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Emydex Visits Silver Fern Farms Te Aroha and Pacific Plants

During their latest operational tour across Australasia, Emydex CEO David McMahon and General Manager – Australasia Shane Hayes visited two Silver Fern Farms (SFF) beef processing plants in New Zealand: Te Aroha and Pacific (Hastings).

The visits reinforced the strong partnership between Emydex and New Zealand’s leading red meat processor and highlighted the continued evolution of digital transformation across the SFF network.

Strengthening a Proven Partnership

Silver Fern Farms has been working with Emydex since 2020 to modernise production management, traceability and data visibility across its beef plants.

With both Te Aroha and Pacific live on Emydex, all six SFF beef primary butchery sites are fully completed.

David McMahon commented:

“These visits reaffirm the strength of our collaboration with SFF and highlight the real impact that digital transformation can have on plant performance, visibility and decision-making across the network.”

Insights From the Plant Floor

The visits allowed the Emydex team to observe production flows, terminal usage and operator interactions directly on the factory floor. This hands-on engagement ensures that future improvements, refinements and upcoming deployments can be aligned with the operational reality of each site.

Shane Hayes added:

“It was great to meet the plant teams in Te Aroha and Pacific and see firsthand how they’re using Emydex day-to-day. Their feedback is essential as we continue to improve and scale the solution across new species and plants.”

The Emydex team would also like to acknowledge the support received during the visits. Special thanks to Jeff Hulena for travelling to shadow both plant tours, and to Dylan Marsh for accompanying the Pacific visit. We also appreciate the time and insights shared by plant managers Namu Searancke-Henderson at Te Aroha and Cory Hogg at Pacific, who hosted the team on site.

Go-Lives at Pacific and Te Aroha

Both plants have successfully gone live on Emydex MES as part of Silver Fern Farms’ multi-year digital transformation programme, supported by strong collaboration between SFF and Emydex teams.

Pacific (Hastings)

The Pacific site completed its transition from a legacy CRS system to Emydex through a structured deployment, including a custom liveweight solution tailored to the site’s requirements and the rollout of SFF BI V2, providing enhanced data insights.

SFF’s Chief Transformation Officer, Matt Ballard, praised the progress, describing the milestone as a significant step forward for the beef network.

Te Aroha

Te Aroha was the fourth SFF beef primary butchery site to adopt Emydex MES, a deployment that has since proven highly stable and effective across all plant operations.

Its long-term performance continues to demonstrate the adaptability of the Emydex platform to different operational layouts and species-specific workflows.

Looking Ahead

With the beef network nearing completion, the next phase will focus on expansion into venison and lamb, continuous improvement initiatives and further standardisation across the SFF group.

The New Zealand plant visits strengthen collaboration and ensure both teams remain aligned as SFF advances its long-term digital transformation journey.

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Learn how Emydex can support your plant’s digital transformation with robust MES, traceability and production control solutions.

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Emydex Australasia Tour 2025

Strengthening Partnerships Across Australia and New Zealand 

During the first two weeks of November, Emydex CEO David McMahon travelled from Ireland to join Shane Hayes, General Manager Australasia, on a strategic tour across Australia and New Zealand. As a global provider of MES and traceability software solutions for the food processing industry, Emydex places strong importance on maintaining close relationships with customers, partners, prospects and regional teams. This tour reinforced our commitment to supporting operational efficiency, supply chain visibility and digital transformation in the Australasian market. 

It was a fantastic experience reconnecting with our customers, partners and Emydex colleagues across Australia and New Zealand. The warm welcome, openness and trust shown throughout the journey made these two weeks incredibly valuable for us as a company.”
David McMahon, CEO, Emydex 

Reinforcing Strategic Relationships in Australia  

The tour began in Australia with a series of visits to key customers, trusted partners and high potential prospects. 

In Western Australia, David and Shane visited Harvest Road Group and  WAMMCO International, strengthening alignment on current projects and operational priorities. 

In Queensland, they met with the SunPork Group and visited the Emydex team based in Brisbane to discuss ongoing initiatives and celebrate important internal milestones. 

Meeting With Key Industry Stakeholders in New Zealand  

After the initial visits in Australia, the tour continued in New Zealand. 

David and Shane visited Silver Fern Farms at the Te Aroha and Pacific sites to gain insight into day-to-day operations and observe how data-driven systems support decision-making across the plants. 

In Auckland, they met with Wilson Hellaby to discuss current initiatives and future plans for the region. 

The tour also included time with Emydex colleagues across the country. 

It was a pleasure meeting so many of our customers and colleagues across the region. Each visit strengthened our relationships and reinforced the importance of staying close to the operations we support.”
Shane Hayes, General Manager Australasia, Emydex 

Advancing Conversations Across Australia  

Following the visit to New Zealand, David and Shane returned to Australia. 

They visited O’Connor Beef in Victoria and Junee Prime Lamb in New South Wales, focusing on project progress and operational insights. 

Emydex also extends appreciation to our long standing partners at Linco Food Systems for their continued collaboration and support across multiple Australian states. 

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A Tour Focused on Insight and Collaboration 

Across both Australia and New Zealand, the tour was defined by meaningful discussions, onsite insights and time spent strengthening relationships with customers, partners and internal teams. These interactions help ensure that Emydex remains closely aligned with the needs of the market and continues to support food processors with technology that enhances control, visibility and performance. 

This tour has been invaluable in strengthening our relationships across Australia and New Zealand. The engagement, openness and trust shown by our customers, partners and colleagues reinforced the importance of being present in the region and continuing to support their operations with clarity and commitment.”
David McMahon, CEO, Emydex 

Speak With Our Team 

If your organisation is working to improve operational visibility, enhance quality control or advance its digital strategy, our team is ready to support you. We welcome the opportunity to understand your goals and explore how Emydex solutions can add value to your operations. 

Book a meeting with our team today. 

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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