Blasted round fish
Skaginn put on show its Combined Blast and Contact (CBC) processing line at the Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition.
The CBC processing line, which has been under development for round fish over the last few years, uses the CBC cooling method which concentrates on processing fillets in an under-cooled state. Sp the product is cooled with the skin on until the final stage of processing. This means, the company says, the product retains its strength better to withstand handling. With a stiff product, it is possible to use a high pressure water jet cutting method which automatically cuts the pin bone and portions the fillets.
Skaggin says that tests show that packing the product at below zero temperatures gives substantially increased shelf life.
It says the main advantages include: increased product quality and yield;
better appearance of the product, and better product mix; reduced spoilage from bacterial action; minimal loss of liquid increases taste quality; wastage in skinning is kept to an absolute minimum. In turn this gives longer shelf life and improved product distribution. It said tests show up to 3-4 days increased shelf life.
One also gets optimal yield in loins and a higher percentage of first-grade products alongside new possibilities for porting cutting. This means that there are fresh possibilities to process sensitive raw materials, such as haddock. There are also increased output and reduced labour costs, while trimming is easier and there is less work per fillet. It reckons water jet cutting can save up to 13 staff.
Skaginn’s main markets for fish processing technology are Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Grímur Garðarsson, CEO, said that they have recently appointed an agent for Chile and business there is “going great.” “We are also looking more onto the Norwegian market and we are looking for agents in Europe as a whole,” he said.
Garðarsson said that he had been very pleased with attendance at the show and that the results were higher than expected. “We are very happy with the show. We have had mainly visitors from Iceland and the USA. We are quite surprised at the amount of people coming from the Faroe Islands…” He said they were expecting so sign three orders for different projects as a result of the show.
Skaginn won the Outstanding Icelandic Supplier Processing –Smalll/Medium company award at the Icelandic Fisheries Awards.
