Denmark''s leading fish processing company explains why more processing and adding value will be done on-board - A shortage of fish in many areas, accompanied by rising prices, has accelerated the trend for both small fishing vessels and large factory trawlers to focus more on adding value to the fish on board.
Smaller fishing vessels are now beginning to invest in scales and weigh labelling systems, which enable the fishermen to deliver their fish fully sorted, package and labelled to be the auctions or further processors. This creates significant benefits including:
l Cost savings by reducing onshore handling;
l Higher prices as a result from having sorted the fish on board; and
l Reduction of overweight in boxes.
By sorting, weighing and labelling on board, the auction or further processor can be given details in advance of the catch and can plan it's marketing or further processing in detail our analyses and dockside interviews show a normal onshore handling cost (handling, weighing, packing etc.) reduces the price to the fisherman by around 11%. By investing in a weigh labelling system, these onshore costs can be be reduced to about 5% - no savings the fisherman some 6% of his catch value.
This frequently results in a payback time of less than three months for an on board weigh labelling system.
Further on board processing:
The trend on large factory trawlers is towards further on board processing. Investments are made in production equipment such as graders for sorting the fish and management systems to monitor and control yield. Such improvements are important to further processing projects and result from the consumer's demands for optimum quality with minimum handling.
By sorting the fish on board, the fisherman can inform their own further processing companies or buyers about the size, grades and characteristics of their catch before it is landed. The benefits that come from these on board fish processing activities have significantly increased the demand for on board graders and flow scales.
Scanvaegt provides concepts that meet the processing needs of the worldwide food industry. Subsidiary companies and distributor network spanning the globe supply practical, profitable systems that extend over the full range of weighing equipment processing equipment, packaging solutions, labelling, marine weighing and processing equipment, turnkey process lines, service and consultancy, and an extensive section of related IT systems.
