Ace Aquatec signs Americas distribution deal for fish stunner
US processing machinery maker will market Dundee company’s equipment as fish welfare and ethical practices ‘move to the top of the agenda’
Dundee-headquartered aquaculture technology specialist Ace Aquatec has appointed Pisces Fish Machinery Inc as its first equipment distributor in North, Central and South America.
Pisces will supply the company’s in-water stunners for tilapia, trout, salmon, and seabass to its customers across the Americas.
Ace Aquatec said fish welfare and ethical practices have moved to the top of the agenda for many producers, supermarkets, and consumers in the Americas.
It added that with extensive experience in serving the needs of processors worldwide and an established network, Pisces is well placed to supply Ace Aquatec’s stunner, which won the prestigious Innovation Award at the world’s biggest aquaculture trade fair, Aqua Nor, in 2017.
'Best-in-class manufacturer'
In a press release, Ace Aquatec’s chief sales and marketing officer Tara McGregor-Woodhams said: “Pisces have been leading the way in fish processing since 1983 and are highly regarded as the best in class for manufacturing a range of award-winning fish processing machines.
“We’re thrilled to be working closely with their team of experienced aquaculture professionals. This partnership will help us to roll out and lead on the distribution of our stunning technology across the Americas and gain key insight into one of our key target markets.”
Pisces chief executive Trevor Wastel said: “In-water electrical stunning has long been on our radar for helping strengthen our full-line offering in the fish processing industry. Not only does it create a calmer processing line before bleeding and filleting, but it accelerates the move to higher welfare standards at every point of harvesting.
“We’re delighted to be forming this partnership with Ace Aquatec and introducing our customers to their industry leading technology, it’s exactly what the Americas market has needed.”
Broad reach
Pisces is headquartered in Wells, Michigan, and has offices in Seattle and Sweden. It has distributors in Chile, Turkey, France, Australia, Japan, Greece, Brazil, and Iceland, among other places.
Earlier this year, Ace Aquatec appointed Australian equipment supplier Fresh by Design as its first distributor in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. The newly formed partnership supplies the in-water electrical stunner to its customers across Australia and New Zealand