Ever since people started to talk about 'value chains' instead of just 'supply chains' and 'adding value' rather than mundane 'processing', the pressure has been on for companies to squeeze the most out of their products and lines.

Emotions are running high in the meat and poultry processing sectors following the introduction of tighter legislation and controls on the handling of waste. For the red meat sector in particular - fearing its very survival against a flood of cheap imports - it is seen as yet another raft of regulatory burden and unnecessary cost.

New from Union Food Machinery & Equipment is the Mauting UKM Junior-02 smoking chamber, suitable for small to medium-sized meat processing firms. It is ideal for smoking cheeses, fish and meat, and it can also be used for cooking, reddening, baking and drying.

Vitiva of Slovenia has launched SyneROX 4, a natural solution to provide triple protection for fresh meat against rancidity and undesirable organoleptic changes. It helps extend shelf-life and maintains freshness, original taste and microbiological stability.

Three meat processors in Ireland have invested in the latest food processing and cooking equipment from Interfood Technology. McCaughey Foods, Brady Family Ham and Rib World have purchased a range of equipment, from Maurer-Atmos cookers to Poly-clip clipping machines and Weber Slicers - all designed to enhance their product offerings and meet their growing customer demands.

Automation and radio frequency identification (RFID) equipment from Omron in the UK has been the key to tracking and transporting beef at Rancher's Beef, one of Canada's largest producers of beef products.