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Reliable Conveyor Belts for Salmon Processing

A successful fish processing solution for fishing company Hav Line in Hirtshals, Denmark


The customer

Hav Line is a pioneer in modern salmon and trout processing. The fish is being slaughtered directly on its vessels or at its modern fish farms in Norway. It is then transported fresh to Hirtshals, Denmark, where they are sorted and packed for markets worldwide. The company’s mission is to deliver sustainable, nutritious salmon and trout with the lowest possible carbon footprint by reducing food waste, emissions, and unnecessary handling.

By focusing on fish welfare and minimizing stress and mortality, Hav Line ensures superior quality and consistency. Rapid cooling below 0°C and a continuously maintained cold chain preserve freshness and extend shelf life. The Danish terminal is the world’s largest, with a capacity of sorting and packing 240 fish per minute. Fish processing demands top standards in terms of hygiene, efficiency and reliability.

Salmon farm
Fresh salmon fish on Siegling Prolink S10

The application

When the salmon arrives in Hirtshals, it comes directly into quality check and gets categorized by experienced employees. After the check, the fish gets transported to the correct “packing station”. For this process, the customer requires a robust curved conveyor belt to convey the freshly slaughtered salmon.

They had previously used a competitor’s modular belt. However, its end modules repeatedly cracked, causing downtime, delays and risks to product quality. The environment was very challenging due to limited space, varying product sizes, rigorous cleaning procedures and integration into existing facilities. A hard-wearing, modular solution was needed.

Our belting solution

A thorough grasp of the production environment and close liaison with the customer meant that Forbo Movement Systems quickly found the cause of the recurrent belt failures.

Our recommendation: The Siegling Prolink series 18-44 GRT plastic modular belt with a 44% open area to encourage superb airflow and drainage – developed for medium-duty use and consistent performance.

Since it was fitted, the S18-44 GRT modular belt reliably conveys sorted salmon to the packaging station where the fish goes in polystyrene boxes for dispatch.

Prolink series S10 has also come to use: It is installed to transport the salmon on a declining conveyor. Hav Line has mixed two different surfaces to prevent the salmon from gliding too quickly down to the next conveyor: S10-0 FLT PP and S10-0 NTP PP. Quick-release system Prosnap is used with these belts to make the cleaning easier.

Once the fish is packed, Prolink series S5-45 hybrid belt takes the heavy polystyrene boxes to the palletizing station. It’s ideal for straight and curved sections, very stable and has a large open area.

Fresh salmon on Prolink S10
Fish box on Prolink S5

The result

Forbo recommended a modular plastic belt made of polypropylene (PP) – a decision driven by the customer’s use of chlorine-based detergents for cleaning. In such environments, selecting a material with sufficient chemical resistance is critical. The competitor’s belt, made of POM, quickly failed due to its lack of resistance to chlorine, resulting in a significantly shorter service life.

Polypropylene, on the other hand, resists chlorine crystallization, which means the belt lasts longer and requires less maintenance. By choosing the right belt type and material, the customer benefits from a more dependable, hygienic, and efficient process.

This example highlights how Forbo’s deep understanding of customer needs, combined with technical expertise and tailored solutions, leads to tangible improvements – exactly where they matter most.

Fish on ice

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