Abstract: An elongated meat processing system including an improved lifting mechanism for lifting products from a conveyor during conveyance through a treatment zone defined by a housing of the system so as to control the rate of advancement of the products and the time the products are present in the treatment zone. The system preferably includes a plurality of the conveyors arranged in a vertically spaced relationship with each of these conveyors being of a reciprocating type including a pair of laterally spaced reciprocating beams that carry product sticks on which the products are hung. The lifting mechanism includes laterally spaced lifters along the length of the system for lifting the products after forward reciprocation of the conveyor beams so the products are suspended and do not move rearwardly during subsequent rearward beam reciprocation. Prior to a subsequent forward reciprocation, the lifters return the products to the beams to provide product advancement.