A well equipped abattoir is essential for ensuring efficient, hygienic, and compliant meat processing. From stunning and bleeding to dressing, evisceration, and by-product processing, every stage of slaughter requires specialist abattoir equipment that meets industry regulations and maximises efficiency.

At AES Food Equipment, we supply a comprehensive range of abattoir equipment for the slaughter of beef, sheep, pigs, venison, poultry, and rabbit.

Whether you're upgrading an existing kill line or setting up a new facility, our high-quality machinery ensures safe, reliable, and high performance operations.

Stunning Abattoir Equipment – Humane and Effective Stunning Solutions

Proper stunning is a critical first step in the slaughter process, ensuring humane handling and compliance with welfare regulations. We supply:

• Stunning boxes & restrainers – Designed for secure animal positioning before stunning.
• Electric stunning systems – Effective for pigs and sheep, offering controlled stunning with EU complaint systems.
• Captive bolt stunners – Ideal for cattle and smalls, these units provide an instant and effective stun.

Our stunning equipment is sourced from leading manufacturers including Accles & Shelvoke, Jarvis and Hubert Haas, ensuring precision, reliability, and compliance with industry standards.

Bleeding Equipment – Secure Handling for Efficient Processing

Efficient bleeding is crucial for ensuring high-quality meat and proper carcass handling. Our bleeding equipment includes:

• Bleed shackles – Securely hold animals during the bleeding process.
• Bleed hoists – Designed for lifting carcasses quickly during exsanguination.
• Transfer platforms – Safe and ergonomic solutions for slaughterhouse staff working on kill lines.

Our bleeding solutions are built to support both high throughput abattoirs and small scale slaughterhouses alike.

Dressing Abattoir Equipment – Efficient Carcass Preparation

Once bleeding is complete, dressing equipment is used for removing hides, hair, pelts, or feathers, ensuring carcasses are clean and ready for processing. We supply:

• Hide pullers – For efficient removal of cattle hides.
• Dehairing machines – Essential for pig processing, ensuring thorough cleaning.
• Pelt pullers & punching arms – Designed for safe and effective pelt removal.
• Plucking machines – Essential for poultry processing, ensuring efficient feather removal.

Our dressing equipment is designed for speed, hygiene, and precision, helping abattoirs increase throughput while maintaining quality.

Evisceration Equipment – Precision for Hygienic Processing

Evisceration is a key stage in carcass processing, requiring specialist equipment to ensure hygiene and efficiency. We supply:

• Leg spreaders – Ensuring easy access to the internal cavity for gut removal.
• Gut conveyors – Streamlining the transport of offal and reducing manual handling.
• Rise & fall platforms – Providing operators with safe and adjustable access during evisceration.

Designed for ease of use and hygiene, our evisceration equipment meets the highest industry standards.

Saws & Tools – Leading Brands for Precision Cutting

High quality saws and cutting tools are essential for efficient and accurate carcass processing. We supply a full range of saws and hydraulic tools from leading brands, including:

• Jarvis, Freund, and Kentmaster saws – Renowned for durability and performance.
• Breaking saws & carcass splitting saws – Precision tools for portioning and cutting.
• Hydraulic cutting tools – Improving efficiency and reducing operator fatigue.

These industry leading tools ensure smooth operation and precise cuts, meeting the demands of small and large scale abattoirs.

By-Product Processing – Maximising Efficiency

Efficient by-product processing ensures better resource utilisation and hygiene compliance. We supply:

• Stomach washing machines – Ensuring clean and efficient processing.
• Feet dehairers – Perfect for processing sheep and cattle feet for additional revenue streams for your abattoir.
• Refiner machines & gut blowers – Streamlining offal and by-product handling.

These systems help abattoirs maximise yield and efficiency, reducing waste and improving productivity. They also ensure your abattoir is utilising every revenue stream possible.

Meat Rail & Dispatch Machinery – Seamless Carcass Handling

Efficient meat rail systems are crucial for smooth carcass transport and storage. We supply:

• Twin track meat rail systems – Designed for high-capacity abattoirs and meat processing plants.
• Tubular round bar rails – Offering versatile carcass movement solutions.
• Meat loading arms – Improving carcass handling efficiency.

Our custom-designed rail systems ensure seamless processing and cold storage integration.

Consumables – Essential Supplies for Daily Operations

In addition to abattoir equipment, we stock a full range of abattoir consumables, including:

• Knives & blades – Precision tools for cutting and processing.
• Protective aprons – Ensuring safety and hygiene compliance.

These consumables are essential for maintaining hygienic and efficient operations in any slaughter facility.

Your Trusted Supplier for Abattoir Equipment

At AES Food Equipment, we provide a complete range of abattoir equipment for beef, sheep, pig, poultry, rabbit, and venison slaughter. Our solutions are designed to maximise efficiency, ensure compliance, and improve safety across all areas of meat processing.

Whether you need stunning equipment, carcass dressing tools, saws, meat rails, or consumables, we have the right products for your abattoir or slaughterhouse.

Browse our full range of abattoir equipment today or contact us for expert advice on the best solutions for your facility.

Choosing the Right Hooks for Your Butchery or Abattoir

Meat hooks are an essential tool in the meat processing industry, enabling efficient handling, storage, and transportation of carcasses. Whether you operate a small butcher shop, a large abattoir, or a food processing facility, selecting the right meat hook is crucial for maintaining hygiene, workflow efficiency, and safety.

At AES Food Equipment, we supply a comprehensive range of meat hooks to meet the needs of butchers, abattoirs, and food producers across the UK and worldwide. In this guide, we’ll explore the different types of meat hooks available and their applications.

Butcher S Hooks – A Versatile Solution for Butchers and Meat Processors

Butcher S hooks are widely used in the industry, providing an effective and hygienic way to hang meat. They are available in a range of sizes and weight capacities, making them suitable for:

• Small butcher shops looking for hooks to hang and display cuts of meat.
• Domestic users processing meat at home.
• Large-scale meat producers requiring heavy duty hooks for handling full carcasses.

Our stainless steel butcher S hooks are designed for durability and hygiene, ensuring they meet food safety regulations. Explore our full range of butcher S hooks here.

Abattoir Hooks and Chains – Heavy Duty Options for Slaughterhouses

In abattoirs, hooks and chains play a critical role in carcass processing and movement along the production line. We supply a variety of options to suit different applications, including:

• Bleed shackles – Securely hold animals during the bleeding process.
• Spreader hooks – Support carcasses to ensure proper airflow and hygiene.
• 7-link chains – Durable stainless steel chains used for carcass handling and transport.

Our high-strength abattoir hooks and chains are designed for demanding environments, offering reliability and longevity.

Meat Rail Hooks – Designed for Smooth Carcass Movement

For facilities using overhead meat rail systems, choosing the correct hooks is vital for seamless operation. Our range includes:

• Twin track meat rail hooks – Suitable for standard overhead meat rail systems, allowing efficient carcass movement through processing areas.
• Tubular rail hooks (skids) – Designed for hanging and transporting carcasses in cold storage and processing facilities.

We supply a variety of meat rail hooks to suit different setups, ensuring compatibility with industry-standard rail systems.

Gambrels – Strong, Reliable Support for Carcass Processing

Gambrels are an essential tool for suspending carcasses securely during processing. We offer:

• A-Frame Gambrels – Sturdy, triangular gambrels suitable for lamb, pork, and venison.
• W-Gambrels – A thinner gambrel without additional support of the A, this design ideal for supporting sheep carcasses.
• Pig Gambrels – thick 10” gambrels for support pigs.
• Deer Gambrels – we can fabricate special deer gambrels for extra long widths.

Whether for small game or full-size pigs, our gambrels provide stable, efficient support for carcass handling.

Find the Right Hooks for Your Needs

At AES Food Equipment, we stock a wide selection of hooks, including butcher S hooks, abattoir hooks, meat rail hooks, and gambrels. Our hooks are built for strength, durability, and hygiene, meeting the needs of both small-scale and large-scale meat processors.

Browse our full range today or contact us for expert advice on the best hooks for your business.

Overview

AES Food Equipment collaborated with The Newt in Somerset to create a cutting edge butchery facility at Avalon Farm. Designed to enhance meat production and supply capabilities, this standalone facility supports The Newt’s hotel, retail outlets, and online shop, with a focus on quality, provenance, and sustainability.

The Challenge

The Newt required a facility that could handle full-carcass butchery across various species while maintaining rigorous hygiene, efficiency, and traceability standards. AES Food Equipment was entrusted with delivering a custom stainless steel meat rail system, along with essential hygiene and butchery equipment, all tailored to meet The Newt’s unique requirements.

Our Approach

Collaborative Design & Planning

Working alongside The Newt and their architects, AES Food Equipment contributed critical insights into the design of the loading bays, meat chillers, and butchery preparation rooms. These details enabled the architects to prepare comprehensive tender documents for contractors. During the tendering process, we supported contractors by addressing technical questions to ensure smooth bidding.

Partnering with CG Fry & Son

After CG Fry & Son won the tender, AES collaborated closely with them and The Newt throughout construction. This partnership ensured the seamless integration of our twin track stainless steel meat rail system and other equipment into the facility’s design.

Tailored Solutions

AES supplied and installed key equipment to meet The Newt’s needs:

• Twin-track stainless steel rail system for efficient carcass handling.
• Hygiene equipment, including boot and apron washes, to ensure compliance with food safety standards.
• A carcass loading arm to simplify loading onto the rail system.

The meat chiller was equipped with a stunning glass viewing panel, allowing visitors to observe the butchery process in action.

The Result

The completed facility at Avalon Farm combines aesthetic design with practical functionality. Clad in glass and oak, the butchery reflects The Newt’s commitment to transparency and quality. It features a production area for full-carcass processing and a workshop space for training and education.

This facility now supplies beef, lamb, and venison from Avalon Farm, alongside locally sourced pork and poultry, to The Newt’s estate, shops, and online business. Visitors can experience the craft of butchery firsthand through workshops and training initiatives.

Client Testimonial

"Our new butchery has transformed the way we handle and showcase meat at The Newt. The collaborative efforts with AES Food Equipment have resulted in a facility that’s as functional as it is beautiful. It’s a space where craft and care come together, and it’s integral to our farm-to-table approach."– The Newt

Learn More

For more information about The Newt’s butchery and their commitment to high-welfare meat production, visit their official website.

Over the last 50 years, various meat rail systems have been employed to hang and transport carcass meat within meat production facilities. In this blog, we will explore these types of meat rail systems, examining the benefits and drawbacks of each, and providing recommendations on the most suitable systems for your meat processing business.

Round Bar/Tubular Systems

Round bar or tubular meat rail systems remain widely used in the UK across abattoirs, cutting plants, and butcheries. This system consists of a steel framework with galvanised metal hangers at varying heights, supporting steel tubes for meat skids and tubular roller hooks. Directional changes are managed via switches, available in 25, 45, and 90-degree turns, with newer rollover designs enhancing operator safety by preventing hooks from falling off the ends.

Commonly, the rail tubes are either 48mm or 60mm in diameter, with 60mm being prevalent in Europe. Notable manufacturers of round bar meat rail systems include Couedic Madore and Hocker. These systems can also feature pneumatic switches, allowing operators to change directions using a controller, where a ram turns over the switch.

Advantages:

• Cost-effective, using tubular galvanised tubes.
• Meat skids can double as hooks.

Disadvantages:

• Requires regular greasing for smooth hook movement.
• Potential safety issues with hooks detaching.
• Complex structural support may cause installation challenges.

Aluminium/Stainless Steel Twin Track Meat Rail Systems

Aluminium and stainless steel twin track systems are the leading meat rail systems in the UK market, due to their numerous advantages. These systems feature a steel supporting framework with hangers that clip onto I-beams, holding two single extruded track profiles. The system utilises plastic-wheeled rollers for easy carcass movement.

Various switches, including 45 and 90-degree turns, as well as 3-way or 4-way directional switches, facilitate complex operational workflows. Notable manufacturers of twin track meat rail systems include Transuni, Biralux, Abachem and AES.

Advantages:

• High safety, preventing hook dislodgment.
• Easy carcass movement due to plastic rollers with bearings.
• No need for greasing, reducing maintenance and cleaning efforts.
• Corrosion-resistant materials like aluminium and stainless steel.
• Easy to upgrade or modify without specialist machinery.

Disadvantages:

• Space requirements for installation, particularly in smaller chillers or cold rooms.
• Necessitates a supporting structure.

Flat Bar Systems

Once common in the UK, flat bar systems are now primarily used in North American meat processing facilities. These systems, supported by a steel framework, involve a flat bar where hooks with single wheels sit on top.

Advantages:

• Cost-effective.

Disadvantages:

• Lack of available flat bar switches.
• Safety concerns with hook attachment.
• Susceptibility to rust.

Self-Supporting Aluminium Rails

This modern European meat rail system integrates a self-supporting aluminium structure, simplifying design and installation. The system features plastic switches and pulls for directional changes, with hooks seated on small wheels inside the rail. Notable manufacturers of self supporting rail systems include Italmodular and Tonon.

Advantages:

• Streamlined design and installation process.

Disadvantages:

• Lower SWL (Safe Working Load) for hooks.
• Requires numerous supporting columns, impacting floor space.
• Potential operational delays due to sticking plastic components.

Choosing the Right Meat Rail System

Selecting the appropriate types of meat rail system depends on several factors: existing infrastructure, available supporting steelwork, facility size, and operational requirements. Generally, the aluminium twin track rail system is recommended for most meat processing facilities. At AES Food Equipment, we distribute leading suppliers of this rail type and can match your existing layouts.

For more information or to discuss your specific requirements, please contact us.