THINKAGE TO COMMERCIALIZE GEORGIA TECH`S `MACHINE-VISION` POULTRY SCREENING TECHNOLOGY

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THINKAGE TO COMMERCIALIZE GEORGIA TECH`S `MACHINE-VISION` POULTRY SCREENING TECHNOLOGY
02 January 2002 - BOC Gases

Georgia Tech Research Institute has agreed to allow Thinkage to commercialize the university’s novel machine-vision poultry screening system. The agreement will allow Thinkage to incorporate the machine-vision system into its proprietary Think Gates service and technology offering from BOC.

Thinkage is the first of several food ventures established by the Murray Hill-based BOC, which is investing in high-growth, entrepreneurial companies whose products and services complement its existing temperature, atmosphere and microbe control technologies.

The machine-vision system, which is installed on the kill-line of poultry processing plants, uses state-of-the-art computer and imaging equipment and sophisticated identification algorithms to automatically detect septicemia/toxemia (sep/tox) and other defects.

"The marketing agreement is another facet of our partnership with Georgia Tech," says Mark Grace, president, Thinkage. "We are delighted to be able to support Georgia Tech’s drive to develop and deliver technology innovations for the food processing industry. Their screening system integrates easily with our Think Gates service offering, which also uses real-time information from the entire process to improve operations and deliver consistent product."

"For example," Grace adds, "The machine-vision screening sensors link with other quality data in the Think Gates system, allowing the Think Gates network to automatically adjust operating conditions on equipment such as scalders, pickers, and chillers, and set exact water and power temperature requirements, based on the condition of the birds."

According to Craig Wyvill, Chief of GTRI’s Food Processing Technology Division, the machine-vision system can screen up to 200 birds per minute and captures product and process quality information critical to improving operational control.

"Unlike the accuracy of visual screening by the naked eye, which has been found to fluctuate greatly over time, this automated detection system is proving to be both efficient and effective in determining if the bird has a systemic defect or if there are other quality problems, such as mishung birds, empty shackles or bruising," said Wayne Daley, who has led the development effort for GTRI.

"We are committed to bringing advanced vision systems to the food Industry. By uniting this vision system with the measurement and control capabilities of the Think Gates network, the key quality parameters of each bird can be tracked and managed," Wyvill added.

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About: BOC Gases
Through its PGS line of business, BOC supplies gas and related solutions to the chemicals, petroleum, glass, water services, electronic packaging, fibre optics, hydrogen energy, metals and food industries. BOC helps meet customer needs in a variety of ways, from the supply of a single gas or application through to designing, constructing and operating fully integrated gas and utilities schemes.

The BOC Group, which serves two million customers in more than 50 countries, is one of the largest and most global of the world's leading gases companies. It employs some 44,500 people worldwide and had annual sales of over £4.3 billion in 2003. Further information about The BOC Group may be obtained on the Internet at www.boc.com

The BOC Group has an international portfolio of companies grouped for management control and reporting into three lines of business: Process Gas Solutions, Industrial and Special Products, and BOC Edwards. It also has a specialist logistics business, Gist.

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