Grading fish

The ProLine grader series feature a versatile suite of standardised modular options and add-on components, designed to fulfil all general grading and batching needs. This concept gives processors the flexibility to select a grading-solution combination that matches individual operating environments.

Fiskkaup was one of the first Icelandic producers to install the ProLine Graders at its Reykjavik processing facility. The company annually processes fresh cod and haddock fillets and loins, salted cod, saithe, ling, kusk and frozen fillets from approximately 4000 tonnes of raw material: 3000 tonnes from its own boats and 1000 tonnes from Icelandic fish markets and other vessels.

Diverse production such as Fiskkaup's needs processing flexibility, which is what the ProLine Grader provides. All the fish is graded into different sizes before production, based on size and quality. The small and the medium cod are used for fresh fillets and loins that are air-freighted to market. Large cod goes into salting, while haddock is air-freighted daily. Fiskkaup's other products are salted, lightly salted or frozen lightly salted.

We needed a new grader to use for IQF products exiting our Dantech Spiral Freezer. We also needed the option of grading smaller fish portions, tails, fillets, roes and other IQF products, says Baldvin Ingibergsson, production director at Fiskkaup. The ProLine Grader fits our needs perfectly and in the time it has been operating it has proven to be simple to operate, compact and flexible.

Marel's open-ended design gives processors the ability to ideally fulfil their individual needs. Working with Marel consultants, the right combination of standardised ProLine components is selected to tailor-match a processing operation, for example platform size, gates, divisions, batching bins and chutes. The ProLine's flexibility also gives us the future option of adding or changing modular components at will. This is the best of both worlds, says Baldvin.

The main structure of the ProLine graders is non-tubular: there are very few horizontal surfaces. It's very easy to put the ProLine graders into a washing position that gives access to all parts, says Baldvin. This hygienic design was one of the major factors in our decision to go with ProLine. It's a huge benefit: we can easily do a complete cleaning job in much less time.

The ProLine graders are easy to set up and operate, and have batching capabilities including intelligent batching. They are also equipped with a user-friendly M3000 graphical interface that greatly reduces the possibility of human error, and an innovative belt design improves precision and handling.

The ProLine Graders are very easy to clean, thanks to the open construction that replaces the tubular design.