INKA’s growth comes taking chances and strong relationships

In Os, Norway, in 1983, Karsten Austevoll, owner of what is now INKA, his brother, and his father made the transition from fishing to processing, converting a large boathouse into a slaughterhouse. It was a practical decision rooted in belief and courage. Nearly two decades later, in 2002, they shifted direction again, moving from slaughtering to open their first salmon further processing facility. A largely manual plant that became known in-house as Factory North.

In 2003, a partnership was forged that would reshape INKA once again. Seaborn—a sales and export company owned by a group of fish farmers—came on board, supplying INKA with raw product and taking responsibility for the export and sales of the finished goods. This partnership provided INKA with the opportunity for processing growth and the impetuous to increase their use of automation and integrated systems.

A good relationship is one that continues to grow

One of INKA’s first investments with JBT Marel was the I-Cut 130 PortionCutter. An automated cutter that offers higher accuracy and less waste in salmon portioning. As INKA continued to grow, they always looked for new ways to improve operations. JBT Marel has worked with them to help increase capacity and automation, and over the years, developing a strong relationship built on trust. “We’ve always been good at renewing ourselves with new equipment,” said Karsten Austevoll, Owner, INKA. “We were probably among the first to install the Filleting Machine MS 2730 filleting machine with the trimming tools built directly into the machine. And from there, things just kept moving forward.”

Time to expand capacity

Seaborn’s processing volumes grew, and as INKA’s main contract, the question of capacity was raised. “Our father approached us in 2018 with the question of whether we wanted to continue investing, and build a new factory, it was incredibly exciting,” said Kari Marie Austevoll Lyssand, CEO and Owner, INKA.

“Eventually, we became too small for Seaborn. They grew very quickly, and that’s when we started planning a new factory together with Seaborn and JBT Marel. JBT Marel was part of the team the whole way,” Karsten Austevoll.

A new facility

Factory South opened in 2020. A two-line operation built with JBT Marel integrated equipment and software to produce salmon fillets and portions. From receiving to dispatch, every step of the process runs on connected, automated equipment: the Depalletizer MS 2010, Salmon Deheader MS 3028, Filleting Machine MS 2730, APT4 Trimming Line, Pinbone Remover MS 2612, I-Cut 130 PortionCutter, and the RoboBatcher Thermoformer. All tied together with JBT Marel Software for full operational visibility and control.

“The equipment has helped us both streamline operations and most importantly reduce heavy manual labor. The machines handle the toughest tasks, and the operators control the machines. It is much more stable, and we get good yields,” said Kari Marie.

Today, with Factory South and Factory North operating, INKA has increased their capacity almost fourfold and expanded their production range. “We produce between 30 and 36 different products, covering all types—fillets in every variety. Portions in all qualities and types as well. With skin, without skin, and the same applies to our fillets. So, there is a huge range of variations. And here at South we have a factory that handles everything. Nothing goes to waste. By products, everything is packed and frozen,” said Karsten.

Trusting in the people you know

When the time came to choose a technology provider for Factory South, INKA reached out to several providers. “JBT Marel was a completely natural supplier for us to get in touch with. And in the end, the choice was quite easy for us. We have a very strong relationship with JBT Marel. Over many years we’ve built up trust towards JBT Marel as a supplier, and they also had the best offer,” said Karsten.

That trust combined with INKA’s drive to support their local area, has resulted in something tangible for the wider community of Os. With the addition of Factory South, INKA has grown from a team of 40 to around 170 employees, making them the largest employer in the municipality. INKA’s is a legacy that runs deeper than processing lines, and one JBT Marel is proud to be a part of it. “We are not afraid to take chances,” said Karsten. “I hope JBT Marel is as well, and that we can develop even more products together in the future.”

If you’re ready to see what the right partnership can do for your business, reach out to a specialist today.

About INKA AS

INKA AS is based in Os, Norway. The family-run business processes more than 40 different fresh and frozen Norwegian Atlantic Salmon and rainbow trout products, which are exported across the globe by their customers. They continuously strive to improve and develop new products, producing high quality products from high quality raw material.