© Quintus Technologies
Designed by Quintus Technologies, the high pressure processing press provides an efficient, mechanised solution to oyster shucking, which can be a slow and monotonous process when carried out manually.
The press incorporates several technical advances, such as frequency-controlled motor drives that minimise idle energy consumption and heat generation; cloud-based press management software; fewer moving parts for reduced downtime; and easy access to all components requiring regular maintenance or inspection.
Seeking to take advantage of this technology, Nova Harvest - a Huu-ay-aht First Nations owned shellfish producer - will install the innovative oyster shucker in May 2025, representing the next step in the vision of the company to create high-quality, value-added products from shellfish harvested from the pristine waters of the region.
“The long-term outlook for Canada is that there is incredible potential to increase output from shellfish aquaculture. We see high pressure processing technology as a powerful tool to create new oyster products that allow for a more diversified offering to increase demand and support the continued development of our nation’s shellfish industry,” said Nova Harvest President J.P. Hastey, in a press release.
According to the B.C. Shellfish Growers Association, British Columbia farms 46 percent of the oysters produced in Canada. With such a booming regional shellfish industry, the adoption of technology such as the high pressure press may stimulate further growth and productivity for British Columbia’s oyster farming sector.
“With the increased efficiency of processing shellfish in many applications, I see a future where high pressure processing is a dominant technology in seafood processing and packaging,” Hastey concluded.
