Business View Oceania | June 2022

59 60 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 4, ISSUE 6 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 4, ISSUE 6 V&V WALSH Dancer says. “We have an obligation, as do all other parties in our industry, to lead the way in environmentally conscious decision making. The agricultural sector is incredibly important to Australia’s economy, so we aim to be sustainable in every sense of the word; environmentally, economically, and socially as well. It’s important that our staff are taken care of and that their personal and cultural needs are met. Processors often are more financially able to take on shifts towards sustainability- it’s up to us to help reduce some of that burden on farmers and small businesses, to support them wherever we can.” Mr. Dancer continues with a note on challenges currently facing the Western Australian market. “We are experiencing a massive shortage of skilled labour in our sector, and also in the wider industry. It’s not a glamourous industry to work in, and the meat game is particularly difficult. kicking off, which will drastically reduce the amount of double and even triple handling that we are currently relying on. Now, rather than sending our products up to Perth, we can have this amazing on-site freezing facility that will be essentially full automated. Our aim is to have nobody needing to handle cartons from the time they are packed until they get loaded onto the truck.” As well as upgrading their technology capabilities, V&V Walsh is working towards significant improvements in sustainable operations. From wastewater management through tank-based wastewater treatment to energy efficiency, the company is making moves in their journey to carbon neutrality. Processors have a real responsibility to be as environmentally friendly as possible, Mr. strength. Strength is important in our market, which can be very, very tough. We are always looking for new ways to improve our facility, our processes, and our approach.” Technology has recently become a priority for V&V Walsh, Mr. Dancer explains. “We recognise that our industry is constantly changing and taking on new technologies, so it’s important that we stay abreast of new advancements, particularly in automation. Automation is key to reducing our reliance on hard manual labour, improving efficiency, and making sure our processes are safe and meet regulations. We also commit ourselves to matching clients’ expectations and specifications for product, packing, etc. So technological advancement will really make that a more streamlined process. We have a new coldstore facility that is just The world’s fastest and most energy efficient system for freezing cartons of meat. MHMAUTOMATION.COM Λ 24 hour freeze time Λ 25-30% energy saving over blast freezing Λ Fully automated loading and unloading Proud to supply V&V Walsh and other leading meat processors worldwide. Plate Freezers Brent Dancer, General Manager