Fish processing automation specialist Baader and Nova Sea have signed an agreement for the construction of the northern Norwegian salmon producer's new slaughterhouse in Lovund, which will start construction in April 2024. In the statement announcing the partnership, the companies said that together they "are poised to usher in a new era in fish processing, reinforcing their status as industry pioneers."
The construction of the new slaughterhouse, which had been put on hold by the salmon tax, will mean the creation of between 10 and 40 new jobs. As we learned in September, the investment has an estimated total framework of just over NOK 2 billion (EUR 173.95 million / USD 186.59 million), and it is the largest ever made in the municipality of Lurøy, to which the island of Lovudn belongs.
"We've always believed in pushing the boundaries of innovation, and in this project with Nova Sea, we're doing just that," said Robert Focke, CEO of Baader Fish. "Not only is this our largest project in the realm of fish, but it also expresses our commitment to efficiency, hygiene, and transparency," he added.
"We have a burning desire to produce world-class salmon based on responsibility in everything we do," said Tom Eirik Aasjord, CEO of Nova Sea AS, commenting on the partnership. "For our employees, there is only one way to produce Nova Sea salmon: with care. Our focus on responsible production has set a challenging criteria list for our new factory. We are proud to announce our partnership with Baader, a company that stands for holistic solutions that increase value, safety, and efficiency – which are some of our key criteria."
As mentioned, construction will start in April 2024, and, if all goes according to plan, the new Nova Sea slaughterhouse will receive its first salmon in 2026.
With this strategic partnership between the two companies, Baader and Nova Sea have initiated what they have described as their "most monumental project." A collaboration that, they say, "is the result of decades of mutual trust and is setting new standards in the industry," and in which the equipment supplier will attempt to meet that demanding list of criteria for the breeder's new salmon factory.
One of the aspects the partners have highlighted about the project is that they will achieve faster processing. This will be thanks to a state-of-the-art bleeding system that can process up to 150 salmon per minute, as well as a distribution system with the world's fastest whole fish graders and advanced filleting lines.
Baader and Nova Sea also remark their strong commitment to hygiene and announce they will introduce a system that will significantly reduce manual cleaning time. Focused on innovation, the project looks to "setting the gold standard," which emphasizes reduced human contact and superior production control, "redefining automation in fish processing."
Finally, the partners have highlighted what they call "cutting-edge traceability." Thanks to advanced data monitoring, including data and image capture with database storage, they claim they will ensure exceptional food safety, productivity, and longer plant life.
Baader is a provider of value-added processing solutions that are safe, sustainable, holistic, and accurate, from handling raw materials to finished and packaged food products, whether fish, poultry, meat, or other foods. A global pioneer in fish processing automation, the company claims that with automation, digitalization, and humanization, it is redefining food processing based on reliable technology and long-lasting quality.
Steinar Olaisen, who was also a pioneer in salmon farming, founded the original Nova Sea AS in 1985 as a multi-species fish processing company in Naustholmen, Lovund. Later, in the early 1990s, the company began acquiring salmon production licenses through a subsidiary. These companies merged and since then it has been recognized as a pure fish farming company that, since 1994, has concentrated exclusively on salmon.