Salmon Grader
The Salmon Grader is Mikra’s precision grading solution for fresh salmon processing, developed in close cooperation with end-users to ensure optimal performance in real production environments. Designed to handle high volumes with care and accuracy, it supports processors in making faster, better-informed allocation decisions from early in the process, while meeting the highest cleanability standards in the industry.
Efficient grading is a critical step in maximising product value and streamlining downstream operations. By providing real-time data on quantity, quality, and the location of each unit, the Salmon Grader gives sales personnel the information they need to allocate each batch at the earliest possible stage, reducing delays, improving yield management, and supporting consistent output quality throughout the production cycle.
Although built on a proven platform, each Salmon Grader is configured to suit the specific throughput and layout requirements of the facility, ensuring seamless integration into existing production lines without disrupting established workflows.
What the Salmon Grader is used for
The Salmon Grader is used for the accurate sorting and grading of fresh salmon by weight and quality, where smooth material flow, reliable data capture, and efficient use of labour are essential. It is designed for land-based processing facilities handling high throughput and is built to integrate seamlessly into existing production lines.
The grader is operated through Mikra’s own MES software, developed specifically for this application. The interface is designed to be simple and user-friendly, presenting only the statistics relevant to each operator, reducing complexity on the production floor while maintaining full traceability of raw material throughout the process. Quality control is web-based, mobile friendly, and fully scalable to suit facilities of different sizes and complexity.
Key capabilities
- Ensures smooth and consistent flow of raw material through the grading process
- Delivers real-time data on quantity, quality, and location of each unit
- Enables early-stage batch allocation to support sales and logistics decisions
- Efficient infeed of raw material with effective scaling and quality specifications at infeed
- Automatic allocation of raw material into grader buffers
- High quality adjustable working stations for employees
- Meets the highest cleanability standards
- Operated through Mikra’s dedicated MES software for full raw material tracking
- User interface designed for simplicity, displaying only operator-relevant statistics
Technical overview
- Operated via Mikra MES system, CodeIT, and Beckhoff Automation control systems
- Real-time data capture and reporting per unit
- Quality control: web-based, mobile friendly, and scalable
- Capacity: scalable, average 100 fish per minute over an 8-hour shift
- Material: stainless steel construction
- Suitable for land-based salmon processing facilities
Proven in the field
The Salmon Grader has been developed through direct collaboration with processors, ensuring that the design reflects real operational needs rather than theoretical performance. The result is a system known for its reliability, cleanability, and the commercial value it delivers by putting accurate, real-time data in the hands of the people who need it most, from the production floor all the way through to the sales team.
Customer experience
Processors using the Salmon Grader have highlighted the value of having real-time visibility over each batch from early in the production process. The ability to allocate product quickly and accurately, backed by live data and a simple, operator-friendly interface, has allowed sales teams to operate more efficiently and respond faster to customer demand, without adding complexity to the production floor.