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JBT Marel and Bakkafrost have been working together on the development of a next‑generation salmon gutting solution, EVi.
This innovation in salmon processing has grown through collaboration, curiosity, and a shared drive to do things better.
JBT Marel will be at IceFish 2026 on stand B10 with this and other innovative products and updates.
Behind the EVi development
Andrias Petersen, Group Harvest Director at Bakkafrost, heard JBT Marel were working on a new gutting machine and, after talking to them, recognised that the innovative concepts behind EVi could provide the flexibility in salmon gutting that Bakkafrost was looking for. Bakkafrost came onboard to test EVi in an operating facility.
What makes EVi different?
EVi stands for evisceration intelligence. EVi automatically and intelligently guts salmon in a way that enhances performance and quality for salmon processors.
“All gutting machines need to gut and clean the salmon well,” says Andrias Petersen, “EVi is a bit different compared to other gutting machines on the market. It is dual lane. With two lanes for gutting it gives us more time to gut and clean the fish properly, with no mechanical damage. We see that as a great advantage.”
The infeed system positions each fish with a stable and secure hold. By slowing the process and introducing a compact, parallel flow, the dual lane system improves utilization and gutting quality, while meeting the industry need for faster, more consistent throughput.
Modern processing is becoming increasingly reliant on digital tools that capture data to provide operational visibility, performance insight, and ensure full traceability. EVi’s integrated software can be seamlessly connected to up and downstream processes to enable full line control and insight. “That it can gut the fish well, and give us data related to performance operation, will create value for us,” says Andrias Petersen.
Addressing industry needs
From the start JBT Marel has been developing EVi with the aim of providing the industry with high throughput gutting and high-quality results. A key factor to achieving this is the vision system, which scans each fish as it enters EVi to determine accurate size and profile. The gutting tools automatically adjust to process each fish to the highest standard.
AQi, an advanced proprietary vision technology, also identifies any gutting defects, rerouting fish requiring further attention to the correct location for further handling.
“EVi is designed in a way that gives each fish the time and precision it needs to deliver outstanding gutting results,” said Gunnhildur Ómarsdóttir, Product Manager, JBT Marel.
Salmon gutting machines operate in a harsh environment and must be robust enough to process millions of fish across the lifespan of the machine. With each downtime costing money and risking valuable raw product, it was crucial for JBT Marel to ensure EVi was robustly made with safeguards that ensure at least 50% of capacity remains available, even in the rare event of a breakdown.
Collaboration is central to all good innovation
Salmon processors are faced with multiple industry challenges and an increasing demand for high-quality, sustainable products.
“It’s incredibly important that input is coming from the industry itself, to make improvements to the process,” says Andrias Petersen, “We’ve experienced that collaborating with JBT Marel. They’ve listened to our thoughts, ideas, and wishes, and the experience we have in production is taken into account.”
When EVi was ready for industry testing Bakkafrost began working with JBT Marel’s developers. This crucial step ensured EVi could meet the demands of everyday operations in a salmon processing line.
For more information on exhibiting at the 2026 IceFish contact ttattum@mercatormedia.com.
