Nordlaks, based in Stokmarknes, Norway – one of Norway´s leading seafood suppliers – has taken its packaging supply to a new level: by establishing its own fish box production facility and utilising machinery from Kurtz Protective Solutions, the company is securing greater independence, consistent quality and a scalable foundation for further growth.
Situation: Packaging must not be a bottleneck
In the seafood industry, fish boxes are a critical factor. They must be hygienic, robust and standardised – and above all: available at all times. With rising volumes and high throughput in processing and dispatch, it became clear to Nordlaks that external dependencies and delivery times could become a risk. The aim was a solution that could be seamlessly integrated into the company´s own production planning and also reliably cover peaks in demand.
The solution: Scalable in-house production with high-performance machinery
With the POLY FOAMER LE, which features a clean electric spindle drive without hydraulics, Nordlaks is establishing a production system geared towards high output, stable, clean processes and reproducible quality. Thanks to the VSD1500 pre-expander, which serves as a key component for consistent material supply and process stability, this equipment lays the foundation for producing fish boxes in the required quantity and quality at the company´s own pace – predictable and scalable.
The implementation: Kurtz Protective Solutions as a partner
It was not just a matter of supplying machines. Kurtz Protective Solutions was involved in the planning and execution of the new production facility right from the start. From layout planning through to the design of the infrastructure and support during the construction phase, Kurtz Protective Solutions was involved as a partner alongside the customer in this exciting project.
End-to-end automation: From the box to the salmon processing plant
A key factor in the project´s success is the consistent automation of the entire production chain. The fish boxes are not only manufactured but are subsequently removed from the machine fully automatically. Quality check, printing of the boxes using an inkjet printer, and then transported via a fully automated logistics system was provided by partner companies of Kurtz Protective Solutions – right through to direct integration into the salmon processing plant´s operations. This enables Nordlaks to reduce manual handovers, lower the risk of errors and shorten lead times. At the same time, the supply of boxes to the processing line is ensured reliably and with precise timing.
Result: Greater control, consistent quality, improved planning
With in-house production in Stokmarknes, Nordlaks gains significant control and flexibility: box capacities can be adjusted at short notice, response times to production peaks are reduced, and consistent quality improves handling, stacking stability and process reliability in downstream areas. The combination of scaled moulded part production and stable pre-foaming ensures efficient processes and supports robust operation in the demanding day-to-day seafood industry.
