Norwegian aquaculture equipment suppliers MPI AS (Multi Pump Innovation) and BKW AS have signed an agreement that will see them cooperate on sales and marketing, research and development, and equipment testing.
Sollihøgda, Norway-headquartered MPI develops and manufactures net cleaning systems for the aquaculture industry, including remotely-operated net cleaning systems that use robotic technology. BKW is based in Valsøyfjord, Norway and sells a range of aquaculture equipment, including barges for cleaning of pen rings and wrasse shed cleaners, sorting equipment for broodstock, and tanks for the transportation of live fish.
“Compared to us, MPI has a significantly larger international footprint and an even more professionalized sales organization,” BKW Managing Director Jelle Van Weert said. “We believe that potential customers will value that we can offer them a more complete cleaning solution under the same umbrella, instead of dealing with two separate suppliers that offer adjoining solutions. We look forward to cooperating closely with MPI going forward and are confident that this is a partnership where one plus one becomes three.”
The agreement calls for MPI to take on sales and marketing responsibilities for the products BKW has developed specifically for the fish-farming industry. The companies have also agreed to work jointly to develop new products for the aquaculture industry.
“We will jointly offer service companies and fish farmers a package consisting of MPI's robots to clean the nets and BKW’s barges to clean both the pen rings and wrasse shed cleaners. Providing such a package, where the cleaning job can be carried out from the same work platform, can make cleaning operations at fish farms even more cost-effective,” MPI CEO Kåre Myrvåg said.
MPI has agreed to expand its test capacity for net-cleaning robots and other equipment, including BKW’s, and to work jointly to develop BKW’s full-scale test fish cage in Valsøyfjord.
“The investments we will make in BKW’s test facility will make us less dependent on equipment testing at our customers’ facilities, which means both time and cost savings for our customers. In addition, customers of both BKW and MPI will be able to benefit from equipment demonstrations in Valsøyfjord,” Myrvåg said.
