Nearly $1 million was spent on research and development by Scott Technology in the first six months of this financial year.
Not all of that was invested in automated meat processing systems, but managing director Chris Hopkins said the investment helped the company inch ever closer to its goal of a fully automated lamb boning room.
Its work in automated meat-processing has attracted the attention of Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), the Danish Meat Research Institute and some of the world's biggest meat processing companies.
New Zealand meat companies Silver Fern Farms, Alliance Group, Anzco and Affco have also been involved, offering support and buying technology.
Scott has also received some funding from the Government through the Foundation for Research Science and Technology.
Three years ago, MLA brought representatives from seven Australian beef processors to Dunedin for two days to discuss ways to adapt technology being developed for lambs and cattle.
The Danes also expressed interest in automated beef processing technology.
Mr Hopkins said the difference between beef and lamb was muscle groups were split to produce the various beef cuts, whereas lamb cuts were produced by removing meat from bone.
There was also interest from European pork processors in X-ray technology.
