Biomega Group, an ingredient supplier to the health and nutrition industry, has expanded its manufacturing plant in Skaganeset, Norway, near its headquarters in Bergen.
The 4,500-square-meter facility, which is equipped with the company’s patented enzymatic hydrolysis technology, specializes in upcycling salmon offcuts and converting them into high-value, food-grade salmon ingredients. The expansion will help the company expand its capacity and improve the quality of its products.
“Investment in the raw materials facility is key to our growth strategy at Biomega. While the project has not been without challenges, due to the pandemic, an unusually cold winter, and the need to continue production throughout the project, we are pleased to see the completed facility now in operation,” Biomega CTO Andrew Dustan said. “Thanks to combined expertise and flexibility, we were able to execute a complex expansion project and maintain our high hygiene and quality standards, all with minimal disturbance to our ongoing, continuous production.”
The upgraded Skaganeset factory receives and handles refrigerated salmon offcuts, which are first cleaned and then are put through quality control and brief cold storage. They are then drained, weighed, and ground. The material is then put through continuous enzymatic hydrolysis process, resulting in food-grade products for use in products for human consumption and for use in pet food.
“It is with great pleasure that we can now unveil our latest expansion at our flagship manufacturing site in Skaganeset,” Biomega CEO Stig Victor Petersen said. “This investment, combined with plans for a new biorefinery located in Denmark, will further strengthen the company’s excellent capabilities in supplying sustainably sourced, high-quality food-grade salmon oils, meal, and peptides to our customers.”
In May, Biomega announced its plan to construct a second biorefinery in Hirtshals, Denmark, at an estimated cost of EUR 10 million (USD 12.2 million). The factory will have a focus on growth of its SalmigoTM range designed for premium pet food segment and its Biomega PURETMsalmon peptide business for the human health and nutrition market, which the company plans to launch later in 2021. AMERRA Capital Management, which acquired Biomega in 2017, invested additional capital for the execution of this project.
In June, Biomega announced it will partner with Quality Salmon on the Quality Salmon Industry Park in Sotenäs, Sweden, and in February 2021, it appointed Espen Aarstad as its chief financial officer.
Photo courtesy of Biomega Group
