JBT Marel SingleFeed automated singulation system for poultry

Whether poultry products have been temporarily stored in bulk bins after deboning or purchased in large volumes for retail packing, processors must first separate them into individual pieces before downstream processing such as inspection, grading or portioning can begin. Traditionally, this task requires multiple operators working manually alongside the production line. JBT Marel’s SingleFeed automates this step by converting bulk products into singulated pieces.

With automated singulation, poultry processors can reduce labour requirements by two to six operators, depending on product type, application and line speed.

The system places products individually on the conveyor, creating a continuous and predictable flow for downstream equipment such as grading systems, SensorX, RoboOptimizer with I-Cut, RoboPacker and RoboBatcher solutions.

Designed for both off-line bulk handling and in-line random product flows, the system can process a wide range of boneless poultry products, including breast fillets, tenderloins, deboned thighs, strips and sandwich fillets. With a compact footprint, it can be integrated into existing facilities without requiring significant floor space.

The system uses a dual-lane design with counter-running conveyor belts and vacuum technology to guide products into two continuous streams. It is designed to minimise product wetting while maintaining good performance. Only the conveyor belt is lightly moistened, which the product itself remains largely dry throughout the process.

Designed for straightforward daily operation, the system has an intuitive HMI touchscreen which provides operators with direct access to machine settings, production information and system alerts. Adjustments during production, such as product spacing or lane offset, are hardly needed. Setting up the system requires little time, and so does troubleshooting.

By transforming bulk or random product flows into singulated streams, with no manual handling, the system enables processors to create a well-organised infeed for efficient downstream processes.