Irish Processors Toured Norwegian Automation Facilities
Delegates assessed production robotics and digitisation to modernize whitefish and salmon processing workflows.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Manufacturing
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Eight Irish seafood processors recently completed a BIM-led field mission to Ålesund, Norway, to evaluate commercial-scale automation technologies. The program focused on identifying hardware and digital systems to improve efficiency across whitefish, salmon, and trout sectors.
Why it matters
The mission was organized to help operators mitigate investment risk by observing new technologies in working factory environments. This initiative addresses specific industry requirements for production efficiency upgrades in a competitive global market.
Eight Irish seafood processors participated in this initiative, marking the seventh mission funded under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund. The project builds on three prior workshops dedicated to robotics and digitisation.
The players
Bord Iascaigh Mhara
The Irish state agency responsible for the development of the Irish seafood industry through investment and capacity building.
Brevik
A technology supplier specializing in seafood processing automation equipment including heading and collarbone-cutting solutions.
The details
The mission allowed processors to observe live implementations of automation technology, including heading and collarbone-cutting solutions from supplier Brevik. By touring facilities such as Ode and Nils Sperre, participants evaluated how robotics and digitisation integrate into commercial-scale whitefish and salmon operations. This hands-on review enables operators to assess performance metrics in real-world settings before committing capital to their own production lines.
Timeline
Three Seafood Innovation Network workshops occurred prior to October 11, 2026.
The field mission concluded in October 2026.
Market Landscape
This mission follows a pattern of capacity-building initiatives funded by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund. It reflects an industry-wide trend of moving from theoretical research toward applied site visits to de-risk automation investments.
Processors should audit their current production lines against the robotics and heading technologies seen in these commercial facilities to identify efficiency gaps. When considering similar upgrades, focus on evaluating equipment in live operating environments to accurately project ROI before procurement.
The takeaway
Direct observation of commercial automation provides a clearer picture of operational performance than vendor literature alone. Operators should leverage upcoming BIM programs on by-product valorisation and digitisation to further refine their production strategies.
Further reading
For more on industry automation, see Manufacturing.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ireland Afloat.
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