Leg deboning automation moves ahead
27 March 2026
Focus area: Advanced manufacturing
Program stream: Advanced manufacturing
Research has shown that automation of lamb and beef leg deboning is both technically feasible and highly valuable for the red meat industry.
More importantly, work has also now progressed beyond theory to include plant benchmarking, prototype trials and processor engagement, providing confidence that the pathway toward adoption is realistic and achievable.
A project funded by AMPC was undertaken to address what is a critical challenge in the red meat processing industry - the labour-intensive and physically demanding task of deboning.
Lamb and beef deboning processes was assessed, scoping relevant automation based on existing DAS equipment from Mayekawa.
More than 20 processors in Australia took part in the project.