JBT Marel’s new salmon gutting machine, EVi tackles salmon variation with AI

Drawing on decades of seafood processing innovation, JBT Marel is now making waves in the salmon sector with the launch of EVi, a fully automated salmon gutting machine.

“Salmon is becoming an increasingly important protein source for future generations, and every fish must go through evisceration before it can reach consumers,” JBT Marel Senior Product Director Úlfar Arnórsson said. “Marel has long played a leading role in whole fish packing and secondary processing, but we saw an opportunity to make a real difference earlier in the value chain.”

Developed in partnership with multiple salmon processors, EVi was designed and rigorously tested in real-world operations to tackle the critical challenges posed by the constant variation in salmon. With its innovative two-lane system, EVi slows down the gutting process to deliver superior precision without compromising throughput.

“Though it may seem counterintuitive to intentionally slow down a process to achieve more, speed is often limiting,” Arnórsson said. “When designing EVi, we decided not to fight physics by trying to rush a single process and instead embrace a parallel approach.”

To contend with the natural variation of salmon, EVi uses advanced intelligence and mechanical precision to adapt to the unique features of each fish. JBT Marel’s proprietary vision technology, AQi, scans every salmon to identify key anatomical details, guide precise cutting and viscera removal, and inspect gutting results in real time, flagging any defects that require further attention.

“No two fish are exactly alike, and real-world production always brings unexpected exceptions,” Arnórsson said. “It’s simple to design for ideal conditions, but processors have to manage the reality of constant variation.”

Powered by artificial intelligence and extensive data collection, EVi is designed to continuously improve and adapt to new industry needs. According to Arnórsson, these features enable JBT Marel to address new challenges and make the machine less operator dependent over time.

“Imagine receiving a software upgrade that improves performance or makes the machine less reliant on user input, this is the new standard in salmon gutting,” Arnórsson said.

Despite its additional processing line, EVi maintains a compact footprint. EVi’s controlling equipment, motors, and electronics are located above the wet area, resulting in a condensed design that safeguards sensitive components from water. Additionally, the layout includes doors on either side of the machine, which, when open, provide 360-degree access for cleaning and maintenance.

“From the very beginning, our approach to prototype development was rooted in real-world exposure, which meant the machine not only needed to be precise, but practical,” Arnórsson said. “The ease of using the machine, the space it took up, and its maintenance, were all extremely important factors in the design process.”

Throughout EVi’s development, JBT Marel worked closely with processors in Iceland, Norway, and most recently Bakkafrost in the Faroe Islands, where an advanced prototype has been running inline as part of their production. In May, Bakkafrost finalized the purchase of the first official EVi machine at Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, Spain.

JBT Marel is now finalizing the design of EVi and preparing it for full-scale production.

“I’m deeply grateful to our team for their dedication, resilience, and passion that made it all possible, and I look forward to continuing this journey with them as we roll out EVi to our first customers and expand its impact across the salmon processing industry,” Arnórsson said.

Learn more about EVi here.