throughput.
Based on our patent-pending electromagnetic scanning technology, we aim at developing a non-destructive inspection system to evaluate “in-line” meat texture before slicing. SliceWatch would allow diverting soft or hard pieces from the slicing line, thus preventing line stoppages and minimizing meat losses. This technology shall constitute a breakthrough innovation in the meat processing sector, and shall allow meat producers to reduce manufacturing costs and waste generation. Being a niche market, we estimate the total market value for SliceWatch in Europe in €150M. We expect to generate a NPV of €6M over a 5 years period after starting commercialization (ROI=3.9).
In collaboration with a potential client, we have already assessed the economic and technical feasibility of the project in a production line of sliced cured ham. Through this innovation project we aim at: (1) completing the technical feasibility study, and elaborating a detailed business plan – Phase I; and (2) developing and demonstrating a complete qualified system (TRL8) – Phase II.

Palabras clave

• Food technology
• Meat processing
• Non-destructive testing
• Electromagnetic scan

Programa(s)

• H2020-EU.3.2. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy PROGRAMA PRINCIPAL
  
• H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument
  

Tema(s)

• SFS-08-2014-1 - Resource-efficient eco-innovative food production and processing
  

Régimen de financiación

SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1

Convocatoria de propuestas

H2020-SMEInst-2014-2015

Coordinador

LENZ INSTRUMENTS SL

• Aportación neta de la UEn: € 50 000,00
• Dirección: CALLE SANTANDER 42-48 LOCAL 36 ; 08020 Barcelona ; España
• Pyme Sí:
  Región
  Este › Cataluña › Barcelona
• Región: Este › Cataluña › Barcelona
• Tipo de actividad: Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
• Coste total: € 71 429,00