Rubber band manufacturer Alliance Rubber has recently partnered with Bilmar Technology Inc. to create a lobster-banding machine that allows banding immediately after the lobster has been caught.
Alliance is the largest U.S. manufacturer of rubber bands and Bilmar Technology specializes in the design and manufacture of automation for segments of industry where significant manual labor is currently required.
The process the two companies jointly devised uses flexible bands for soft-shelled lobsters and tighter bands for hard shells. The bands are made of silicone, which maintains the claw intact through the cooking process. The bands, which serve the dual purpose of preventing the lobsters and crabs from harming each other and protecting human processors from getting pinched.
“The process will promote efficiency and significantly cut costs on hiring manual lobster banders, therefore increasing the profitability of operations,” the companies said in a press release.
Alliance and Bilmar can be located at Booth No. 558 during the Seafood Expo North America.
