Norwegian processor chooses new filleting line

Sotra Fiskeindustri, a leading Norwegian seafood processor, is investing in a new filleting line from the Icelandic equipment company Marel.

The new line includes Marel’s latest filleting machine, the MS 2750, which is specifically designed for filleting salmon and trout.

Located just outside of Bergen, Sotra is a primary and secondary processor of salmon and trout. Its facility has a yearly capacity of 30,000 tonnes of high-quality seafood, supplying customers both in Norway and overseas including Europe, North America, Australia and Asia.

Sotra and Marel are no strangers to each other, having worked in partnership for more than two decades. Last year, Sotra sought to increase capacity and efficiency in its filleting department. Rather than upgrading its existing equipment, it opted to to trial the MS 2750, Marel’s fourth-generation filleting machine, for high-yield filleting of salmon and trout weighing between 1.5 and 10 kilograms.

Kristian Hybertz Christensen, Product Specialist Filleting at Marel, said: “Sotra carried out a very thorough test with fish of all kinds of sizes, both pre- and post-rigor. Nothing was left out and not tested.” 

Oystein Noremark, Department Manager Filleting at Sotra, said: “We had the machine on site and tested it and compared it with other machines it was up against, and we were surprised how well it performed.” 

He said the MS 2750 not only excelled in yield and throughput but also stood out as the most environmentally friendly machine on the market, using less water and power than its competitors.

Trond Helge Nygaard, CEO of Sotra, added that size was also a consideration: “Due to the small footprint of the machine, we could easily fit it into our existing building.”