DIY Technologies

Over recent years, MLA has funded a number of projects that have produced small equipment and hand tools that have not been widely taken up by industry.

MLA has recognised the success of the 'do-it-yourself' (DIY) concept and provided funding and resource materials to allow for the preparation of further DIY technology transfer kits on these under-utilised items.

The information, on which these kits are based, reflects industry funded work by industry partners or by contract equipment developers in close collaboration with industry. The projects that have proven particularly successful are those that have involved significant input from management and staff of processing plants.

The kits are based on information currently available through MLA and industry. They contain several pages of text giving a simple explanation and instruction on the use of the equipment or hand tool. Where appropriate, and available, they include engineering drawings, sketches, materials lists, costs, photographs and video footage of the equipment in use.

The following DIY kits have been prepared and are available from MLA:

Latest DIY kit

• Smallstock carcase and beef quarter Ezi-Lift

Previous DIY kits

• Cattle head capture unit
• Beef landing cradle
• Simple downward hide puller
• Rotating drum downward hide puller
• Bovine jaw boning clamp
• Power Assisted Boning Hook
• Beef head lifting devices
• Rail cleaning system
• Chain cleaning and oiling system
• Wall scrubbing equipment
• Evisceration table scrubber
• Beef loin boning table
• Bandsaw shield
• Urine extraction system
• Rotary sorting table
• Beef sternum hook
• Simple scissor lift cradle
• Integrated data capture and carton management system
• Alternate refrigeration control system

Processors intending to use the information in these kits must expect to provide some of their own development input. The extent of this input will vary between kits and between plants.

It should be noted that some kits are well proven, have been in industry use for several years and require little modification, merely adaptation to a plant's specific set-up. Others have been assessed in industry and proven successful but have not been operated over extended production. These will require some refinement and, in particular, input from site staff to obtain the best results.

Others have been developed and proven as prototypes only and these will require further development to obtain their potential benefits. However, all have been included as DIY kits in this technology transfer project because they have the potential to assist processors in improving their skills, productivity and profitability.