Norwegian salmon processor Salten Salmon has announced an investment of NOK 50 million ($4.6m) in its facilities in Bodo, Nordland county.

After nearly six years of operation, the filleting factory has upgraded its production capabilities with a new packing line, enhanced freezing capacity, and advanced machinery.

The company, which produced over 8,000 metric tons of salmon products in 2023, has also renewed its lease for the production site for an additional 10 years.

"This is a crucial milestone for us," said Aleksander Lyngved Pedersen, the company's CEO. "With these enhancements, we are better equipped to meet customer demands and market expectations."

The new machinery allows the factory to operate three separate packing lines, and a palletizing robot and an advanced quality control system have been introduced. Key suppliers for the upgrades include Marel Norge, Weber Machinery, Lexit, and MMC First Process.

"With increasing automation of operations, our employees can focus more on ensuring our products meet both our internal standards and customer specifications," Pedersen added.

Among the latest investments is a new quality control system that allows Salten Salmon to monitor and analyze each fillet produced. This system ensures that approximately 170,000 portions are carefully inspected daily.

"We take a picture of every single salmon filet that goes through our system, which amounts to around 18,000 images each day. This is vital for maintaining our quality standards," Pedersen explained.

Established in 2017 as a joint venture between Salten Aqua and Coop Nordland, Salten Salmon has grown to become one of Bodo's largest employers, with over 100 staff members.

The production facilities are currently owned by Max Mat Eiendom and are part of the Salten Aqua group through the export company Polar Quality, which, along with Coop Nordland, holds an 85% stake in Salten Salmon.