The gateway to a profitable cut-up process

04 Aug 2026

The ACM-NT makes it possible to take that step without major disruption. Even in plants where space is limited and budgets are tight, processors can start automating by installing the entry-level ACM-NT Compact version, and immediately benefit from higher efficiency, consistent product quality, and less dependency on manual labor. Built on proven breast, leg, and wing cutting modules, one-on-one inherited from the full-size ACM-NT system, the system delivers reliable, high-quality cuts while taking up only limited space.

Turn market demand into growth

Around the world, markets that are traditionally focused on whole birds are shifting towards cut chicken pieces. In markets that have already evolved towards cut-up products, demand for convenient chicken portions is still growing due to urbanization and consumers' preference for easy-to-prepare food. This means that almost every market is asking poultry processors to produce higher volumes of cut-up chicken meat. This offers clear opportunities to prepare your factory to meet this demand and process higher-value products.

To do so, however, you'll need to ensure that you produce those cuts in an efficient, controlled, and profitable way. Automation allows you to benefit from this market trend without increasing labor needs. The modular ACM-NT cut-up system allows you to start at a level that meets your current needs and scale up as demand grows. And of course, the yield and consistency of the resulting chicken cuts is higher than ever.

"We see a steady rise in demand for fresh chicken parts," says Martin Dimitrov, CEO of Gradus, Bulgaria. "We are adapting to meet this customer demand. We are shifting our production mix from 30% whole chickens and 70% cut-up parts to 10% and 90%, respectively. To support this transition and keep pace with our primary processing line, we needed an automated cut-up system. Our off-line cutting capacity was simply too low."

Adapt your production to your customers

Every market is different, and the cut-up line should reflect that The ACM-NT can be tailored to produce the desired product mix. Whether the market's focus is on wings, breast meat, or leg products, the system adapts to these needs. It is possible to produce according to exact customer specifications across different channels, from retail to food service. The result is a higher percentage of A-grade cuts and better access to premium markets. The perfect means to achieve this are ACM-NT modules such as WingMaster and ALPINE.

WingMaster provides a precise anatomic cut of the second wing joint, with adjustable skin coverage for ideal presentation of both mid-wing and drumette. Independent left and right wing cutting ensures optimal yield and the best destination for each piece, especially when integrated into JBT Marel's Q-Wing setup.

The ALPINE leg processing module performs precise, high-yield anatomical cuts to meet specific customer specifications. Integrated sensors identify and prevent the presence of undesirable back pieces. ALPINE accepts water and air-chilled legs up to the super HD 'big bird' weight range. The integrated HMI screen provides monitoring functions, including tracking product losses.

Martin Dimitrov continues, "Our new ACM-NT systems are not only faster but also drastically improve the quality of our products. The smart design also reduces manual handling, which is better for our employees, and produces fresher, higher-quality products with longer shelf life for our customers."

Intelligence in cut-up

ACM-NT's smart technologies help make better and more consistent decisions. In-line weighing and vision systems such as IRIS NT and SmartWeigher NT collect accurate, real-time data from every carcass. PDS software then determines the best way to process each product. The system can detect whether a carcass contains specific A-grade and B-grade parts and automatically route the shackle accordingly. In this way, processors can match production to customer orders while maximizing product value and profitability.

Combined Rate Limiting software allows products from multiple ACM-NT lines to be combined to a common line for downstream processes, such as specific deboning operations. Floating-Point Control optimally distributes heavy and light products to deboning lines for a fixed throughput. Production managers will therefore be able to adjust their deboning systems more precisely to the available products.

Agnieszka Frischke Kazmierczak, General Director of PD Drobex in Poland says, "We've been particularly impressed by the ACM-NT cut-up systems. We can run different cutting regimes simultaneously. This gives us complete control, flexibility and saves us time. If necessary, we can now turn an order round in less than six hours, something impossible in the past. ACM-NT has also impressed with its accuracy of cutting. This has been a particular advantage when cutting wing portions for a particularly demanding catering customer. Not only do these have to be cut from products within a very specific weight range, they also have to be cut in a very special way; no problem at all for ACM-NT. Your ACM systems are really top notch!"

A practical step toward the future

The ACM-NT is a scalable platform that grows with your business, without running major investment risks. You can start with basic cuts and develop into a fully automated, high-capacity cut-up line, handling up to 6,500 carcasses per hour with minimal manual intervention. You can be assured that this highly efficient automated system produces extremely consistent, high-quality products.

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