The Icelandic company 3X-Stál, which specialises in technical solutions for the fish processing industry, is now promoting its new Tub handling system in the European market. This new system has been developed and tried with excellent results in some of Iceland''s largest fish processing factories. Trials using the system have shown that it is possible to stabilise and increase the production flow in fish processing by up to 12-15 per cent. The system also makes for better handling and utilisation of raw material, reduces the need for manual labour and results in a longer life for the tubs.
Thorir Matthiassson, 3X--Stál's marketing executive is responsible for the promotion of the system in Europe. According to Matthiasson, the system is a combination of a fully computerised feeding system with an inbuilt tub-washing machine. It is also possible to purchase the tub-washing machine separately.
Highly Automatic
Automatic feeding of raw material at the initial stage of processing makes for greater stabilisation than the traditional method of using fork lifts. Consequently, all other stages in the processing of the raw material are more evenly regulated, which directly results in increased production. The system works in such a way that tubs containing raw material are placed in a dispenser, up to nine tubs at a time, three in a stack. From the dispenser the tubs automatically move onto a conveyor belt to the tub tipper, which gradually empties the raw material from the tub using a specialised "tipping" feature, which is crucial in optimising the value of the raw material.
After the tubs have been emptied onto the processing line, they continue onwards upside-down towards the tub-washing machine. 3X - Stál offers two different models of tub-washing machinery: one type combining jets and brushes, the other being a high-volume jet washing machine. Once the cleaning is completed, the tubs move onto the tub roller where they are turned rightside up. They then continue on to the tub stacker at the final stage of the system, where the tubs are stacked in piles.
Increased Production
An important feature of the system is that the tubs are washed immediately after use, which makes for far better hygiene standards.
The Tub handling system is tailored made and the stacking of tubs is also flexible depending on the space available.
Since the tub system is electronically controlled, it is possible to access various data, e.g. information relating to production and the number of tubs used over a given period.
Tómas Árdal, Senior Processing Manager at Fiski_junni Skagfir_ingi Ltd., says that the system he purchased from 3X - Stál over a year ago has certainly proven its worth, with over 5000 tonnes of raw material now being processed annually. "We're definitely conscious of a considerable saving when it comes to labour. There's far less need for fork lifts at the initial stage than was the case before."
