A fish meat and bone separator, also known as a fish deboner or fish meat refiner, is a specialized piece of food processing equipment designed to efficiently separate fish flesh from bones, skin, and fins.

Working Principle

The core mechanism involves feeding pre-cut or whole small fish into the machine. Inside, a perforated drum (or sieve) rotates against a flexible press belt (often made of rubber or food-grade polyurethane). The pressure exerted by the belt squeezes the fish flesh through the small holes of the drum, while bones, skin, and fins, being larger and more rigid, are retained on the outside of the drum and subsequently discharged separately.

• Input: Fish pieces or small whole fish.
• Process: Mechanical squeezing action using a perforated drum and a press belt.
• Output: Minced fish meat (suitable as a surimi base) and waste (bones, skin, fins).

Key Features and Benefits

• High Yield: Maximizes the recovery of edible fish meat, significantly reducing waste.
• Efficiency: Offers rapid processing, which is considerably faster and more labor-saving than manual deboning methods.
• Versatility: Capable of processing various types of fish, including both marine and freshwater species.
• Improved Product Quality: Produces finely minced meat ideal for further processing into products like fish balls, fish cakes, fish sausages, and surimi.
• Hygienic Design: Typically constructed from food-grade stainless steel for easy cleaning, disinfection, and maintenance, ensuring compliance with food safety standards.
• Compact Structure: Many models are designed with a small footprint, saving valuable space in processing facilities.

Applications

Fish meat and bone separators are extensively used in various sectors of the food industry:

• Large-scale fish processing plants
• Surimi and surimi-based product manufacturing facilities
• Canned fish industries
• Production of fish dumplings, fish burgers, and other value-added fish products
• Pet food manufacturing where fish meat is an ingredient
• Utilization of fish byproducts, converting processing waste into valuable materials such as fish meal or components for fertilizer.

Considerations When Selecting

When choosing a fish meat and bone separator, key factors to evaluate include:

• Processing Capacity: Ensure the machine’s throughput (typically measured in kg/hour) aligns with your production volume requirements.
• Fish Type and Size: Verify the machine’s suitability for the specific species and sizes of fish you intend to process, as drum perforation sizes may vary.
• Material Quality and Construction: Prioritize machines made from high-quality, food-grade stainless steel (e.g., SUS304 or SUS316) for durability, corrosion resistance, and hygiene.
• Ease of Cleaning and Maintenance: Look for designs that allow for quick disassembly, thorough cleaning, and straightforward maintenance to minimize downtime and ensure food safety.
• Separation Efficiency and Meat Quality: Assess the machine’s ability to cleanly separate meat from bones with minimal bone residue in the final product and without overly damaging the meat texture.
• Safety Features: Ensure the machine is equipped with necessary safety guards and emergency stop mechanisms.