FleXicut sets sail with Samherji and Parlevliet van der Plas

In an extensive cooperation deal between the companies and Marel, Samherji and Parlevliet expect to install further FleXicut systems in the coming years as part of a complete modernization of their processing operations onboard and ashore. The first of the onboard installations will be made in Q3 2017.

Samherji operates highly advanced onshore processing factories, a fleet of fishing vessels, and fish farms. Samherji and Marel have worked closely together for decades in the development of advanced fish processing solutions, and the extensive cooperation deal reflects the two companies’ shared passion for innovation and shared philosophy of serving the fish producing industry across the entire process, from source to shelf.

Being equipped with the latest fish processing equipment and software is important to Samherji, which has a leading position in the fishing industry, both in Iceland and internationally.

So it’s no surprise that when the FleXicut onboard system is installed on one of the company’s DFFU trawlers, it will be the first in the world and will mark a huge step forward in the development of the next generation of freezer trawlers. This will be followed by a FleXicut installation onboard a UK Fisheries vessel, which is co-owned by Samherji and Parlevliet van der Plas.

“We’re excited to be the first to implement FleXicut onboard our vessels and benefit from the big advantage this will give us, especially in fillet utilization, which is key to the success of any whitefish processing operation,” says Þorsteinn Már Baldvinsson, CEO of Samherji.

The FleXicut water-jet cutter with high-precision bone detection automatically removes pinbones in whitefish and portions it with high accuracy to customer specifications.

The FleXicut can produce uniform, precision-cut products that are then distributed into up to eight different product streams specified by FleXicut’s software intelligence, using the FleXisort product distribution system.

The automation of the bone removal process has transformed the whitefish industry by increasing productivity while greatly improving product handling and yield. A new pre-trim line further automates this previously manual labor-intensive process.

Marel and Samherji worked together to develop the FleXicut onboard system. One of the key differences between the onshore and onboard versions is the machine’s finish, which needs to withstand the tough onboard environment.

“With its small footprint, FleXicut is very well suited for onboard processing,” explains Sigurður Ólason, Managing Director Marel Fish.

He adds, “The system has already marked a shift in the nature of whitefish processing in factories, and will now improve productivity and efficiency onboard too, as well as product quality.”