Times are changing in the processing industry. World Fishing finds out why - The processing industry is changing all the time. It operates at a fast pace and has to be quick to adapt to change in trends or opportunities are missed. The last few years have seen hygiene regulations become stricter and retailers much more demanding.
The 1990s were the time for innovation and developing machines that were faster and added to increased yield while cutting down on labour costs. Now, many processing factories are being run by robots rather than humans. But they are doing a very good job.
The introduction of technology such as pin-bone removers and laser cutting has given processors the opportunity to be more creative and be focused on their goal of adding value.
Lars Kops, marketing manager at Cabinplant in Denmark told World Fishing: "The processing market in Europe is quite saturated at the moment. Companies are not making major purchases but updating or improving older models." This is mainly in response to changes in water regulations or hygiene standards.
Advanced factory
Elsewhere in the world processing factories have been installed at a fast rate, but ironically one of the most advanced processing factories developed last year was in Germany.
Situated in Sassnitz on the Island of Rugen in Germany, the factory is capable of processing 50,000 tons of fish a year. Owner Euro-Baltic is confident all year round use of the factory will be achieved.
The factory is taking catches from German fishermen as well as other EU vessels. Mainly, herring will go through the factory but other species will need to be processed to ensure year round usage.
Adding value
"Broadly speaking the buzz words in the last few years have been about adding value but the key factor today is also freshness," adds Lars Kops.
This might seem an obvious statement but in the mid 1990s there was a trend towards frozen fish products and now consumers have returned towards demanding fresher, healthier products.
Cabimplant have found demand for 'cooling' lines instead of 'frozen' processing lines. "The situation with fresh fish in Europe is a disaster that's why it is important for processors to make the most of what they have got," says Lars Kops.
Sigurdur Gudni Sigurdsson, director at Skaginn, told World Fishing that he agreed that there was a definite shift towards a focus on quality and freshness.
He said: "More and more customers are focused towards delivering the best quality and freshness, so what they are looking from their processing machines is the ability to provide fish in a variety of unique forms, pushing innovation, whilst maintaining the freshness."
Recently Skaginn developed a new processing technology based on the 'superchilling' raw materials. It has two main principles. One is maintaining a low temperature of the raw materials throughout the entire process from landing to delivery of the buyer. The second principle is reinforcing the fillet so that it can endure skinning and trimming without being damaged. Just one example of the technology on offer.
Along with companies such as Scanvaegt, Skaginn and Cabinplant, Icelandic company Marel has been one of the most innovative in the market. Developing a number of new products in the last few years, it has witnessed a trend towards portioning of fish as well as freshness.
"It is all about a focus towards fresh portions as opposed to fillet blocks," says Marel sales & marketing director Lars Asgeirsson.
"The demand is there for processing lines that offer more flexibility in how they operate." According to Lars Asgeirsson, there has even been a fall off in the amount of processing done on-board because of this. "There has been a return towards vessels catching for on-land processing factories," he adds.
The portions are a result of a demand for specific sizes of fish. This has been driven to some extend at the other end of the chain by the rise in convenience food and ready meals. "More fish is being de-boned, de-headed, skinned, there are so many processes now that simply were not demanding years ago."
Processors are also increasingly looking for a 'one stop shop' in processing lines, and suppliers have responded with some excellent variations.
Scanvaegt's processing line, for example, offers yield control, traceability, labelling, weighing, grading, washing, despatch, portion control, trimming....the list is endless.
What it does do is offer an opportunity for a better management of the factory. At a time when resources are low-this can only be a good thing.
