Design and supply of recirculation system for R&D, value of 17 mill NOK installed and ready for operation,
”Nofima chose AquaOptima as supplier of recirculation equipment for research centre” Nofima has now chosen supplier of process technology for the basic equipment for their new research centre at Sundalsøra. The project has a budget of approx. 30 mill NOK, and is divided into two separate contracts for building construction and for process technology. The process technology contract includes aquaculture equipment and system for treatment and recirculation of water. Nofima has been in charge of the original idea and concept of the centre, such as testing flexibility, water quality requirements, and capacity requirements. AquaOptima and subcontractors will contribute to enabling Nofima to reach their front goals of the research centre. AquaOptima AS was chosen subsequent to a thorough evaluation process, and the present contract has a value of 15 million Norwegian kroner (NOK).

The construction site is located to the research station at Sunndalsøra, owned by former Akvaforsk, now Nofima. Akvaforsk has been a leading research institute within aquaculture for more than 35 years, with locations at Averøy, Sunndalsøra, and Ås. The new research corporation Nofima, which was established 1. January 2008, includes the entire activity of former Akvaforsk, Fiskeriforskning, Matforsk, and Norconserv.

The new establishment will perform research related to recirculation of water within aquaculture on a general basis, and the activity will be independent of equipment vendors. Nutrition and fish
welfare will be central topics of the research activity, and growth and health of the fish will be monitored after input in seacages aiming at investigating the effects of water environment throughout the life cycle. The recirculation technology has acquired much publicity lately, due to goals for less water consumption and more stable water quality within landbased fishfarming.

AquaOptima AS has developed own products and a system for recirculation of water for fishfarming, and the company has close cooperation with several subcontractors. AquaOptima has agreements with several Norwegian manufacturing enterprises regarding production of own developed products. Preplast Industrier AS, Elnesvågen, is one of these enterprises which produce polyethylen products for AquaOptima. In addition to own patented products, belt filter from Salsnes Filter AS and biofilter from AnoxKaldnes (which is a company in the Veolia enterprise) are included in the AquaOptima concept which is marketed worldwide. AquaOptima has also developed their own system for monitoring and control in cooperation with Nidaros Elektro AS. For the project at Sunndalsøra, Tingvoll Rør has been contracted to perform installation of piping and appurtenant equipment.

Managing Director Idar Schei is much comfortable with having won this tender competition, as the activity of this new establishment will become object to substantial national and international attention in the years to come.