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Automation is nothing new in modern business. In farming enterprises, the inclusion of automation practices has significantly impacted the viability of many farms by reducing overhead expenses. Automating oyster grading processes has become a necessity rather than a luxury for commercial and water-to-plate oyster growers in Australia and internationally.
Many farmers grapple with tight labour markets, the increasing costs of production, price pressures from customers and increased demands on speed to market and product quality. By automating labour-intensive tasks such as oyster grading, farmers can reposition their competitive status while maintaining heightened reputational value through quality, consistency, and speed.
Immediate cost savings with oyster grading automation technology
Reducing costs that compromise quality never ends well. In the oyster and shellfish industry, product quality is a non-negotiable. Oyster farmers are continually experimenting with production processes to unearth cost-saving opportunities that don’t negatively impact the quality of their products.
By automating oyster grading, farms experience an immediate cost savings by eliminating draining labour costs without diluting the quality of the oyster.
The SED Graders oyster grader employs cushioned air technology that is gentler and safer on the live oyster than hand grading. Its other key benefits are speed and ease of use. It is a single-handed operation that replaces up to 13 experienced manual staff, grading, sorting, and bagging up to 24,800 oysters per hour.
The SED Grader Vision Grader uses high-tech video cameras to sort oysters by size instead of weight. This technology allows oysters to be sorted more accurately, which is important because markets are increasingly focused on size.
Using size-based grading is a better option than traditional weight-based grading. With conventional methods, a long and thin oyster would be graded the same as a short, wide oyster if they weighed the same. This can lead to wide tolerance margins and potential loss of value when selling. The SED Vision Oyster Grader, on the other hand, is designed and built for accuracy and profitability.
Australian owned with international reach
SED Graders, an Aussie family-run business in Tasmania, Australia, has engineered superior oyster grading equipment for over two decades. The company collaborates closely with the oyster and shellfish industries, including the Tasmanian Oyster Research Council and the Fisheries Research Development Corporation (FRDC).
Lately, SED Graders has been diving deep into a game-changing cold shock treatment for overcatch, a project earning primary backing from industry heavyweights such as the Queensland’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), the Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre (FFWCRC), and the Australian Government’s Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC).
These organisations and industry stalwarts like Kooringal Oysters, Moreton Bay Rock Oysters, and Gold Coast Oysters are teaming up for testing and market launch.
SED Graders is the go-to engineering and innovation team for automated oyster grading solutions. With our experience in international markets, including New Zealand, North America, Canada, and Japan, we supply and service oyster and shellfish farms worldwide with superior oyster grading machines and accessory equipment. We are committed to tackling the challenges of oyster farming and boosting competitiveness for our customers.
For any inquiries or when contemplating the acquisition of a SED Graders oyster grading machine or upgrading your existing equipment, we invite you to contact us. Our expert team is poised to offer tailored solutions precisely aligned with your unique requirements and operational goals.