Pure Salmon Technology announced that it will continue its collaboration with Helgeland Smolt, this time at its upcoming smolt facility at the Nova Sea-owned smolt producer in Kilvika, Meløy, Norway. "After successful partnerships in previous projects, it is very gratifying that Helgeland Smolt has once again chosen us as their collaborative partner," said Jack Tucker, Sales Manager of Pure Salmon Technology.
"The fact that we provide both process equipment and automation, ensuring the interface between equipment and control, has been a crucial factor," Tucker continued. "Helgeland Smolt's choice reflects their trust in our expertise and technology," the Sales Manager of Pure Salmon Technology concluded.
A year ago, the announcement of a new 'salmon tax' put most of the industry's investments in Norway on halt. The new Helgeland Smolt facility project, announced last July, marked the return of investments to Norway after the ground rent tax came into effect in 2023.
"We have a responsibility for our fish and for our suppliers. This responsibility is more important to us than the ground rent, even if the investment is significantly more demanding to realize than before the ground rent came in," said Tom Eirik Aasjord, Helgeland Smolt Chairman, in announcing it.
Now, Pure Salmon Technology is delivering comprehensive electro and automation solutions, process equipment, and support systems for Helgeland Smolt's new plant in Kilvika. The facility, which has a budget of more than NOK 1 billion (EUR 89.25 million - USD 99.90 million), will start construction in just a few weeks. As stated at the time, if all goes according to plan, the first smolt should be delivered in the spring of 2026.
"We chose Pure Salmon Technology based on their expertise in RAS, particularly in automation," noted Tor-Arne Gransjøen, CEO of Helgeland Smolt. "We have collaborated with Pure Salmon Technology in previous projects and have a very good working relationship with them," he added.
Niels Brynnum, CCO at Pure Salmon Technology, was in the same vein. "We greatly appreciate the trust Helgeland Smolt has shown in choosing us as the supplier for their upcoming facility," he said. And continued, "I would like to extend a special thanks to everyone involved from Helgeland Smolt, especially to Tor-Arne Gransøen and Trond Mellerud [Project engineer at Helgeland Smolt], for their highly positive and constructive collaboration."
Helgeland Smolt's new salmon smolt facility in Kilvika will have the capacity to produce 10 million 600 g smolts and will be divided into 12 separate RAS (recirculating aquaculture systems) with a high degree of biosecurity. As mentioned above, it has an investment framework of more than NOK 1 billion (EUR 89.25 million – USD 99.90 million), and, when fully operational, it will generate 20 new jobs in the municipality where it is located.
In June 2021, 8F Asset Management and Pure Salmon acquired Krüger Kaldnes, a leading water treatment company. Following the acquisition, the company's aquaculture division was renamed Pure Salmon Technology. Always focused on fish welfare, the company today employs more than 100 people, located at headquarters in Sandefjord, Norway; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; and branch offices in Drammen, Norway; and Fredericia, Denmark.
Helgeland Smolt is 100% owned by Nova Sea. The company has two hatcheries in Nordland County. The first, in the municipality of Gildeskål, was completed in 2010 and has the capacity to produce 13 million smolts per year. The second, in Rødøy, was completed in 2015. To those two, it will now add a third facility in Meløy municipality. The company is licensed to produce 8 million 250 g smolts. In addition, it supplies post-smolt salmon over 500 g.