Production has started in the new protein factory of Síldarvinnslan
In the fishmeal factory of Síldarvinnslan in Neskaupstaður, extensive construction work has been going on recently. A small factory has been set up that comes from HPP Solutions ehf. but HPP is a subsidiary of Vélsmiðjan Héðinn. HPP focuses on the production of small fishmeal factories, and they are referred to as protein factories. This small factory in Neskaupstaðar consists of two lines and each produces 190 tons per day, so its total output is 380 tons. In addition, the so-called large factory will be expanded and construction on it should be completed late next year. After construction, the large factory will produce 2,000 tons per day, so that the total output in the factory will be 2,380 tons after all construction is completed.
Hafþór Eiríksson COO fishmeal for Síldarvinnslan hf. Photo: Hjörtur Vilhjálmsson
The home page spoke to Hafthór Eiríksson, operations manager of the fishmeal factory at Síldarvinnslan, and asked how the start-up of the small factory had gone. “We started to try the second line, but its 24-hour output is 190 tons. Now it has been running continuously for about two weeks and everything has been going well. It has taken time to adjust the factory, but it has not been without problems. It is clear that the factory delivers good products, and the first measurements indicate good things. It can be said that all expectations in terms of performance and product quality have been met. The workers are very positive and they like running the factory, but of course that is very important. Until now, herring has been processed in the factory, but in December we will receive bluewhiting for processing, and then the intention is to use both lines of the factory. When the fish factory is working, this small factory is suitable for processing offcuts and discards. Until now, cuttings and scraps from the plant have been collected and then processed in the large factory. Now, however, such collection does not have to take place, but the raw material is processed immediately when it is fresh. This is very important and of course affects the quality of the products. Also, the introduction of the small factory creates great potential in the field of energy optimization, but it is expected that energy savings with its introduction will amount to up to 30%. It is also clear that the small factory can be used for various development projects, and that is an undoubted advantage,” says Hafthór.
Hafthór says that the introduction of the small factory creates many possibilities and with its introduction it will be possible to run the large factory and the small factory on separate raw materials. “Many possibilities are created with the introduction of the small factory, and it will be exciting to use them in the future,” says Hafthór.
HPP representatives are happy with the new factory. From left: Þórður Elefsen, service manager, Gunnar Pálsson, development manager, and Ragnar Sverrisson, CEO. Photo: Smári Geirsson.
The homepage talked to them Ragnar Sverrisson, CEO of HPP, Þórð Elefsen, Service Manager, and Gunnar Pálsson, Development Manager. They were first asked how the installation of the small factory had gone. It was stated in their speech that the installation had gone extremely well and that the entire cooperation with Síldarvinnslan had been excellent. All problems that arose were solved successfully and they considered the factory very promising. They said that it would be interesting to see how the factory worked when producing from different raw materials; right now, herring is being processed in it, but in December it will probably be processed with bluewhiting, and then it will be the capelin. “It’s all very exciting,” said the partners. Þórður had a word that everyone involved in setting up the factory had performed their role as well as possible. “We’ve had great workers and contractors working on the installation and the designers have done a really good job.” This has almost all gone as well as we could have hoped for,” says Þórður. Gunnar and Ragnar informed that factories from HPP had now been installed in six fishing vessels, and that such factories had been put into operation in Norway and the Faroe Islands. However, the factory at Síldarvinnslan would be the first factory in Iceland. Then they realized that it was planned to use a large HPP dryer in the large factory of Síldarvinnslan alongside a traditional dryer, and this would be a significant and interesting innovation. “If things go well, it can be assumed that HPP dryers will eventually replace traditional dryers,” says Gunnar.
The brothers and watch foremen Þór and Thröstur Steingrímsson say that the start-up of the factory went well. Photo: Smári Geirsson
A journalist from the website met the brothers Þór and Thröst Steingrímsson, who work as shift foremen at the Síldarvinnslan factory together with Krystian Kamil Myszak. The brothers like the small factory very much and say that its start-up went well. They emphasize that the plant is comfortable to drive and is generally easy to work on. Automation is high and it produces better products than a traditional factory. In their opinion, the establishment of the factory is a big step forward, and the changes that will be made to the large factory will also be extremely positive.
Please see the original article https://svn.is/allar-vaentingar-hvad-vardar-afkost-og-gaedi-afurda-virdast-standast/
