The difference of digital in pork processing

Compliance simplified

Frimesa’s export market has grown from 5% to 25% of the business in recent years, which means the cooperative faced increasingly stringent international compliance requirements. They were committed to finding the latest, innovative solutions that would meet these demands while managing future production volumes. Digitalization was not just advantageous, but essential.

“JBT Marel software enables us to carry out traceability, which is a requirement from our customers today, especially international customers. We can trace the entire chain, from pig producer to product dispatch. This gives us full traceability, and if we eventually have an issue, we can demonstrate where the problem originated,” Elsenbach.

Adaptation made easy

Transitioning from traditional paper-based operations to a fully digitalized manufacturing execution system (MES) comes with hesitancy and challenges, such as helping personnel adapt to new systems. Through collaborative workshops and hands-on guidance and training from JBT Marel’s implementation team, the Frimesa team discovered that JBT Marel software wasn’t a rigid framework, but an adaptable platform requiring user-defined rules and inputs. “The staff did not face many difficulties thanks to the full technical support provided at the start. Since it is software that was implemented together with the plant, the transition was not that difficult and the team was able to adapt quickly to the technology,” Elsenbach.

Seamless operations from receiving to dispatch

JBT Marel software powers every production stage from live animal intake to end product dispatch. It includes a slaughter information system, chiller logistics system, factory logistics system, recipe management, and PDA integration.

“We place great emphasis on yields. With real-time data entries, we can now extract BI reports for the software which enables us to monitor yields in real time. If there is any deviation in yield, we can correct it right when the issue occurs,” Elsenbach.

The Pork Primary Processing Solution manages live animal reception and stable operations. Each pig arriving at the facility is registered with complete supplier and health data, establishing traceability from farm to facility. Following overnight stabling, animals undergo veterinary inspection before slaughter. Throughout the process, carcasses are automatically tagged with RFID, weighed and graded.

The Carcass Chilling Solution handles the complex choreography of cold storage and carcass routing. After classification, carcasses enter chilling where sophisticated sequencing logic tracks inventory levels and allocates products for further processing based on production availability and customer demand.

At the final production stages RFID-enabled crates track each product through deboning lines, capturing critical yield data including drop loss and cut-out ratios. The system manages packing operations, production order control, and automated labeling with multi-language capability for both domestic and export compliance. Finally, palletized goods are scanned into inventory and managed through dispatch, with complete documentation generated for billing integration.

The flexibility of the software system makes it adaptable as new needs become clear. Frimesa recently added Recipe Management and PDA integration to enhance process accuracy, enabling mobile data capture and ensuring consistent execution of production specifications across all operations.

JBT Marel software’s value extends beyond standalone functionality. Through web services integration, the system exchanges critical data with Frimesa’s existing infrastructure; including master data for animal deliveries and sales orders, quality control inspections, crate and packing data, and comprehensive slaughter performance metrics. This integration ensures AXIN software functions as a true digital backbone rather than an isolated system.

“We have real-time entries and through the JBT Marel software we can access information very quickly. Because the data is immediate, we can act on the root cause of any deviation, take corrective action and solve the issue right away,” Elsenbach.

Measurable impact at scale 

Assis Chateaubriand plant, in Paraná, Brazil went live in late 2022 and operates with complete end-to-end traceability from farm to dispatch, real-time yield control across all production stages, and robust labeling systems meeting both domestic regulations and international export requirements. The operational transparency provided by JBT Marel software is indispensable to ensure Frimesa achieves the growth plans of almost double capacity by 2032.

Frimesa’s facility illustrates the modern truth of food processing at scale; digital transformation isn’t about replacing human expertise with rigid automation and software. It’s about empowering teams with real-time data, enforcing traceability standards that open international markets, and creating visibility needed to optimize complex, high-volume operations.

It’s not just about delivering technology; it’s about working together to rethink and build flexible systems that actually make a difference and fuel growth. As Frimesa continues the trajectory towards the 2032 goals, we look forward to continuing our support.

About Frimesa

Frimesa is a leading pork and dairy cooperative in Brazil with more than 45 years of experience. Driven by the mission of transforming people's lives with quality food, Frimesa has cooperatives at its core, acting as a fair and humane model, believing in collaboration and sustainable development throughout the production chain.