The story of the Curio Fish Filleting Machine and FleXicut Jet

Making whitefish filleting better

The story of the Curio Fish Filleting Machine begins in 2008, a few years before it was brought into the Marel portfolio to offer its revolutionary accuracy in whitefish filleting to onshore and on vessel processors beyond Iceland’s fishing borders.

The invention of the machine was only the first step, next was the task of convincing processors who already had operating filleting machines that they should try this new one. It took determination to get the first company to take a chance, but from that first installation the hard work was done. The Curio Fish Filleting Machine was more than good and once its yield increasing capabilities were seen in operation, the Curio changed the industry on its skills alone.

Word travels fast in the fish industry. Fish processors often travel to other facilities to see equipment that will improve their own production practices. In this way, news of the Curio Fish Filleting Machine’s proven improvements of yield and product handling spread quickly. In the first ten years over 100 were installed, rapidly improving bottom lines across Nordic, European and US markets.

The Curio Fish Filleting Machine has been a game changer in the industry, particularly for smaller processors who often experience shifts in yield as ‘make it or break it’ moments. Unlike many larger processors who have the buffers to ride ups and downs, and more investment capex available, smaller and mid-sized businesses need to be confident their investment will add value today and long into the future. Every user tells the same story of their Curio investment: the Curio provides the promised results to boost bottom lines by improving both filleting and packing yields.

Expanding global reach with Marel

Marel recognized the quality and advanced technology of the Curio and saw how it would fill a gap in our portfolio. Curio gradually merged with Marel until in 2022 they were a full member of the Marel family.

Today, over 90% of Icelandic fish processors have at least one Curio Fish Filleting Machine installed, with the oldest machines still operating to the same high standard as they did on day one of installation. This not only speaks to the quality of the technology but also the forward-thinking planning of the design. Part of investment longevity is the ability for equipment and software to be easily maintained and updated to changing needs, Marel Service agreements are as flexible as our solutions, to ensure you get exactly the level of service you need to keep equipment working to optimize your business.

Include a FleXicut in the line and yields increase even further. The FleXicut range brings together X-ray technology and water-jet cutting. Fillets are scanned for bones and weight facilitating accurate and gentle bone detection and removal. Automatic evaluation of the weight of each fillet optimizes high-value cuts. “Processors who don’t have FleXicut, just can’t compete with those who do,” notes Axel Asgeirsson, Global Product Specialist at Marel.

FleXicut Jet and Curio making the future

Marel began working with water-jet cutting in 2015. Over the past ten years the technology has developed exponentially. Resulting in the latest addition to the FleXicut portfolio specifically designed for smaller processors, the FleXicut Jet.

Just as the Curio did for filleting, the FleXicut Jet does for portioning, shifting the parameters of what is possible for smaller processors. “My first thought when I saw the FleXicut Jet prototype in operation, was, this is a revolution,” said Asgeirsson.

The X-ray technology of the FleXicut Jet creates a detailed 3D image of each fillet, allowing the machine to determine optimal deboning, trimming configurations and cutting angles. The latest in water-jet cutting technology, advanced software and intelligent bone detection, increases yields and minimizes waste and handling.

Working together, the Curio Fish Filleting Machine and the FleXicut Jet provide smaller processors with an incredibly powerful, flexible and adaptable line. The automation of each solution increases processing power, accuracy and speed with a minimal number of operators.

Small processors as the leaders of change

Fish is the second biggest industry in Iceland (after tourism) and the global fish industry often look to Icelandic processors when making changes in their own facilities. When they saw smaller Icelandic processors, processing a tonne of fish per operator per day, with the bonus of work being easier on employees, they asked the obvious question, how do these processors produce the same amount of product as we do, with half the people? It didn’t take long for them to notice that the combination of the Curio Fish Filleting Machine and the FleXicut were not only reducing reliance on manual labor but also increasing yields; and even a 1% increase on a tonne of fish is worthy of investment.

Smaller processors choose capex investments carefully. To ensure their business stays competitive they need to see fast payback and long life in any equipment they invest in. Because of this, smaller processors are often leaders of change in industry practices, as well as being the first to benefit from new technologies.

Marel understands how crucial small and mid-sized processors are to a sustainable seafood industry, and to the success of the Curio Fish Filleting Machine. Without you, it may have been a much shorter story to tell. We, for one, are glad it wasn’t.