Meat slicer uses 3D scanning to improve its method

There appears to be no limit to the ways in which 3D scanning can be applied. And more recently, it has begun making its mark on the food world.

Japanese company Nantsune, which has worked in the meat slicing industry since the 1920s, has developed a meat-slicing machine that uses 3D scanning technology to more accurately cut the meat. The machine, known as the Libra 165C, was designed to work with pork, but its use can likely be extended to other types of meat.

Traditionally, the meat industry has machines which cut meat in pieces that are the same size, but because this method doesn’t account for the thickness of a piece of meat, the weight varies. After the meat is cut, it is typically weighed and packaged that way.

With the Libra 165C, the meat is scanned just before it is sliced, with the cross-section of the meat taken into account. This results in pieces that are of various thickness or size, but all weigh the same. The best part? It’s speed. The machine can cut up to 6,000 slices per hour.

The machine will retail for approximately $160,000. Do you think it will become the standard in the meat industry? Watch the video below to see for yourself how it works: