Electronic egg seeks out damage spots

Cracked or damaged eggs cost the egg industry big money but detecting exactly where eggs become damaged during production, grading and packing operations can be an almost impossible task, even to the trained eye.

But now Technical Services & Supplies has developed the SMARTegg, an egg-shaped device packed with electronic wizardry, capable of identifying where an eggs takes its bumps and knocks on its journey from nest to egg pack. Placed among real eggs, the SMARTegg pinpoints with great accuracy any potential problem areas where eggs may become damaged by using its advanced electronic circuitry to detect all shocks, above a pre-determined level, to which it is subjected. After the SMARTegg has completed its journey, the information gathered is downloaded to a PC via the special docking station.

With a price tag of around £2,500 it is likely to be out of reach of most free range egg producers...or is it? For a 10,000 bird flock a 1% reduction in cracks could yield an extra 2,500 dozen saleable eggs over the laying cycle, which should go a long way towards paying for this very SMARTegg.