In one respect, the invention is a coring machine for removing portions of food item blanks, the coring machine comprising a plate assembly for holding the food item blanks and a pair of coring assemblies, each comprised of a plurality of coring bits that are aligned with passages in the plate assembly.

Disclosed is an automated drill apparatus composed of one or more gang drills mounted to a gang drill chassis, at least one powered drive wheel affixed to the gang drill chassis, and at least three pivotable support wheels. A control panel provides remote operation of drill rotation activation, drill advance, and drill bed position adjustment, and a panic off switch. A control system implements steering the automated drill apparatus and is selectable by the operator for steering in two-wheel mode or crab steer mode. The pivotable drive wheels, in conjunction with the control panel and control system, are used to position the automated drill apparatus along a slab to be drilled, and further activate one or more gang drills for drilling a slab.