Industrial Fixed-Weight Cutting and Portioning Machines

Fixed-Weight Portioning for Pre-Packed Food Products

SODEVA designs industrial cutting and portioning machines that analyse each product, calculate the optimum cutting positions and produce portions at the required target weight.

Fixed-weight portioning is designed for pre-packed products sold at a defined weight and price. It improves portion consistency, reduces unnecessary giveaway and increases the value obtained from the raw material.

Each product can vary in weight, shape, volume, density and texture. SODEVA therefore adapts the cutting pattern to the actual product rather than applying fixed cutting dimensions.

Depending on the application, the machine can integrate weighing, 3D scanning, vision or X-ray analysis to determine the most suitable cutting positions.

Excess weight can be distributed between portions, isolated for another use, transferred to the final portion or sold as a variable-weight product.

The objective is to sell the maximum amount of product at the correct weight while reducing material losses and unnecessary overweight.

Reducing Giveaway and Maximising Raw Material Yield

No two cheese wheels, loaves or blocks have exactly the same weight, shape, density or texture. Fixed-dimension cutting therefore creates weight variations and often requires an unnecessary safety overweight.

SODEVA machines analyse the actual product and adapt the cutting positions to the required target weight.

Depending on the production strategy, excess material can be:

■ distributed between several portions;

■ isolated for grating or another production process;

■ transferred to the final portion;

■ sold as a variable-weight product.

This approach maximises the saleable yield of each product, reduces giveaway and limits unusable end pieces.

For pre-packed products, the machine can also manage the applicable weight tolerances and production controls, including TU1 and TU2 requirements when relevant.

Fixed-Weight Cutting of Cheese Wheels Loaves and Blocks

All slices / portions at same price = fixed weight

SODEVA has developed a patented process for cutting round cheese wheels, loaves and rectangular blocks to target weight while holding the product securely throughout the complete cutting cycle.

This constant holding limits product movement, reduces deformation and improves portioning accuracy without releasing the cheese at the critical moment of cutting.

Different cheese formats can be loaded onto the same machine, automatically centred, cored when required, weighed, scanned and cut according to the selected target weight or finished format.

Depending on the application, the machine can produce portions, slices, concentric rings, half rings, wedges, sandwich formats or overlapping portions with interleavers.

Large blocks of approximately 20 kg can also be pre-cut before fixed-weight portioning.

The patented holding system enables rapid changes between cheese wheels, loaves and blocks without complex tooling changes, improving productivity and format flexibility.

3D Vision X-Ray Analysis and Actual Product Volume

With conventional fixed-dimension cutting, portion weight varies according to the shape, volume and density of the product. A safety overweight is therefore often added to ensure that every pre-packed portion reaches the minimum required weight.

SODEVA systems can integrate high-speed vision, 3D scanning or X-ray analysis according to the product characteristics and density variations.

The machine measures the actual geometry of each product, reconstructs its volume and calculates the optimum cutting positions before controlling the blades.

For products with variable internal density, X-ray analysis can provide additional information that cannot be obtained from the external shape alone.

This technology is particularly suitable for irregular products, open-textured cheeses, cheeses containing holes, pastries and complex food compositions.

By adapting every cut to the actual product, the system improves portion consistency, reduces safety overweight and provides a measurable improvement in raw material yield.

Complete Fixed-Weight Cutting Lines

SODEVA can integrate fixed-weight cutting into complete automated lines, from the loading of raw product formats to checkweighing and downstream packaging equipment.

Depending on the application, the line can combine pre-cutting, weighing, 3D scanning, vision, ultrasonic or vibrating cutting, management of excess material, product realignment and discharge towards packaging.

The portions can be transferred directly towards trays, flow-pack machines or other automatic packaging systems.

This integrated approach reduces manual handling, improves process consistency and provides better control of portion weights throughout production.

Each line is configured according to the product dimensions, target weights, required tolerances, production output and packaging constraints.

Fixed-Weight Portioning for Pastries and Other Food Products

Fixed-weight portioning is not limited to cheese. It can also be applied to pastries, prepared foods, pâtés, processed meat products and other complex or multi-texture food compositions.

Vision cameras, 3D scanning and machine automation measure the product geometry, calculate the required portion volumes and control the blades at the optimum cutting positions.

The cutting process is adapted to the actual product characteristics, including its texture, density, temperature, shape and internal composition.

Depending on the application, the machine can produce regular portions at the required target weight while preserving delicate layers, inclusions and product presentation.

SODEVA configures each solution according to the target weight, permitted tolerances, required production output and downstream packaging process.

SODEVA Expertise in Fixed-Weight Portioning

SODEVA controls the complete fixed-weight cutting process, including product trials, weighing, vision, 3D scanning, density calculation, mechanical design, cutting technology, automation, process development and inline integration.

This complete expertise helps reduce material losses, limit unnecessary giveaway, improve portion consistency and secure the transition into industrial production.

Each project is assessed according to:

■ the product dimensions and characteristics;

■ the required target weights;

■ the permitted weight tolerances;

■ the product density and internal structure;

■ the required production output;

■ the finished formats and packaging process.

Product trials can be carried out in our showroom using your own products, either in person or remotely by live video conference.

Contact SODEVA for a technical assessment of your fixed-weight cutting and portioning project.

Final assembly, customer demonstrations and FAT can be performed at SODEVA USA in Connecticut.