Abstract: An air-powered apparatus (10) for separating a string of sausages (S) connected by twisted casings (TC) is provided. The apparatus (10) has a first sausage mouth (46) spaced from a second sausage mouth (48) defining a cutting zone (C). Each sausage mouth (46,48) has a slot (54) for receiving a twisted casing (TC) connecting adjacent sausages. A first knife (70) is movably supported in the first sausage mouth (46), and a second knife (72) movably supported in the second sausage mouth (48). A tensioning cylinder (76) has a fixed end and an extendable end connected to the first sausage mouth (46) to move the first sausage mouth (46) relative to the second sausage mouth (48) to stretch the twisted casing (TC). A first cutting cylinder (66) has a fixed end and an extendable end connected to the first knife (70) for moving the first knife (70) into the cutting zone (C).