Dierikon, (CH) and Garrel (DE)
Thanks to its highly regarded products, focus on regionality, and continuous process optimization, the Goldschmaus Group is constantly expanding and improving its operations. Known for its unique regional system for producing beef and pork products, the company’s success can be partly attributed to the tools that it uses at the different stages of meat processing. With the innovative Quantum Flex® trimmers and Cyclone® skinners, the latest tools from Bettcher Industries, the Goldschmaus Group has been able to further improve the quality and yields of its meat products. Right now, the company is planning its future around an effective combination of both automated and manual meat processing with the help of such high-performance tools.
The Goldschmaus Group, with its two sites in Garrel and Oldenburg, is known for processing of pork and beef products. From rearing to slaughtering, cutting and processing, the company ensures that every step is carried out to the highest possible standards as required by law in Germany. The company, which employs around 2,000 people, is majority-owned by farmers from the Oldenburger Münsterland eG farming association. Therefore, the meat that is processed by the Goldschmaus Group comes exclusively from farms that are organized in regional farming associations. Not only has this created a unique regional network for the production of beef and pork products, it also ensures that the Goldschmaus Group offers its customers the highest quality meat and sausages with controlled proof of origin through an uninterrupted chain. A large proportion of the products are sold to the food retailers, which places high demands on traceability, something which the Goldschmaus Group excels at by offering seamless tracking.
A new cutting plant that is ready for automation and improved ergonomics
The Goldschmaus Group’s collaboration with companies and associations based in northern Germany is paying off and the company continues to grow. A new processing plant was built in 2008. In 2015, a state-of-the-art freezer warehouse was inaugurated, which can hold an enormous 15,000 pallets and offers various freezing options. A new cutting plant is also being planned at the Garrel site. This new production facility, which is scheduled for completion in 2026, will offer more space which will mean that some areas of production will become automated and more ergonomic work processes will be introduced. The first stages of cutting, deboning and derinding, will run automatically. However, the company will continue to rely on its employees to do the fine cutting. When it comes to the production of meat, many work steps still have to be carried out manually, especially as every cut of meat is different. Despite the opportunities presented by automation, the company is committed to ensuring that many steps continue to be carried out by employees in the future to uphold its high-quality standards.
Like many companies in the meat industry, the Goldschmaus Group is facing a shortage of skilled workers. Therefore, the meat processing company is tasked with balancing the first-class quality of its products with increasing efficiency in production and improving working conditions. The company is tackling the industry-wide lack of skilled labour in two ways; firstly by automating parts of the production line where the quality of the products is not affected, e.g. in the rough cutting stage, and secondly, by introducing a number of different measures aimed at retaining employees, including the careful training of the workforce in separate training rooms with designated cutting lines and offering comprehensive social support that extends beyond operational areas. Above all, the Goldschmaus Group is creating a workplace design that will make the many processes involved in meat processing safer and less taxing for the employees who are tasked with carrying them out.
Many of the Goldschmaus Group’s products are produced at its plants in Garrel and Oldenburg. At both of these plants, the focus is on increasing the output per hour to make operations more cost-effective. At the same time, there is a focus on the health and wellbeing of employees to minimise sick leave and fluctuations in staff. One example is the commitment to equipping them with suitable tools for their jobs, including tools from the company’s long-standing partner Bettcher Industries Inc. The company, which has its headquarters in Ohio/USA and European home at Bettcher GmbH in Dierikon, Switzerland, is the world's leading supplier of high-performance cutting and trimming tools for industrial applications. The European side of the company, Bettcher GmbH, serves numerous markets through direct sales and is also a long-standing partner of the Goldschmaus Group.
Getting started with circular knives from Bettcher
The partnership between the Goldschmaus Group and Bettcher GmbH began around two decades ago with the use of Bettcher circular knives on the meat table in the pork production line in Garrel. Here, the trimming of both meat and rind from the fat cap was previously carried out with conventional knives - a process that consisted of making several individual cuts and required a substantial amount of reworking. To make such cuts, employees had to put their hands into an uncomfortable position, which led to an increase in complaints. To address these complaints, the company sought expert advice from Bettcher. Bettcher prides itself on the fact that it does not offer standard applications for specialists in trimming and skinning tools. Instead, the Bettcher experts, the customer support team that is made up of many trained butchers, come to its partner companies, look at the applications and suggest optimal solutions. This was the case for Goldschmaus too, after a visit from the Bettcher experts, it was suggested that circular knives be used to simplify the work being carried out at the meat table. By introducing circular knives, the work could be consolidated into one step while increasing the yield at the same time since the tools from Bettcher are designed to get the best out of every piece of meat. Having been convinced by the introduction of circular knives from Bettcher, the Goldschmaus Group has gone on to add to and update its stock of Bettcher tools over the years.
The Quantum Flex® Trimmer with a higher speed maintenance-free DriveLine
With the Quantum Flex® Trimmer, the company has introduced its fourth generation of trimmers. These electric circular blades are used at the Garrel site for the industrial trimming of pork. Bettcher has further optimized the performance, weight and ergonomics of the current generation of trimmers. This means that the tools are light to hold and have a fast-rotating blade. Compared to their predecessors, a number of technical improvements have been made. The mounting of the blades has been modified which has increased their cutting power and cutting speed while reducing vibrations. The patented rotating blades which have a special degree of hardness can be adjusted to deal with different depths - a unique feature that offers meat processing companies like the Goldschmaus Group a great deal of flexibility. The top-heaviness of the tool has also been reduced making the handling much easier for those operating it. The handles can also be adjusted for different hand sizes, making these tools even more ergonomic. Another special feature is that the universal handpiece is compatible with all Bettcher motors.
With its latest generation of cutting tools, companies like Goldschmaus are able to increase their meat yield even further. The device is also more energy efficient compared to its pneumatically operated predecessors as compressed air remains the most expensive source of energy in meat-processing. Thanks to its higher speed, the trimmers are also more cost efficient as the blades do not wear down so quickly. A real innovation is the modified drive line between the motor and handpiece. The latest generation DriveLine consists of just one greased, encapsulated and waterproof part. This part no longer needs to be dismantled and cleaned every day, as was the case with the previous version. With more than 20 such trimming devices in daily use at the Garrel site, the maintenance-free devices are saving the team, and the company, an enormous amount of time and energy. Furthermore, the use of the new low-vibration trimmers has also resulted in a reduction in noise pollution at the production facility.
Cyclone® Skinner - skinning with energy-saving electric drive
The Goldschmaus Group has also increased its meat yields, reduced energy costs and reduced noise by using the Cyclone® Skinner, Bettcher's electric manual skinner. This tool simplifies steps in the production line such as derinding and removing fat from pork hams or shoulders. The quiet and electric Cyclone® Skinner can also be operated both effortlessly and safely with one hand. It’s also much more comfortable to use thanks to its relatively low weight. As the quietest device in its class, it’s also easy on the ears with a noise level of less than 77 dB(A). It has a particularly wide cutting path and offers users full control over the thickness of the cut. The device has self-propelled, low-friction rollers and flexible side plates. This considered design reduces the waste of raw materials and increases the yield when compared to pneumatically operated skinners. Annual energy savings of up to 90 percent can also be achieved thanks to its electric drive. This effective tool is made up of a few, easily replaceable components which enables the Goldschmaus Group to carry out maintenance and repairs quickly while reducing maintenance costs and increasing the availability of the tool. Overall, this skinner is known for increasing productivity and yield and for being more comfortable to operate.
Quantum Flex® TrimVac - safe disposal of high-risk material
Finally, the Quantum Flex® TrimVac ensures more professional and safer processes for slaughtering. The circular blade is used in combination with a vacuum system to remove the spinal cord tissue and internal fat from hollow areas that are more difficult to access. This innovative tool, which has a particularly fast rotating blade, can be used to remove the spinal cord and associated material from slaughtered animals with utmost precision. The closed system inside the Quantum Flex® TrimVac was developed by Bettcher to protect the user from the material as it allows this material to be suctioned off during removal. First, the periosteum is separated with the blade and then the spinal cord material is transported away quickly using a vacuum process. The modern, ergonomic design of this cutting tool supports fast, efficient work and meat processors benefit from a significant increase in yield while employees appreciate the easy handling of the device.
Bettcher's innovative tools have helped the Goldschmaus Group to continuously improve the efficiency of its operations. Thanks to their ease of use, even unskilled labourers can be trained quickly to use the tools and can even be ready to use them in production after a matter of days. As a result of these innovative tools, the production steps have been simplified and the yield has increased. The maintenance-free design of the devices, including the reduction in parts that get worn down, saves the company time and reduces downtime on the production lines. In production lines, where one error can bring many employees to a standstill, every single minute that we save pays off. This means that the investment in the tools can be written off in a relatively short period of time especially since the company has succeeded in increasing yield and quality, while improving employee satisfaction. It is a win-win situation for everyone involved.
Well-equipped for the future - with Bettcher and the right tools
First-class quality, higher yields and fewer personnel worries are important building blocks that have contributed towards the growth of the Goldschmaus Group. The site in Garrel is now gearing up to introduce automation in some areas - a process that is planned for 2026 with the opening of the new cutting centre. Despite increasing automation in the meat industry, the company is convinced that many tasks will continue to require manual labour for years to come in order to continue producing high-quality products. This is an area where the Goldschmaus Group is happy to continue relying on its partner Bettcher. The Goldschmaus Group appreciates Bettcher’s service and the long-standing relationship that they have shared as a supplier of high-quality trimmers and skinners. Bettcher’s industry experts constantly inquire about their customers' needs and make these wishes into reality with their latest innovations.
The fact that Bettcher specialises in trimming and skinning tools and is able to continuously work on improvements with its engineers pays off. When it comes to applications, Bettcher does much more than offer standard solutions. As trusted and long-standing players in the industry, they have shown that they can do the same things, but in very different ways. Qualified Bettcher experts, who have their own experience in the industry, come to the plants and test Bettcher products with their customers until they find the perfect solution. Their tools are used worldwide, they are familiar with a wide variety of meat processing techniques, and they have tips from international markets that they can offer to their customers. In return, the doors in Garrel and Oldenburg are open for new developments at any time. If Bettcher needs to test new tools in real production settings, or if colleagues from the US headquarters want to familiarize themselves with the conditions in German meat production, the Goldschmaus Group is there.
Bettcher has recently announced another upgrade to their existing appliances and the release is highly anticipated at the Goldschmaus Group. Through various activities, such as the company's own MEATYOU! barbecue school in Oldenburg, the Goldschmaus Group aims to inspire and teach young people how to work with and appreciate high quality meat. The experts at Bettcher are also aware, from visiting their customers worldwide, that it is more important than ever to take a sustainable approach for meat production. And so, they agree with Goldschmaus: first-class quality, combined with the best possible yield, will pave the way to a successful future for the meat industry.