Alleviates Pain From Manual Banding Operations

Lobster fishing is physically hard on the body of banders, and no job should be a source of that much pain. We want to alleviate that as much as possible, so we have developed a machine that simplifies the banding process. This machine decreases the pain and swelling in fingers, forearms, and carpal tunnel wrist area from manual banding operations, and allows for consistent processing from sun up to sun down.

Reduces Wasted Lobster Bands In Our Oceans

Our oceans worldwide are becoming increasingly polluted with plastics, cans, bottles, fishing nets and, we were sorry to learn, rubber bands, that are seriously impacting the ecosystem and the livelihood of fishermen. Lobstermen use rubber bands to band lobster claws. Bands, normally piled at banding stations on deck, are subject to being blown or washed overboard adding to that pollution factor. The Lobster Banding Machine applies each band cut from tubing directly to a lobster claw. No piles of bands on boat decks, no spillage into the oceans we hope will help free our waters of that part of the debris that could be attributed to rubber bands.

Increases Lobster Quality To Obtain Top Dollar At Market

As fishermen know, the highest prices are offered for lobsters which are considered the highest quality. Any lobster with a hard shell, high survival rate, high meat yield, and good “ship-ability” will be purchased for top dollar at market. That’s because those qualities result in a product for the consumer with a desirable taste and texture, which is why lobsters falling into that category are in higher demand. For this reason, it is to the financial benefit of the fisherman to pay special attention to anything that will increase that quality. According to Dr. Lavalle, a lobster veterinarian from Prince Edward Island and Clinical Scientist at the Atlantic Veterinary College Lobster Science center, “Every time someone touches a lobster, a little bit of quality comes out of it.”  The Lobster Banding Machine increases lobster quality by decreasing touch points and length of time a lobster is handled.

OPERATION
Alliance’s Sterling grade rubber tubing is fed through the back of the machine, and cut into half-inch bands. The internal mechanism grabs the band, stretches, and then presents an open band. Once the claw is placed through the band opening, the band detaches from the mechanism, securing the claw. The mechanism then retracts back into the machine to retrieve the next cut band for presentation. The entire process takes one second per claw in fast speed mode, allowing the operator to process an entire day’s catch at a consistent, fast rate.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Compact dimensions designed to not get in your way
• Precision machined components designed to endure a fresh water, wash-down environment
• Internal computerized parts are protected in a sealed plastic compartment
• Modular design for ease in troubleshooting and part replacement
• Operates with 120 VAC, 24 VDC or 12 VDC power sources
• Requires a compressed air source that can supply 0.5 CFM at 100 PSI