Flying the flag for Scotland
Show set to be a ‘game changer’ for Gael Force Group
SCOTTISH aquaculture supplier Gael Force is hoping Aqua Nor 2019 will be a game changer for the group. ‘We want the global aquaculture sector to see Gael Force for what we truly are – a trusted, credible and alternative supply partner to competing Norwegian suppliers,’ said marketing manager Marc Wilson, as the Inverness based company was making its final preparations for the exhibition. Gael Force will be flying the flag for Scotland, with a greatly increased presence compared to the firm’s appearance in 2017. And it will host a visit to the stand from Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy, Fergus Ewing. ‘Two years ago, we had a very small footprint at Aqua Nor – 12 square metres,’ said Wilson. ‘It was our first time in over decade that we had exhibited at Aqua Nor and, with the benefit of hindsight, we realised that the stand space we took then was not befitting of the established product and service range we offer. ‘This time round, we feel we have got it right. We will be highly visible in Hall D, which has been traditionally known as the main hall in the Trondheim Spektrum in previous years,
alongside other well-known suppliers.
‘We will have a footprint of 84 square metres, with an upper deck for meetings and hospitality. It’s a game changer for us.’
SeaQurePen At Aqua Nor 2017, Gael Force launched its SeaFeed Offshore Feed System, which has gone from strength to strength since then, and is visible across fish farms in Scotland. This year it is the turn of SeaQurePen 500 which, said Wilson, is an innovative and evolutionary plastic fish pen, packed with a range of exciting features. SeaQurePen reduces pen furniture and related maintenance and increases reliability, which will lower farming costs for producers. Its main features include: • An all plastic base unit which is resilient against impact, flexible in big waves and has a very long lifespan due to no corrosion; • An innovatively designed Hinged Service Deck which offers farm operatives safe and easy access to sub-surface utilities and connections, lessening the risk of having to make difficult manoeuvres around the platform; • Service Distribution, which provides integrated, secure, hazard free distribution of power, air and communications systems around the pen via
“We want the global aquaculture sector to see us as an alternative to competing Norwegian suppliers”
ducting points below the deck;
• SeaQureLift Marine Winch System, which has been designed for many years of reliable service in the rugged marine environment; and
• Recessed, integrated connection point for moorings/sinker tubes, which ensures the walkway is clear and safe for personnel.
SeaQurePen will be ‘in the flesh’ on Gael Force’s stand after the team at the company’s Oban base spent many hours ensuring that a section was prepared before being dispatched late in July.
‘The team at Gael Force Fusion worked immensely hard to ensure that SeaQurePen was put together professionally and readied for Aqua Nor,’ said Wilson.
‘I may be biased but, from what I have honestly seen and heard from some early feedback, it really is the best fish pen design out on the market.
‘The team have done their very best to make sure that visitors to our stand can get a real sense of that and can see all the features we are so proud to be talking about to our customers.’
In fact, Gael Force’s customers have played a huge part in the design of SeaQurePen, collaborating over months - years even.
Multiple locations and farming conditions were considered, which helped Gael Force produce this fully integrated system for high energy environments.
In addition to the launch of SeaQure Pen, visitors to the stand can view the company’s range of technology and software products. These include the SeaFeed Pellet Detection software, which has full system integration capability with the SeaFeed Feed System to provide automatic control of feeding.
‘The user can set configurable parameters and then the level of pellets detected during feeding will help determine future feed plans,’ explained Wilson.
‘There is also the added benefit of having additional reporting, which is derived from system data in order to assist in future feed plans.
‘Automated feeding is something that we have been very keen to develop and our Pellet Detection software does just that.’
Gael Force’s steel and concrete feed barge range will also be demon
strated at Aqua Nor, via the medium of an interactive touchscreen, giving the user an insight into the internal parts of the barge.
‘Having a feed barge on our stand is something that was clearly not possible, but we wanted to give people the ability to interactively explore the range,’ said Wilson.
‘So we have had a touchscreen presentation developed for us that visitors themselves will be able to get to grips with.
‘It’s a very exciting piece of software and we’re looking forward to sharing it.’
Reception
On the opening day of the show, Tuesday, August 20, at 3pm, Gael Force will welcome Scotland’s Rural Economy minister, Fergus Ewing, to the stand for a reception to celebrate the official launch of SeaQurePen.
All visitors to Aqua Nor are invited to attend the reception and enjoy some Scottish hospitality, while having the opportunity to hear from the minister.
And, continuing the theme of launches, Gael Force will be unveiling a 92-page full colour catalogue showcasing its range of equipment, technology and services.
‘The catalogue is something we have been keen to develop for years now,’ said Wilson, adding that it ‘made perfect sense’ to bring together news of the company’s turnkey installations for farm sites and its established range in one publication.
Gael Force Group’s new catalogue will be available at its stand, D-335.