Kometos Expands Market to the United States – Modular Plants Develop Traditional Industries in Alaska
The Finnish company Kometos Oy specializing in food industry equipment and modular facilities, has signed two significant contracts for modular food processing plants to be delivered to Saint Lawrence Island in Alaska. The delivery includes a total of eight modules, which will form a fish processing facility and a slaughterhouse that meet food industry regulations.
The new slaughterhouse operations will enable the commercial sale of USDA-approved reindeer meat, marking an important step towards improving the economy and self-sufficiency of the remote Saint Lawrence Island.
The slaughterhouse project in Alaska marks Kometos’ entry into the North American market as a supplier of food industry facilities. The project has involved the entire staff. The agreements with Kawerak Inc. the Savoonga Reindeer Commercial Company and Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation reinforce Kometos’ and Finnish expertise’s standing as specialists in Arctic conditions.
Alaska’s Harsh Conditions Pose a Challenge
The new slaughterhouse is designed to meet the needs of reindeer herding in the region, but the same technology can be applied to processing other types of meat and to the fish industry. In extreme conditions, the advantage of modular construction is that it reduces on-site building time, which is essential in places where conditions are challenging for traditional construction.
Kometos is familiar with operating in extreme weather and difficult transportation conditions. The company’s solutions are specifically developed for northern climates and have been serving the needs of the reindeer industry among the Sámi people in Finland and Norway for decades. This Finnish expertise in Arctic environments and the unique requirements of challenging conditions was one of the key reasons Kawerak chose Kometos for this project. Business Planning Specialist Alice Bioff at Kawerak says:
We chose Kometos for many reasons, including cost, but more importantly, because they clearly understood the specific needs of reindeer herders in remote areas of the world. Our herders and project staff felt comfortable with the Kometos representatives right away, and their professionalism and commitment to implementing this project in our region made a strong impression.”
Longstanding Tradition of Reindeer Herding and Fishing
The Savoonga community on Saint Lawrence Island, located in the Bering Strait region of Alaska, is a traditional Yupik community with a strong foundation in fishing, hunting, and reindeer herding. This slaughterhouse project supports the community’s efforts to enhance local food self-sufficiency by processing USDA-approved reindeer meat. With the new facility, the island’s reindeer meat products can be distributed more widely in Alaska, strengthening the economy of Saint Lawrence Island. Local reindeer meat, which holds cultural significance as a valued food source, can now be commercialized, creating new opportunities for island residents.
Fishing, in addition to reindeer herding, is an important livelihood in the region. When Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation (NSEDC), representing local communities in the Bering Strait region, began planning a new fish processing facility in Savoonga to support the halibut fishing industry, Kometos’ expertise and experience in Arctic conditions impressed the project team. The fish processing facility is set to be constructed approximately 100 meters from the shoreline, where extreme conditions such as saltwater spray, severe cold, and wind-driven sand pose significant challenges to the durability of construction materials. However, the structure developed by Kometos using its advanced ST Sandwich elements is specifically designed for such environments, ensuring a durable and long-lasting solution for food processing facilities.
At the core of NSEDC’s mission is maintaining a balance between local economic development projects aimed at benefiting residents and active commercial fishing operations in the distant waters of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. The organization strives to invest in sustainable, long-term economic initiatives that support the well-being of the region’s residents. The four-module fish processing facility ordered from Kometos exemplifies such a project. While operating on a seasonal basis, it will still significantly contribute to local employment in the region.
“Collaborating with Kawerak, SRCC and NSEDC is a significant step in our international expansion,” says Matti Hiltula, CEO of Kometos.
“These projects offer an excellent opportunity to leverage our specialized expertise in the North American market, and we are proud to bring our knowledge and technology designed for Arctic conditions to support the self-sufficiency and local employment of Alaskan communities”, says Raimo Niemi, Founder of Kometos.
Contact Information:
Kometos Oy
Viivi Pulkkinen, Marketing Manager
viivi.pulkkinen@kometos.com
+358 44 794 3620
About Kometos Oy
Kometos Oy, a Finnish company, is a pioneer in modular food processing facilities, thawing systems, and packaging and portioning lines specifically designed for challenging conditions. Founded in 1991, the company’s headquarters are located in the heart of South Ostrobothnia in Kauhajoki. Alongside its strong market position in Finland, Sweden, and the Baltics, Kometos serves a global clientele through its distributor network, with exports accounting for over 80% of production.
About Kawerak, Inc.
Kawerak, Inc. is a nonprofit entity and a consortium of the region’s indigenous peoples. It has supported local communities for over 40 years. Kawerak and Savoonga Reindeer Commercial Company (SRCC) received an Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant from the U.S. government to construct a slaughterhouse. SRCC will manage the facility, aiming to strengthen food production self-sufficiency and employment on Saint Lawrence Island, where reindeer, seals, and whales are primary food sources.
About Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation
NSEDC is a non-profit organization and one of six entities in Alaska participating in the United States’ Community Development Quota (CDQ) program. The CDQ program is designed to support the economic development of Alaska’s Indigenous peoples and remote coastal communities. Its goal is to provide these communities with a share of federally regulated commercial fishing quotas, ensuring they benefit from the natural resources of their regions and can promote sustainable economic growth. Organizations like NSEDC invest the revenues generated through the program into infrastructure, education, employment, and other development projects in their areas. Collectively, the six CDQ regions represent 65 coastal communities in Western Alaska.
