Top-of-the-line production

A factory of the future

The Nordlaks factory was designed with efficiency, continuous flow and quality in mind. Marel fit right into that framework and worked closely with Nordlaks on layout, hygiene and intra-system connectivity to create continuous product flow throughout the plant. “We thoroughly planned the production lines first — then we designed and built the plant around them,” explained plant manager Arne Andersen. “We didn’t just build a factory for today; we also built it for the future, which is why we went with Marel.”

The new trimming line takes off

Marel’s new Salmon Trimming Flowline, an essential part of the overall processing flow, is harmoniously wedded to the Marel IPM Intelligent Portioning Machine and Marel graders. Nordlaks’ decision to become the first to install Marel’s new and improved flowline system was a major step towards enhancing its top-of-the-line production.

Thina Kobberstad, Nordlaks’ Quality Manager, explains: “When we decided on the equipment and flowline for this plant, we continued the work that had been laid out in a Marel Seminar where Quality Control managers from some of the world’s leading salmon producers met to discuss a range of proposed improvements to the Marel trimming flowline.” For Thina Kobberstad the Marel Seminar was an ideal situation: not only could she meet face-to-face with other quality managers, but also directly affect the line’s design. “I’m proud of the effort we put in, and the results from the seminar, especially regarding hygiene. We did a good job, and I really think that the new flow line is as good as it gets.”

Purity all the way

Designed with maximum hygiene in mind, the salmon trimming flowline is made for easy washdown: cables, switch boxes and other electrical components are now housed above the line, easily removable Intralox belts are used on all conveyors, and a revolutionary new take-away bin for fillets combines both ease of cleaning and handling for the operator. “Our quality standards are very high. The line is very easy to clean — and keep clean — and these are major issues for us,” said Thina Kobberstad.

Close encounters

Plant manager Arne Andersen has worked with Marel before, and knew what to expect. “My experience with Marel has been excellent. We knew that the best way for us was to go with Marel on the new factory. We also had the Marel Whole Salmon Grader in the slaughtery, and the Marel service people were always available, which was one of the major factors that influenced our choice.”

Working closely with the Marel team on the new flowline was another decisive factor according to Andersen. “We were involved in the design from the beginning, which was another great plus for us. It’s not every day one gets the opportunity to have such hands-on influence.”

Connectivity on hand

Connectivity is a major issue in any modern processing plant, and Marel equipment provides solutions that fit factories aiming for top performance. According to Arne Andersen, the installation of the line and the connection between different components were very successful.

“We needed to connect the Marel lines with machines from other manufacturers: Baader machines, pin-bone cutting machines and a vacuum packer. There were no technical problems linking the different machines and getting them to run properly. Marel did a fine job.”

With the plant up and running since November, Arne Andersen feels confident about current production and the company’s future direction. “We feel that we have the perfect set-up here. We have chosen the right equipment to go into the future. In reality we have an ideal ‘Marel factory’ right here at Nordlaks.”

Dynamic trio x two

At the Nordlaks ‘Marel factory’ things are going according to plan. “We built a new factory, brought in all new equipment and hired and trained 35 new people, all of which has combined to increase our throughput, our yield and our production capacity. Now that’s what I call two dynamic trios,” said a smiling Arne Andersen.