Automated breast meat inspection and trim allocation

OQULA is JBT Marel’s advanced system for automated inspection and intelligent trim allocation of chicken breast fillets. Using AI‑driven vision technology, OQULA performs double‑sided quality assessment of every fillet, ensuring consistent classification while preventing unnecessary trimming and yield loss.

To trim or not to trim, that's the question

Poultry processors need certainty that A‑grade breast meat consistently meets customer‑specific quality standards. At the same time, B‑grade fillets must be upgraded without excessive trimming that reduces yield. OQULA addresses this challenge by accurately identifying visual defects on both sides of each fillet and automatically deciding whether trimming is required or not. Then the SystemFlex Distributor creates two distinct product flows: B-grade fillets go directly to trimming, while the A-grade flow bypasses trimming entirely and remains untouched.

Beyond human inspection

By replacing subjective, labor‑intensive manual inspection with objective, AI‑based evaluation, OQULA reduces dependency on skilled labor, improves consistency at high line speeds, and maximizes value from every product. Integrated seamlessly between deboning systems such as ATHENA, the trimming station and SensorX, OQULA forms a key element of a holistic breast meat processing line.

The system’s AI model, trained using deep learning on a comprehensive library of defects, enables precise recognition of issues such as blood spots, bruises, fat, green muscle disease, halving errors, and visible bone or cartilage. Quality parameters can be easily adjusted via the HMI touchscreen, allowing processors to flexibly switch between different customer requirements without compromising consistency.

Easy control

It is easy to set the OQULA system. The HMI touchscreen allows for managing, monitoring and reporting. Adjustments of recipes, to set the strictness of defect identification, for example, are simple to make.

Where is the AI?

Deep-learning was done during the development process of OQULA. The visual defects that OQULA can detect match, and even exceed, those that human inspectors or trimmers used to find, such as blood spots, bruises, fat, green muscle disease, halving errors, and visible bones or cartilage. With this database, OQULA can determine the quality and trim-necessity for every fillet it sees.

One customer order may need more critical defect recognition than another. That’s why it’s important to have the option to shift the parameters. One day, the fillet production should supply a supermarket, and the next day a restaurant chain. OQULA gives such quality level flexibility by allowing easy parameter adjustment.

Your trusted service partner throughout the equipment lifecycle - maximizing uptime, optimizing performance, controlling costs and delivering lasting peace of mind. The benefit of well-maintained equipment directly impacts your bottom-line. It prevents unexpected breakdowns, enables peak performance and quality output. It also extends the life of your equipment, protecting both your investment and your team with a more reliable and safe working environment.

Whatever your processing needs - from the products you run to the scale you operate in - our broad service capabilities, proactive service agreements, expert know-how and extensive coverage mean you’ve got the support you need – where and when you need it.