Careers Contact Downloads |

Food Processing Software Solutions

Australia

Home / Archives for Markets / Australia

From Manual Port Marks to Meat Messaging

Preventing Costs & Rejections For Australian Processors Exporting to the USA

A market defined by precision, transparency, and performance, meat processors across Australia are excelling in digital transformation. As export volumes reach record highs, processors are under increasing pressure to maintain full traceability, guarantee compliance, and operate with greater efficiency across every stage of production.

According to Meat & Livestock Australia, 2024 marked a record year for red-meat exports, with 394,716 tonnes of beef and 85,133 tonnes of lamb shipped to the United States alone, and 2025 has shown no sign of slowing down.

As global demand for high-quality meat continues to rise, Australian processors are increasingly turning to technology to streamline exports, especially to high-value markets like the United States. One of the most significant innovations driving this transformation is Meat Messaging, a cloud-based digital traceability system designed to ensure compliance, reduce errors, and improve overall export efficiency.

The Cost of Manual Port Marks

For exporters shipping to the United States, even the smallest error can be costly. A single incorrect or missing port mark can lead to carton rejections, lost revenue, and reputational damage. Manual port marking remains one of the most common sources of non-compliance, often caused by human error during labelling or documentation.

I recall helping the load-out team on multiple occasions, applying pre-printed port mark stickers to cartons as they were loaded into the container. Up to 1,200 cartons in a container, it’s inevitable that some will not be applied correctly or fall off during transit. I remember conversations about product being rejected and discarded simply due to port marks missing.”
Shane Hayes, General Manager – Australasia, Emydex Technology

These manual processes are time-consuming and prone to inconsistencies, creating significant challenges for exporters operating under strict USDA import standards.

Meat Messaging: A Smarter, Digital Solution

Meat Messaging eliminates the need for manual port marks by providing a secure, cloud-based system that digitises the traceability of export cartons. Each carton’s data is recorded electronically and pre-registered with the USDA, allowing import authorities to validate and identify every unit in a shipment before it arrives.

This digital approach significantly reduces the risk of rejections, accelerates customs clearance, and strengthens transparency between processors, regulators, and importers. In an industry where precision and reputation are everything, Meat Messaging provides a modern safeguard against costly mistakes.

Emydex’s Seamless Integration: A Competitive Advantage

Recognising the operational and compliance benefits of Meat Messaging, Emydex has developed a fully integrated solution that connects directly with the platform.

Through the Emydex Manufacturing Execution System (MES), processors can automatically generate GS1-compliant carton labels, capture shipment data, and transmit it directly to Meat Messaging, removing the need for manual port marking and paper-based tracking.

This seamless integration ensures:

  • Accurate, real-time traceability from factory floor to export

  • Reduced manual handling and error rates

  • Improved compliance and audit readiness

  • Faster and more efficient export processes

The result is Fewer errors, lower costs, and faster exports. Emydex clients have reported significant improvements in operational efficiency and compliance since adopting the integration.

Looking Ahead

As Emydex continues to expand its footprint across Australia, our focus remains on helping processors strengthen their operations through smarter, connected systems.

This November, Dave McMahon (CEO) and Shane Hayes (General Manager – Australasia) will meet with customers and industry leaders across the country to discuss how Emydex’s digital solutions can streamline processes, enhance compliance, and support sustainable growth for Australia’s meat industry.

If you would like to connect in person, book a meeting with our team during our November visit and discover how Emydex can help your business enhance operational efficiency, ensure full compliance, and gain end-to-end visibility across the entire export chain.

Request a Demo

Silver Fern Farms Pacific Site Goes Live with Emydex Beef Processing Software

The successful implementation of Emydex software at the Pacific (Hastings) site marks another important milestone in the five-year partnership between Emydex and Silver Fern Farms (SFF). This is the sixth primary butchery site for beef processing within the SFF network to go live with Emydex’s traceability and production control systems. 

A trusted partnership in New Zealand’s red meat industry 

Silver Fern Farms is one of New Zealand’s leading red meat companies, recognised for its focus on quality, sustainability and innovation. Since 2020, Emydex has worked alongside the SFF team to deliver tailored software solutions that optimise operations, enhance visibility and support data-driven decision making across the company’s beef processing plants. 

Custom deployment for a site with unique requirements 

The go-live at Pacific followed a structured deployment approach, beginning with the transition from the legacy CRS system to Emydex. Barrel testing was conducted in advance to simulate real animal processing and ensure system readiness. 

Due to the specific layout of the Pacific site, liveweight data needed to be captured before the stunning stage. To accommodate this, Emydex designed and implemented a custom indicator terminal that replicates the standard liveweight functionality while integrating seamlessly into the existing process. 

Efficient delivery and strong collaboration 

As with previous deployments, the Pacific rollout was executed smoothly, with only minor issues quickly resolved by the combined efforts of the on-site and remote support teams. This go-live also included the rollout of SFF BI V2, the latest version of Emydex’s business intelligence platform. The updated solution enhances access to production insights and enables faster, more informed decision-making across operations. 

Positive feedback from the SFF team 

Feedback from Silver Fern Farms has been extremely positive. Matt Ballard, Chief Transformation Officer, shared: 

Great Moment! Our legacy CRS system is now retired across all our six beef only plants! Keep going team!” 

This successful go-live reinforces the strength of the partnership and the shared commitment to continuous improvement across the SFF network. 

Looking ahead 

The successful go-live at Pacific confirms the effectiveness and adaptability of the Emydex platform across Silver Fern Farms’ operations. The implementation has proven to be both efficient and beneficial for on-site teams, reinforcing the strength of the ongoing collaboration. With all six beef processing sites now live or nearing completion, the focus will soon shift to supporting Silver Fern Farms as they prepare to roll out Emydex systems across new species, including venison and lamb, in the near future. 

Request a Demo

Australasia Tour 2025: Strengthening Partnerships Across ANZ

In Weeks 45 and 46 of 2025, Emydex CEO David McMahon will join our new General Manager for Australasia, Shane Hayes, on a two-week tour of Australia and New Zealand. Together, they will meet with customers and prospects to deepen relationships, gather market insights and explore opportunities to advance operations across the region.

This initiative goes beyond a traditional visit. It underscores Emydex’s long-term commitment to the Australasian market and opens new avenues for collaboration with industry leaders across meat, seafood and produce.

Why Australasia Matters

Australia and New Zealand are home to some of the world’s most advanced processors. From red meat to seafood, the region is recognised for its high standards, operational complexity and continuous focus on innovation.

For Emydex, Australasia is a growth hub where technology is tested at scale and partnerships are built on trust, transparency and long-term value.

Shane Hayes, General Manager for Australasia, notes:

Meeting our customers face to face helps build trust and deepen relationships. Having David alongside me speaks to the commitment Emydex has in the Australasian market.”

David McMahon, CEO of Emydex, adds:

Australia and New Zealand are key pillars in our global growth strategy. Processors here operate at a high level of complexity and innovation, which aligns perfectly with our platform’s strengths. My goal during this trip is to listen, learn and work together on solutions that deliver real impact.”

David’s presence alongside Shane reflects Emydex’s role in the region not just as a technology provider, but as a strategic partner invested in long-term success.

A Strong Foundation in Australasia

Emydex isn’t new to the region. We are already trusted by some of Australasia’s largest and most innovative processors.

From Silver Fern Farms and Wilson Hellaby in New Zealand to Harvey Beef and Sunpork Group in Australia, our solutions support operations across beef, lamb and pork processing.

With more than 120 live installations worldwide and a growing team on the ground, Emydex is well positioned to drive the next wave of digital transformation in the region.

This tour builds on that foundation by deepening relationships, gathering feedback and shaping solutions together with our partners.

What Customers Can Expect

During the tour, David and Shane will:

  • Visit customer sites across Australia and New Zealand

  • Explore new project opportunities with prospects

  • Share insights into Emydex’s evolving product roadmap

  • Gather feedback on regional priorities and future needs

  • Strengthen partnerships that drive long-term success

Across regions and sectors, from poultry to lamb, the conversations will be practical, relevant and focused on measurable outcomes.

David McMahon emphasises:

This tour is about listening carefully, understanding what matters most to our customers and shaping solutions together. Our presence in Australasia reflects a long-term vision to grow with the industry and support our partners in achieving their goals.”

Want to Meet David & Shane?

If you are a customer looking to share feedback, or a prospect interested in how Emydex can help transform your operations, this is the right time to connect.

 Book a meeting with David & Shane

Let’s discuss your goals, your challenges and how Emydex can help drive sustainable growth and operational excellence in your business.

Request a Demo

Emydex announces Shane Hayes as General Manager for Australasia

Emydex is pleased to announce the appointment of Shane Hayes as General Manager for Australasia, a strategic move that strengthens the company’s presence and leadership in the region. Based in Adelaide, Shane will lead operations with a focus on expanding customer relationships, improving local delivery, and supporting the company’s long-term vision. With a strong track record across multiple teams and territories, Shane brings deep insight into customer needs and Emydex solutions. Over the years, he has led complex cross-functional projects, contributed to innovation strategies, and built lasting relationships with food processing clients across regions. These experiences have shaped his leadership and prepared him to take on this key role.

It is an honour to take on the role of General Manager in my home country. I am especially looking forward to strengthening our customer relationships and deepening our partnerships across Australia and New Zealand.
Shane Hayes, General Manager Australasia

In this new role, Shane will focus on:

  • Customer success and expansion, by reinforcing existing partnerships and exploring new opportunities
  • Operational excellence, through agile, responsive local delivery
  • Team growth and development, by investing in culture, talent and capabilities

The appointment of Shane Hayes reflects Emydex’s continued investment in strong local leadership and its commitment to providing tailored technology solutions for food processors across every region.

Following Shane’s relocation in September, he and CEO Dave McMahon will begin a series of international visits to connect with customers on-site and strengthen global partnerships.

To learn more about our activities in the region, visit our Australasia market page.

For further information, contact Emydex through any of our global offices in Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Africa or North America.

Request a Demo

Emydex CEO Update – Reflections on 2024 & Expansion Plans for 2025

2024 Highlights

Global Expansion and BAADER Partnership

In this Emydex CEO Update, reflecting on 2024, Emydex has continued its global expansion, driven by BAADER’s acquisition of a majority shareholding in July 2023. Headquartered in Luebeck, Germany, BAADER is a global manufacturer and supplier of food processing machinery and solutions, with 30 subsidiaries across Europe, the USA, China, South America, Africa, and Asia. BAADER employs 1,650 people in more than 100 countries worldwide. 

Emydex is collaborating with BAADER on several significant opportunities with meat processors in new Emydex markets, including Brazil, Indonesia, the Philippines, and the Middle East.  

New Markets and Customer Growth

In January 2024 and 2025, Emydex exhibited on the BAADER booth at the IPPE trade show in Atlanta, USA, the world’s largest annual poultry, meat, and animal food industry event. Since then, Emydex has expanded beyond its traditional core markets of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, securing new customers such as Murray’s Chicken in New York and Sustainable Beef in Nebraska, USA. New Emydex hires have also been onboarded at BAADER’s Kansas City, Missouri, factory base. 

System Implementations in New Zealand

In New Zealand, following successful implementations of the Emydex factory floor MES system in its primary beef processing plants in Belfast, Dargaville, and Hawera, Silver Fern Farms went live with Emydex in their fourth beef primal processing plant in Te Aroha, North Island. Two more plants, Finegand and Pacific, are scheduled to go live before Summer 2025, bringing the total to six primary beef plants operating Emydex. The project’s next phase will see Emydex expand into Silver Ferns’ venison plants in New Zealand. 

Irish Projects and Partnerships

Closer to home in Ireland, where Emydex’s headquarters is based, Ireland’s largest primary Lamb processor, Irish Country Meats, went live in December 2024, with Emydex in their main plant in Camolin, Co. Wexford. 

Company Achievements

Emydex celebrated twenty years in business in April 2024, achieving the accolade of being one of Ireland’s Best Places to Work in 2025 for the first time. This recognition has led to several former Emydex employees rejoining the company after leaving for a change of scene post-COVID. 

The Emydex team of meat industry experts have also grown over the past year, with additional Meat Industry Business Analysts appointed in Ireland, Slovakia, and New Zealand. 

The Emydex Quality Management System (EQMS) continued its rollout at Dawn Meats, now operating in fourteen of its plants across Ireland and the UK. Emydex customers also adopted the Emydex Quality Management System in Australia, Canada, and the USA. 

Looking Ahead to 2025

Looking ahead, 2025 promises to be a busy year for Emydex. Eight new factory installations are scheduled to go live in Ireland, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand in the first half of the year. 

If you want to learn more – contact Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, or North America offices

Request a Demo

Emydex strengthens Team in Australasia in preparation for 2025

Australasia Team Expansion for 2025

Five new hires join Emydex Australasia to support new customer projects next year.

As a Senior Project Manager, Jennifer Tilly, originally from County Cork in Ireland, joined the Emydex team in Western Australia in April. More recently, Glenwell De Ramon Andal joined as a Solutions Engineer this month. Both will work with Cameron Pearce, who has been representing Emydex WA solely for the past three years.

With direct flights from London to Perth and a more favourable time window for business meetings with Emydex HQ in Ireland, additional growth of the Emydex team in Western Australia is anticipated. Jennifer, Cameron, and Glenwell will support existing Emydex WA customer projects in 2025, including WAMMCO in Katanning and Southern Meats in Goulburn, two plants planning to go live with their first Emydex MES systems in 2025. The WA team will also work on new project phases for longstanding Emydex customer Harvest Road (Harvey Beef) in WA.

Three hours east, in our original Australia base in QLD, Carl Brennan recently celebrated 13 years with Emydex, having relocated from Ireland to Australia in 2020. Carl will continue to support Alan Doocey, originally from County Waterford in Ireland, and John Shepherd, based in Cairns. Together, they will support Emydex customers on the East Coast of Australia, including Sunpork, Central Agri Group, Junee Lamb and O’Connor Beef in Victoria.

In New Zealand, Emydex NZ welcomes Kate Barrins to the team as a Project Coordinator supporting Felsi. Additionally, we welcome Jayne McMillan to the role of Meat Industry Business Analyst. Jayne previously worked with the Alliance Group in New Zealand for many years. She brings extensive industry knowledge and experience in primary and secondary red meat processing and implementing ERP and MES systems in the meat industry.

Jayne will support Ashley, Carne, and Saffi in delivering projects for Silver Fern Farms in 2025 and beyond. This follows the successful implementation of Emydex in Silver Fern’s Beef plant in Te Aroha. Jayne will also support any BA work required for other Emydex customers in New Zealand, such as Wilson Hellaby Ltd and Open Ocean, as well as other customers in the Southern Hemisphere.

Meet the new team members:

Emydex Western Australia

Jennifer Tilly, Senior Project Manager, Western Australia
Originally from Cork, Ireland, Jennifer has called Western Australia home for the past 15 years. With over 15 years of experience in health service delivery and project management, she brings a wealth of knowledge from roles with the WA Department of Health in Perth and En-Force Laboratories Ltd in Ireland. Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in business (Honours) from Cork Institute of Technology (now MTU). Her rich background will be invaluable to our projects in Western Australia.

Glenwell De Ramon Andal, Solutions Engineer, Western Australia
Glenwell joins us with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from The Philippines. His versatile career spans industries such as logistics, education, finance, and tech, with a focus on web applications. Excited to take on a new challenge, Glenwell is eager to expand his expertise into Windows applications with Emydex Australia.

Emydex New Zealand

Kate Barrins, Project Coordinator, New Zealand
Kate recently relocated to North Island, New Zealand, fresh from Co. Sligo, Ireland. With five years of project management experience in financial services, Kate is an experienced organiser. After a few adventurous months exploring Asia, she is energised and ready to dive into her new role.

Jayne McMillan, Business Analyst, New Zealand
With over 20 years of experience in the red meat sector, Jayne brings invaluable expertise to Emydex. Her impressive background includes roles such as Owner/Operator at The Fridge Butchery, where she implemented successful business strategies and provided leadership support, and Consultant ERP at Alliance Group Limited, where she prepared technical proposals and collaborated on solution development.

Travis Wylie, Solutions Engineer, New Zealand
With a Bachelor of Science in Applied Computing from the University of Waikato(2019) and five years of professional software development experience, Travis brings a solid foundation and fresh ideas to our development team. His enthusiasm for tackling complex projects and adaptable skill set will be key as we expand our digital solutions. Travis will join Emydex later this month from the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, as a Solutions Engineer. In his new role, he will be working on various development projects tailored to meet the needs of Emydex’s customers in New Zealand.

We are delighted to have you on board and look forward to your contributions to the Australasian region!

 

Request a Demo