The robots were designed, manufactured and installed by engineering company Milmeq Ltd, which manufactures in both Dunedin and Auckland, in conjunction with Ovine Automation Ltd.
The installation of the robots was the first commercial application of the technology and followed several years of testing as part of OAL's research and development programme.
OAL is a consortium of New Zealand lamb processors supported with funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
In 2011, Milmeq received the top award in the mechanical and manufacturing category of the New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards, for the development of an automated solution for brisket cutting and evisceration.
The robots automated the difficult and potentially dangerous part of livestock processing, resulting in improved product quality, hygiene and safety.
Installation of the technology at Smithfield was the first step of a larger project Alliance Group was undertaking at the plant, general manager processing Kerry Stevens said.
Testing of the technology showed improvements in productivity and a reduction in food safety risks, Mr Stevens said.
Milmeq designs, manufactures and exports specialist capital plant equipment for food processing operations across the meat, poultry, dairy, seafood and fresh produce industries.
Chief executive Mike Lightfoot said it was "fantastic'' to see the development that had gone into the robots now coming to fruition at a commercial level.
"We see this as being the way of the future for lamb processing throughout New Zealand and globally.
"I would anticipate that, in time, the automated brisket cutter and evisceration robots will be recognised as setting the industry standard,'' he said.
Milmeq was established in Dunedin in 1952 as Refrigeration Engineering.
