Automated filleting for fish processing

In the seafood processing industry, companies integrate industrial automation solutions to balance the flexibility required by niche markets with productivity imperatives.

Activity and operational challenges
Established in 2019 as a subsidiary of Réseau Le Saint, Prod Atlantique supplies fish and seafood to the retail and catering sectors in France. The facility, specializing in salmon portions, processes approximately 2,600 tons of finished products annually.

To diversify its range with fresh ice-packed products, management wanted to transform the factory into a more versatile site. Improvement objectives focused on optimizing raw material yield, energy efficiency, and improving workplace ergonomics. The challenge was to meet industry competitiveness standards while preserving the flexibility of an artisanal workshop.

Selected technical solution
To successfully manage this transition, the company selected an automated line designed by technology provider JBT Marel. The integration includes a semi-automatic trimming table, a heading table scaled for two operators, an MS 2750 automatic filleting machine, and a final trimming table. Manual deboning and skinning equipment were retained to be connected to the line.

The MS 2750 filleting machine was chosen for its integrated sensors and simplified interfaces. The equipment automatically adjusts its settings based on the product, allowing for real-time detection of deviations to maintain cutting quality on fish weighing between 2 kg and 7 kg.

Deployment and support
Hardware deployment was carried out over three days in March 2025, limiting production downtime from a Thursday afternoon to the following Monday. To support the operators, preliminary trials had been conducted on the company's fish in Denmark. Following installation, JBT Marel provided continuous support at a rate of one week per month to assist with adjustments during production hours.

Romain Capet, the site's Industrial Director, states: "We literally went from an artisanal production to a cutting-edge industrial process, without any intermediate step." Two technicians also received technical training in Denmark to guarantee their autonomy in maintaining the line.

Quantifiable results
Commissioning the line made it possible to achieve the yield and throughput objectives defined in the initial budget. On a technical level, the design of the MS 2750 machine inherently generates approximately 70% to 80% of the overall yield performance. Automation made it possible to compensate for temporary absences at the control station while maintaining excellent results. With a dedicated operator fine-tuning the parameters, the company records additional gains of 0.1% to 0.2% on raw material yield.

Edited by Maria Brueva, Induportals editor – adapted by AI.

www.jbtmarel.com