Sicornete is about to launch a new, high-tenacity polyethylene product after three months of testing. It increases the strength of ropes and nets, using thinner ropes so it reduces trawl drag and fuel consumption, hence nets can be bigger and catches higher, says Albino Matos of Sicornete.
He hopes deep-sea fishing fleets will welcome the product because "this new material allows nets to go deeper with less resistance." Sicornete, one of Europe's major netting manufacturers and exporters, says it has invested €700,000 in this development.
The Portuguese-based company has also installed a new steam set in its S. Pedro do Sul factory at a cost of €375,000, giving better distribution of temperatures through the nets than provided by traditional autoclaves. The steam set was developed by its own engineers in collaboration with other private companies and universities.
Other products from the Sicornete range include polyethylene, blue 2001, green compact, polypropylene, nylon/polyester, polysteel (sicorsteel), single/double constructions, ultra-violet light stabilised and stretched/heat set. Matos says that all their products are doing very well in the market particularly their top-of-the-range blue 2001.
Sicornete has also received an ISO 9001/2000 quality certificate and is upgrading its computer system. When the new system is implemented, customers will be able to check in which phase of production their order is.
