Markets

Emydex at IPPE Atlanta

2nd February 2024

Emydex exhibit at IPPE in
Atlanta, Georgia

Emydex showcased our innovative factory floor software solutions for poultry processors at the #IPPE trade show held in Atlanta, Georgia from Jan 30th to February 2nd 2024.

Renowned as the largest trade show event of its kind globally, IPPE 2024 proved to be an unparalleled experience from any previous trade show Emydex has attended. This was Emydex’s first time exhibiting on the highly impressive BAADER booth and we express our gratitude to Oliver Hahn, CEO of BAADER Food Systems USA, for his invaluable support in facilitating our involvement.

Additionally, we extend our sincere appreciation to the global BAADER team for bringing their customers to discuss how their processes can be improved with our proven technology.

Watch the video below summarising our highlights and reflections at the show.

If you want to learn more – contact Emydex in any of our global market offices in Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, or North America

Emydex expands in Canada: a game changer for Food Traceability

10th November 2023

Emydex expands in Canada: a game changer for Food Traceability

Customers

It has been a busy year of expansion for the Emydex Team in North America. We started deploying our solution to a prominent multi-plant poultry provider in the region, initiating with a Packing and Labelling Solution for their key facility in Waterloo, Ontario. We are eager to commence integration with their enterprise-wide ERP system and to launch enhanced features in Waterloo and additional sites.

In the Seafood sector, we've been collaborating with a leading seafood company in British Columbia for a few years now, focusing on tailored solutions for their distinct Roe Herring processing. At the same time, we are enhancing their utilization of our standard features across various fish species processing operations.

Our inaugural client in North America, a major pork processing company that has been with us since 2017, is planning to be extend their existing three production operations, to a fourth plant, a state-of-the-art Sow Processing Facility in Saskatchewan, with Emydex delivering the factory floor MES solution. This project brings unique hardware and software challenges, and we are thrilled to customize the Emydex system to meet their operational needs.

PEOPLE

Our Emydex team of people in Canada has been growing along with our business. This year we are pleased to welcome Franzreved Vendiola to the team, working out of Sakatchewan. Franzreved has been a valuable addition to the team, supporting our customers in British Columbia as well as Ontario. We also look forward to welcoming Alistair Walmsley, who recently joining our growing team in Canada, working from his home office in British Columbia.

The addition of Fransreved and Alastair means Emydex engineers are available to communicate and support our customers from East to West Coast North America, also well placed resources for our 24/7 global support coverage system, which leverages our staff in timezones around the world, including locations such as Auckland, Brisbane and Perth, as well as Dublin and Europe obviously.

BAADER

With the recent news of our strategic partnership with BAADER, headquartered in Germany, Emydex had the pleasure of joining some BAADER executives for customer visits in British Columbia, where we were able to introduce the partnership to many of our customers, some of whom are already customers of BAADER also. Soon after that successful trip we were pleased to host a visit from Mrs. Baader, CEO of BAADER Global, in our Canadian base area of Waterloo Ontario.

In the market we are seeing a lot of interest in Emydex's newly released Kill Line and Payment Modules. The process of managing a Meat Packer’s harvest floor has gotten much more complicated. Meat Packers must track and process different breeds, different raising methods (eg. Antibiotic Free, Organic, free-range, etc.). These additional tracking requirements are stressing the Meat Packers' existing Kill line and Payment Management System. Emydex provides a parameter driven Kill Line and Payment Management System, to allow Packers to migrate very quickly to a solution that allows them to be more efficient and manage the payment process.

If you want to learn more – contact Emydex in any of our global market offices in Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, or North America

Forresters Chicken Celebrates a Decade of Quality Management with Emydex

5th November 2023

Over the past ten years, Forresters Chicken has leveraged Emydex's Quality Management system to enhance accuracy, reduce human error, gain real-time insights into quality data, and improve traceability. This collaboration has significantly transformed Forresters Chicken's operations, ensuring the highest standards of quality and efficiency in their processes.

Meet the Client

Established in 1972, Forresters is one of the largest suppliers of cooked, raw, and coated poultry in the United Kingdom. Based in Cheshire, the company provides retailers, food services, pub retailers, manufacturers, and catering butchers with frozen, chilled branded, and own-label chicken products. To maintain its reputation for high-quality standards, Forresters set out to enhance its quality management processes.

The Opportunity

With a growing client base and increasing production demands, Forresters required a more streamlined and robust approach to quality management. Existing manual quality checks were resource-intensive and prone to human error, especially as production volumes rose. Furthermore, limited real-time access to quality data hindered swift decision-making and posed challenges in meeting regulatory standards.

Forresters needed a comprehensive Quality Management System (QMS) that could automate quality workflows, provide real-time data, and integrate with their ERP system for seamless traceability and compliance tracking. Forresters had been operating an Emydex factory floor MES (Manufacturing Execution System) for production control, yield management and traceability reporting for many years, so it was a straightforward decision to extend our Emydex software footprint to include all of our Quality, Compliance and Food Safety Management processes.

What We Did

Working closely with Forrester’s management, our team worked with Emydex to develop and implement a customised QMS solution that aligned with Forrester's operational goals. The implementation process was structured in two main phases:

1. Phase One - Digitalising Quality Checks
Forresters began by introducing automated digital checklists across the production floor, replacing paper logs and allowing quality checks to be completed via tablets at each workstation. Data is now collected on tablets running the Emydex Quality system in real-time, and any deviations from standards trigger instant alerts, allowing issues to be addressed immediately.

2. Phase Two - Comprehensive Quality Dashboard
In the next phase, Forresters deployed an Emydex quality system dashboard for management and supervisors, providing a centralised view of quality metrics across production. The dashboard consolidates data on batch compliance, audit trails, incident reporting, and corrective actions. Fully integrated with Forrester's ERP system, it links directly to purchasing and inventory data, ensuring traceability from raw materials to finished products.

3. Automated Audit and Compliance Reporting
A key feature of the Emydex EQMS is its automated compliance reporting. The system generates real-time, auditable compliance reports accessible from any device, dramatically reducing the time required for internal and external audits. Issues are flagged and assigned for resolution, enhancing accountability across departments.

The Results

Since implementing the Emydex Quality Management system, Forresters has significantly improved operational efficiency and quality compliance.

Enhanced Accuracy and Reduced Human Error: Automated digital checklists have replaced manual entries, reduced errors and ensured consistency in quality checks across all lines.

Real-Time Quality Insights: Managers and supervisors can now view quality metrics instantly, enabling quick decision-making and proactive quality control.

Efficient Compliance Audits: Compliance reporting, which previously required days of preparation, is now generated instantly by Emydex, saving time and resources. Audit readiness has also improved, as records are automatically archived and easily accessible.

Improved Traceability: The QMS enables complete traceability from raw material intake to finished product distribution, facilitating stock rotation and maintaining quality at every stage.

Feedback from Key Stakeholders

Dwayne Chin, Head of Technical at Forresters, noted, “The Emydex QMS has been transformative for our business. Our team no longer spends hours sorting through paper logs; we can spot and address issues immediately. Compliance reporting that once took days is now ready in minutes, giving us more control over quality and peace of mind.”

John Acornley, Finance Director, added, “With the Emydex Quality system in place, Forresters have significantly reduced errors and improved our response times. The Emydex automated alerts keep our team informed, and the dashboard makes it easy to stay on top of production quality. It’s been a huge upgrade.”

Summary

The Emydex Quality Management System implemented at Forresters has streamlined operations and reinforced its commitment to delivering high-quality products to its clients. By enhancing workflows, improving traceability, and enabling instant access to quality data, the QMS has empowered Forresters to meet regulatory standards and confidently scale its operations.

Don't wait! Embrace the future of quality management with Emydex's Electronic Quality Management Software (EQMS).

If you want to learn more – contact Emydex in any of our global market offices in Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, or North America

Emydex’s Cutting-Edge Technology for Sheep tracking with NLIS.

11th September 2023

Emydex’s Cutting-Edge Technology for Sheep tracking with NLIS.

Following Victoria’s introduction of RFID ear tags for sheep and the requirement for all sheep to be registered in the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) the other Australian states have now also mandated this with most requiring the system to be in place by January 2025.

Emydex is well-positioned to be able to assist processors in implementing the system in a cost-effective and efficient way. Having had a system in place from the very first Emydex beef implementation eight years ago and subsequently with a sheep processor in Victoria, the standard livestock processing system can interface with RFID ear tag readers in the yards as well as on the processing floor.

Livestock can be scanned in the yards as it is unloaded via RFID panel readers connected to an Emydex delivery terminal. This station can record the delivery information such as the vehicle details, NVD number, animal numbers delivered, welfare issues and stock conditions such as wool pull. This data not only updates the delivery information but also uploads the ear tag data to the NLIS database to perform a ‘transfer holdings’ to the abattoir PIC. At this time, any alerts or warnings for the delivered stock are downloaded to the Emydex system.

Similarly, checking of the RFID on the processing line can raise any issues to the processing staff by checking the NLIS database in real-time and triggering alerts to the processing staff. The stations that read the RFID data can be stand-alone, non-manned stations or can be used to collect other information such as stun data (voltage, duration, rise time), sex and dentition, manual ear tags, animal health and weights thereby maximising the utilisation of such stations and enhancing the information collected on the line for later reporting.

Example Processing Line NLIS station.

Emydex-Processing Line NLIS station

The NLIS data is uploaded to the NLIS database either on an individual animal or lot basis thereby meeting the processor's statutory requirements whilst enhancing the efficiency and data collection on the processing line itself.

Emydex NLIS Interface Management Screen

The Emydex kill line solution provides a comprehensive solution for the management and processing of livestock from procurement to payment and can be a simple, one-station grading station to sophisticated RFID gambrel tracking solutions processing many carcasses per minute.

If you want to learn more – contact Emydex in any of our global market offices in Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, or North America

Emydex Tour of Australia and New Zealand

13th March 2023

A lot of ground was covered by Emydex in Australia and New Zealand over three weeks in February and March, visiting both customers and prospects in Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and North & South Islands in New Zealand

It was great for Emydex CEO David McMahon to finally (post covid) meet and get to know all our fifteen hard-working Emydex employees working around Perth, Brisbane, Auckland, and Christchurch.

Week 1 of the trip centred around Emydex customer meetings in Western Australia (Harvey Beef, WAMMCO), Victoria (O’Connor Beef, Central Agri group), Wagga Wagga (Junee Lamb), finishing up in Sydney on Friday for a series of meetings with prospective customers. This gave Emydex CEO David McMahon and Emydex GM for Australasia, Jeffrey Macer-Wright, time on Saturday morning to take in some of the sights of Sydney via a running tour, before heading on to Auckland over the weekend.

Centre: A statue of Sir Thomas Mort in Sydney Harbour, founder of Emydex customer, Mort & Co

Week 2 focussed on customer and prospect meetings in the North and South Islands in New Zealand. In New Zealand, Jeffrey and David met up with Ian Carson, as well as five Emydex NZ employees working around Auckland on North Island, and Christchurch on the South Island. Emydex staff travelled from their WFH locations to attend deferred Emydex Christmas parties in Auckland and Christchurch.

Customer visits included Wilson Hellaby, North Island, as well as visiting Christchurch to see Emydex in action in the Silver Ferns Beef primal processing plant in Belfast. The latter half of the week was spent in Dunedin for a series of meetings in Silver Fern Farms' head office, as well as meetings with prospects, and a potential partner company, Scott Technology.

Left: Wilson Hellaby, Auckland. Centre: SFF, Belfast, Christchurch. Right: SFF HQ, Dunedin

Week 3 was spent mainly in Queensland, Australia, where Emydex has an office supporting our ten staff in South Brisbane in the city centre. Customer meetings were held over two days, with Mort & Co at their head office in Toowoomba, followed by a visit to see one of their feedlots in operation at Grassdale. In addition, a visit to see one of Mort & Cos supplier factories. Scheduling challenges meant the team had to settle for a virtual call with Emydex customer Sunpork, based in Eagle Farm, close to our Brisbane office. The remainder of the week included several prospective customer meetings in both Queensland and Victoria. The week ended with Birthday celebrations for long-serving Emydex employee Carl Brennan, a Lead Solutions Engineer with Emydex for over 10 years, who last year permanently relocated with his family from Ireland to Brisbane.

Left: most of the Emydex Brisbane office team. Centre: Grassdale feedlot. Right: Carl Brennan

Overall, the three-week trip included nine customer meetings, as well as nine prospective customer meetings, and culminated with a visit by Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine of Ireland, Jane Connolly, Ambassador of Ireland to New Zealand, and a delegation from Enterprise Ireland to see Emydex in action in the Silver Fern Farms Ltd primary beef processing plant in Belfast, Christchurch.

L-R: Dylan Marsh, STREAMLINE Lead, Silver Fern Farms; Mary Kinnane, APAC Director Enterprise Ireland; Brendan Gleeson, the Secretary-General in the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Matt Ballard, Chief Transformation Officer, Silver Fern Farms; Charlie McConalogue T.D, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland; H.E. Jane Connolly, Ambassador of Ireland to New Zealand; Jeffrey Macer-Wright, General Manager, Emydex Australasia; Niall Casey, Enterprise Ireland

Emydex’s Technical Director, James Grennan will travel out to Australia and New Zealand in April for a series of technical workshops with Emydex customers.

Both David and James will return to Australia in July when Emydex will be exhibiting at the foodpro trade show in Melbourne from 23-26 July

Emydex Update from Down Under

1st February 2023

Feb 2023

2023 is shaping up to be a busy year for Emydex in this part of the world (Australasia), with the roll-out of Beef & Pork processing systems in New Zealand, several animal payments systems, as well as a first-time implementation of an export sales management system for a large feed lotting customer in Australia

Beef Processing System

Emydex Team NZ is working with one of our group beef processing customers to roll out their ‘group standard’ Emydex slaughter floor solution, to all their other beef plants in New Zealand over the next nine months. In addition, a second Emydex team is busy commissioning an Emydex solution for their first secondary butchery (boning) room. To meet this ambitious target, our 15-person strong Emydex team working in New Zealand and Australia will support both projects.

Animal Payments System

Also, in the first quarter of this year, another Emydex meat processor in New Zealand will go live with an Emydex Manufacturing Execution System (MES) for their pork processing plant, as well as commission our newly updated Central Animal Payments System (CAPS). Being multi-species in its design, it will be possible to quickly roll out this Payments system to the other divisions within the company once the pork plant goes live.

Export Sales Management System

Crossing the Tasman Sea, in Australia Emydex will commission a new Export Sales Management and Central Animal Payments System (CAPS) for beef payments for a new Emydex customer in Queensland, which is Australia’s largest privately-owned beef cattle lot feeding company. This new customer does not own any processing facilities directly, so their entire marketing and inventory management system is managed via data sent from third-party toll processors and logistics companies. The company expects to see a marked improvement in the efficiency of sales activities as well as providing visibility and traceability of their inventory from production plant to customer. Emydex will provide a strong and flexible platform to support the raid growth planned for this year.

Emerging Trends

Emydex are seeing more integration of labour-saving systems with the surfacing of data not traditionally made available to support the production staff processes. This includes data from items such as refrigeration, X-ray carcase grading systems, automated storage and retrieval units, stunning data on the kill floor, IoT devices etc. All of this is collected via a module known as the Data Communications Interface (DCI) module in the Emydex MES, and is integrated and used to support the manufacturing process and is surfaced by the MES via the inbuilt Emydex Business Intelligence (BI) reporting tool. This functionality supports the implementation of Industry 4.0 to provide a ‘whole of life’ view of the production process and to identify efficiencies and compliance issues within the production systems.

CEO Visit

Emydex Australasia is delighted to welcome our group CEO, David McMahon, back to these shores after an absence of several years due to Covid. Dave will be visiting existing customers in Western Australia, Victoria, NSW, and Queensland as well as North and South islands in New Zealand. In addition, meeting up with Emydex staff dotted across both countries, many working remotely from home, hired during the pandemic. Dave is also scheduled to meet several new companies interested in learning more about Emydex. If any readers of this newsletter are interested in learning more about Emydex or even catching up on some of the new directions and processes that are emerging in Europe, we would be more than happy to arrange a meeting whilst he is here. Please reach out to ian.carson@emydex.com.

Lamb Processing System

As the year progresses, another Emydex customer will be moving into the implementation phase of their Emydex lamb processing system, rolling out to their two Australian-based sheep processing plants in WA and NSW. Other Emydex customers will continue to implement new modules to support their existing processes whether they be web portals for farmer livestock bookings and feedback, automated chiller sortation, integration to automated labelling systems or the integration of order and stock management functions in Emydex to automated storage and retrieval systems. All these projects will deliver considerable labour savings, which considering the current labour shortages in the industry, will bring rapid payback and efficiencies to those who are embarked upon these projects.

For any information on any of the projects outlined above, please email sales@emydex.com for more information.

Emydex at IPPE Atlanta

Emydex exhibit at IPPE in
Atlanta, Georgia

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Emydex expands in Canada: a game changer for Food Traceability