23 Mar Picking Finger Selection and its Impact on Defeathering Performance
Picking fingers should not be viewed as generic consumables, but as precision-engineered components essential to successful poultry defeathering and overall product quality.
Recent field evaluations conducted across multiple South African poultry processing plants confirmed that picking performance is strongly influenced by correct finger selection and configuration.
In one example, a plant was operating with softer fingers throughout the entire picking process. Following our assessment, a revised configuration was proposed, introducing appropriately selected PLUMATECH fingers (manufactured from a specialised natural rubber compound) in the initial picking stages, and a different PLUMATECH finger type with a different Shore hardness in the final stages to achieve optimal feather removal and improved product condition.
These findings reinforce a fundamental principle: finger material composition, selection and application deliver measurable improvements in product consistency and overall quality when supported by our on-site assessment and tailored configuration for each plant.
Finger Hardness and Application
Hardness (measured in Shore) indicates firmness and influences the aggressiveness of the picking finger. Higher values deliver more aggressive action for effective feather removal and lower values provide softer, gentler handling to protect skin integrity. Fingers are colour-coded for quick identification across the picking line.
RL Range – Ring Profile Fingers
Traditional round-profile design and the most widely used configuration in poultry picking systems.
Function: Controlled feather removal across all picking stages.
Hardness and Identification:
RL55 – 55 Shore (Yellow)
RL60 – 60 Shore (Green)
RL65 – 65 Shore (Red)
Finger hardness is applied according to the picking requirement, with firmer fingers used where more robust action is needed and softer fingers used where finer feather removal and skin protection are critical.
RL Wave – Wavy Profile Fingers
Enhanced round-profile finger with an integrated wavy ridge for multi-directional contact.
Function: Improves feather interaction and supports more consistent removal across the bird surface.
Hardness and Identification:
RL Wave 55 – 55 Shore (Yellow)
RL Wave 60 – 60 Shore (Green)
RL Wave 65 – 65 Shore (Red)
Application: The wavy ridge increases contact points during rotation, improving feather engagement without significantly increasing aggressiveness. Suitable where more thorough but controlled picking is required.
PL Range – Textured Plucking Fingers
Specialised textured surface designed to enhance grip.
Function: Increases finger-to-feather contact in targeted zones.
Hardness and Identification:
PL55 – 55 Shore (Yellow)
PL60 – 60 Shore (Green)
PL65 – 65 Shore (Red)
Application: Typically applied in specific zones to improve grip without increasing overall picking intensity.
AMN Range – Specialised Fingers
Engineered for specialised applications such as chicken feet plucking.
Hardness and Identification:
AMN60 – 60 Shore (Black)
Application: Provides consistent performance where standard carcass fingers are not suitable.
Key Differentiators: High Natural Rubber Content and Food-Safe Certification
PLUMATECH picking fingers are manufactured from a specialised natural rubber compound, providing consistent grip during defeathering while maintaining skin integrity.
This supports effective feather removal across varying bird sizes and in more demanding areas such as wings, tail and between the legs.
All fingers are supplied with a Certificate of Non-Toxicity, available on request, confirming suitability for food processing applications.
For application guidance or further technical information, please submit an enquiry using the form below.