Carsoe to Deliver New Onshore Crab Factory for Nordvågen Crab Company

Nordvågen Crab Company has chosen Carsoe to deliver a complete processing line for its new onshore snow crab factory in Norway. The project includes refrigeration supplied by Industrikulde and coordinated with the factory design from the start.

The new factory will help Nordvågen Crab Company (NCC) process snow crab quickly after landing. A stable flow helps maintain capacity and protect product quality throughout production.

“We wanted one supplier to take responsibility for the complete processing line. When the individual process steps work together as one system, we can maintain capacity, reduce unnecessary handling, and process the crab quickly. This is important for the quality of the finished product,” says Bjørg Helen Nøstvold, CEO at Norfra and chairwoman of NCC.

A coherent factory flow

Carsoe has designed the factory in close cooperation with the team at Nordvågen Crab Company. The layout supports a continuous flow of products, racks, and operators between each process step.

An overhead crane system will move full racks through production, reducing manual handling. The line will also include the Carsoe Crab Cooker, which cooks and cools the crab in the same tank. Crab processing equipment from RYCO, now part of the Carsoe portfolio, and packing equipment adapted to the finished products are also included.

The factory has been designed with attention to hygiene and working conditions. Adjustable platforms will support practical working positions, while ventilation and an enclosed cooking system will help contain steam from the crab.

“We have designed the factory around the actual movement of products and people. Each process must connect naturally with the next. This helps the operators maintain stable throughput without unnecessary handling or interruptions,” says Frederik Svane, Sales Manager at Carsoe.

Processing and refrigeration working together

Industrikulde will supply the refrigeration plant and brine system. Carsoe will deliver the brine freezing tanks and coordinate the interfaces between the processing equipment and refrigeration package.

Carsoe and Industrikulde formalized their partnership in spring 2026 after working together on several previous projects. Planning both deliveries together reduces the risk of gaps between systems and gives Nordvågen Crab Company a factory in which capacity, temperature requirements and available space have been considered as one process.

Support through installation and start up

Carsoe will stay involved during installation, commissioning and operator training. The purpose is to make sure the production team understands the equipment and can operate the complete line safely and consistently when the factory enters production.

“A processing line does not create value until the operators can run it with confidence. We stay involved through installation and start up, and we work with the production team to make sure they are prepared for daily operation,” says Frederik Svane.

Production of the processing line is underway at Carsoe, while Nordvågen prepares the factory site. Nordvågen Crab Company expects to be ready to participate in the next snow crab season.

Photo credit: Nordvågen AS