| Device
Information & History
Highland
Innovation Centre was approached in 2006 by a Major
Poultry Processor to make a device to detect Oregon Disease
in breeding turkeys on their production line. They
explained that the black meat is condemned and that the
birds have to be cut up, black meat removed and the
remainder used in burgers or other products
thus preventing the sale of those affected birds
being sold intact and unknowingly. When the 10 % or so
of affected birds are removed the other 90% command a
premium price so the profitability is improved. We
understand that the affected meat is in the breast of
the birds.
My
firm quickly produced the poultry wand and sold several
to the poultry processor and then upon their
recommendation to a second Major UK Poultry Processor. Subsequently we
made 15 units for export to the major chicken producer
in Brazil who were using them when producing large
chickens for the Christmas market. Some folk in Brazil
cannot afford turkeys and so buy cheaper large chickens.
Highland
Innovation is currently trying to assess the potential
size of the UK, European and other markets for the device.
The
wand is a steel tube with a pistol grip at one end a
window near the other
end through which light from an array of 21 LEDs shines.
There
is a
control box to power the LEDs and to vary the light
intensity to obtain maximum image contrast.
The system is battery powered to avoid electrical hazard
in a wet environment. There is a footswitch so
the device is only switched on when the probe is inside a bird on the production line. The battery is
relatively high capacity so it can be recharged
overnight and is ready for daily use.
When
a unit requires to be repaired
the customers are desperate to get it back so we conclude the users regard it as
vital to their production / checking process.
The
device is supplied complete in a small
carry case.
The
probe is inserted into the eviscerated bird and
the footswitch pressed then any areas of darkness
arising from affected meat shows up as a dark spot /
area and the bird is removed from the production line of
intact birds. The following image shows an illuminated
turkey supplied for testing.
Subsequent
improvements have been made to the sealing of the
transparent window and the probe is now plugged into the
electronic control box so customers can maintain a
supply of spare wands in case of accidental damage.
This has improved the reliability of the system.
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You can Order
the device online, or Contact
Highland Innovation Centre Ltd with any questions you
may have about the device.
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