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Fiberglass for fish oil factory on Værøy
Along the sea at the very tip of the small island of Værøy lies the giant factory Lofoten Biomarine. The company is an example of sustainable industry and innovation, and stands out as the world's first CO2-neutral producer of marine oils and proteins. The facility is packed full of exciting solutions. Among other things, Glassfiber Produkter AS has delivered a walkway structure made of fiberglass that is over 170 meters long. In November 2023, we visited the factory to see the walkway in use and get feedback from those who use it every day.
Utilization of the entire food chain
Lofoten Biomarine receives waste from the fishing industry and converts these raw materials into feed for the aquaculture industry, among other things. In this way, the entire fish is used, even that which is not suitable for human consumption. For general manager Jon Vestengen, it is important that sustainability is taken into account at all stages of the food chain.
In one year, Lofoten Biomarine will receive approximately 70 million kilograms of fish waste. To handle this enormous amount, two rows of 12 large storage tanks have been built. Between these towers the fiberglass structure.
Fiberglass walkways were the solution
The walkway is 11 meters high and extends a full 170 meters from the factory building and out between the storage tanks. This acts as a supporting structure for all the infrastructure, while also giving employees easy and safe access to both tanks and pipes. The pipes transport raw materials, oils and proteins around the factory and are located on top of the walkway. Given the challenging environment on Værøy, the choice of materials for the supporting structure was very important. The structure had to not only withstand the changing weather conditions, but also withstand salt water spray from the sea, just meters away. For Jon, fiberglass was the obvious choice.
Long life and "Cost of ownership"
When Jon was choosing material, there were 2 points in particular that he focused on.
– We chose fiberglass initially because of its longevity. There is longevity, and then there is cost of ownership, he says about the choice of fiberglass.
He knows how much extra time and money goes into maintenance, especially in an environment like Værøy.
With fiberglass, he doesn't have to worry about maintenance or replacing parts, and can focus on his core tasks. For Lofoten Biomarine, fiberglass has been a "set and forget" solution.
"If I were to build again, I would have chosen fiberglass"
When Jon now looks back on the completed work, there is no doubt that fiberglass was the right choice for the walkway structure. He has learned a lot from his new experience with the fiberglass material.
Inside the factory, Jon has used materials other than fiberglass for stairs, walkways, ladders, etc.
Although he is satisfied with these solutions, he does not rule out the possibility that he would use fiberglass if he were to build again.
