Levels of Weighing Automation in the Seafood Industry

In today’s fast-paced global market, seafood suppliers face increasing pressure to deliver high-quality products quickly and cost-effectively.  Valued at nearly $360 billion in 2023, the global seafood industry is poised for over 10% growth through 2032. As consumer expectations for quality, transparency, and sustainability continue to rise, suppliers must navigate growing complexities in their packaging operations. To remain competitive, manufacturers must find ways to boost efficiency, scale production, and manage costs effectively. Seafood businesses can improve their packaging processes at all levels of automation with accurate weighing solutions, including specialized multihead weighers for seafood

Manual Weighing Solutions for Seafood 

While automation has revolutionized countless industries, the seafood processing and packaging sector has historically relied heavily on manual processes. Many suppliers still opt for hand packing due to operational constraints and the delicate nature of certain products. Fragile items such as fresh shrimp, scallops, and lobster tails require careful handling to avoid product damage, making human oversight essential in areas where fully automated systems may fall short.

For these suppliers, precise weighing is critical for maintaining consistency and quality. This begins upon receiving goods that will be prepared and sold when operators use an industrial bench or receiving scale.  By accurately weighing the incoming goods, operators ensure that the inventory aligns with the packing list before moving on to the next stage. After seafood is cleaned, it may undergo additional processes such as flavor enhancement, deveining, or blast-freezing. It is weighed a second time to ensure it meets the required specifications and adheres to quality standards before being prepared for packaging. Continuous weighing helps prevent errors downstream and sets the stage for operational efficiency. Industrial platform scales are used for their proven durability in harsh environments, and their affordability and seamless integration into manual workflows help streamline the process. Once prepared, products are then placed in primary containers such as bags, trays, or pouches and vacuum-sealed to remove air and extend shelf life.

While the manual packaging processes can be efficient and cost-effective, they have significant limitations. Packaging by hand yields an estimated 20 weighments per minute (wpm) on average. Factors like human error and product waste can result in decreased output and profit loss. Workforce shortages and untrained staff, especially during peak seasons, can further strain manual processes and reduce production capacity.

Semi-Automatic Weighing Solutions for Seafood

For suppliers looking to address challenges in manual packaging processes without committing to a fully automated system, a semi-automatic solution offers a cost-effective alternative. Yamato’s semi-automatic multihead weigher for seafood, the TSD-N3, doubles productivity by performing the same task at 50 wpm. Whereas 12 operators may be needed for a fully manual workflow, the TSD-N3 requires only two or three operators to facilitate the machine’s top-loading functionality. This significant reduction in staffing allows the remaining labor resources to be redeployed within the packaging line as needed. By automating key tasks like fixed-weighing, the TSD-N3 increases output and allows operators to focus on other critical tasks, such as quality assurance. 

The reduction in labor costs and increase in productivity achieved by using a semi-automatic weigher does not come at the cost of product quality. Similar to hand packing, the TSD-N3 relies on human oversight to ensure delicate items are handled and packaged without damage. This hybrid approach allows for precise control over the fixed-weight packaging process while ensuring that vulnerable products are protected throughout the process. Operators monitor the process for irregularities, adjust handling techniques as needed, and ensure that packaging is done to the highest standard. This blend of automation and manual supervision is essential for delicate products like fresh fish fillets and lobster tails where product integrity directly affects customer satisfaction and brand reputation.

In many instances, increasing production can be cost-prohibitive or require significant capital expenses. The TSD-N3 multihead weighing machine is an ideal solution for facilities with space and ceiling constraints. Its compact design eliminates the need for large conveyor systems or mezzanines, while its easy maneuverability makes it a practical and affordable alternative to fully automated lines, especially in older or smaller packaging facilities.

Automatic Weighing Solutions for Seafood

Suppliers who process and package seafood at a large scale opt for fully automated seafood weighing machines. These products include frozen shrimp, fish sticks, and more. Yamato offers combination scales that integrate with many different packaging systems for various fish and seafood packaging styles. An in-line checkweigher guarantees unparalleled reliability and precision, ensuring that suppliers’ packaged products are of the highest standard. From checking package weight and content accuracy to detecting foreign objects with our inline metal detection, Yamato’s checkweighers can improve every aspect of a supplier’s packaging flow.

Investing in automation often comes with investing in facility changes to accommodate the footprint and height requirements of the processing and packaging machines. The return on investment comes from the increase in accuracy and speed. Yamato’s combination scales offer the greatest level of accuracy for packaging seafood, reducing product giveaway and waste. Automating weighing products reduces labor costs by reducing the number of operators needed to perform the same tasks. Reaching outputs more than double that of semi-automatic weighing, packaging can be complete in less time. This allows seafood suppliers to either reduce the number of shifts required to produce the same output or dramatically increase the output of their facilities. 

Accurate, high-speed weighing and packaging does not come at the cost of sanitation. Yamato offers washdown scales that help you maintain the production sanitation standards necessary in the seafood industry. The automatic combination scales are designed to withstand harsh conditions and below-freezing temperatures where condensation can form on surfaces. Polygon-shaped buckets provide greater access to corners for easier cleaning.

Yamato’s Weighing Experts Can Help
If you have any questions or are looking to find the right multihead weigher for seafood, contact us so we can help you find the perfect solution today.