Pisces
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersWells, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Pisces does
Pisces Fish Machinery, Inc. is a US-based, privately held manufacturer of specialized fish processing equipment founded in 1983 and headquartered in Gladstone, Michigan. The company designs and builds machinery for heading, gutting, filleting, scaling, skinning, grading, nobbing, and pin-bone removal, plus fully integrated turnkey processing lines for marine, freshwater, and aquaculture species processing from 10 grams to 10 kg per fish. Its proprietary technology base includes a six-blade backbone removal system introduced in 1993, PLC-controlled rib removal with per-fish trim adjustment, roe-saving evisceration, and an infrared gender-sorting system rated at 99% accuracy; automated single-operator systems such as the AHF series combine heading, gutting, and filleting into a single station. The company augments its own catalog with two core technology partnerships: Uni-Food Technic (Denmark, salmon pin-bone and fillet-washing equipment, partnership since 1993) and Varlet (France, skinning machines), and offers custom Vision Control Systems for line-level inspection and control.
Pisces firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pisces
- Legal name
- Pisces Fish Machinery, Inc.
- Website
- https://pisces-ind.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pisces industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Fish Processing Machinery
- NAICS
- Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (31171)
- SIC
- Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Finfish Processing (Filleting, Portioning, Trimming) (AFANADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Primary Seafood Processing (Heading/Gutting/Deheading; Icing) (AFANADAA)
Keywords
Where Pisces is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wells
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Pisces business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Fish Processing Equipment Sales: Manufacture and sale of fish processing machines including filleting machines, head cutting machines, eviscerating machines, scaling machines, skinning machines, graders, nobbing machines, and complete processing systems. Equipment ranges from standalone machines to turnkey processing lines.
- Complete Processing Line Solutions: Design, delivery, installation, and support of complete fish processing lines. Includes line design services, equipment integration, and ongoing product maintenance and support.
- Engineering and Technical Services: Qualified engineers, CAD design department, service technicians provide firsthand knowledge of freshwater fisheries, marine fisheries, and aquaculture operations.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Pisces product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pisces Fish Machinery, Inc. manufactures and globally distributes industrial fish processing equipment for marine, freshwater, and aquaculture species. The product range spans standalone machines (filleting, heading, gutting/eviscerating, scaling, skinning, nobbing, grading) to complete turnkey single-operator processing lines handling fish from 10g to 10kg, sold primarily to commercial fish processors worldwide.
Product overview
Pisces Fish Machinery is a manufacturer of fish processing equipment founded in 1983, offering both standalone machines and integrated turnkey processing lines. The product portfolio is organized around two main axes: machine type (heading/gutting, filleting, scaling, nobbing, skinning, grading, pinboning, vision control) and fish species (farmed fish, freshwater fish, ocean fish, pelagic fish). The core product lines include Complete Filleting Systems (AHF, AVF, SPS, NFB, AHB series), Stand Alone Filleting Machines (FB, FR, FS series with proprietary six-blade backbone removal system), Head Cutting Machines (HS, HV, VHV, CB series), Eviscerating/Gutting Machines (DC, SGA with roe saving, BC series), Nobbing Machines (PN series), Scaling Machines (DS drum, PSM in-line, water jet, FSC flow-through), Dressing Machines (SF series), Roller Graders (HG, G series), Electronic Weight Graders, Pinboning Machines (via Uni-Food Technic partnership), Skinning Machines (via Varlet partnership), Processing Systems (species-specific turnkey lines), Vision Control Systems, and Gender Sorting Systems. The company positions integrated systems as allowing single-operator whole-fish-to-fillet processing, while also selling individual machines for plants with specific needs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Complete Filleting Systems Integrated automated systems that combine head cutting, gutting, and filleting into single-operator machines, processing fish from 85g to 10kg. Designed for commercial fish processing plants. Includes AHF, AVF, SPS, NFB, and AHB series.
- Stand Alone Filleting Machines Modular filleting machines with the proprietary six-blade backbone removal system and PLC-controlled rib removal for adjustable trim levels. Includes FB (butterfly), FR (single fillet), and FS (split) series for fish from 85g to 10kg.
- Head Cutting Machines Precision head cutting equipment featuring automatic individual fish positioning for optimum yield. Includes HS (straight cut), HV/VHV (vee cut), and CB (collar) series for fish from 100g to 10kg.
- Eviscerating/Gutting Machines Equipment for viscera and bloodline removal using spinning wheels and brushes. Includes DC, SGA (with roe saving technology), and BC series. Processes fish head-on or head-off from 500g to 7kg.
- Nobbing Machines Combined head/tail removal with vacuum evisceration producing belly-closed gutted product. PN series (PN-250 to PN-700) processes fish from 200mm to 700mm length at 100-300 fish/minute.
- Scaling Machines Scale removal equipment including DS drum scaler series (batch gentle process), PSM in-line scaler series, water jet descalers, and FSC flow-through rotary drum scalers. Capacity up to 100+ tons per day.
- Dressing Machines Combined heading and gutting machines producing pan-ready head-off belly-open product. SF series (SF-12, SF-14) operates at 120-280 fish/minute for fish from anchovy to mackerel size.
- Roller Graders High-volume separation equipment using rotating rollers with gradually increasing gaps. HG series sorts fish into 4-5 grades with infeed hopper, vibrating tray, and conveyors. G Series for shrimp processing.
- Electronic Weight Graders In-motion weighing units for whole fish or fillets with stainless steel construction for rugged processing environments. Network capable for management information. Supports weight or piece count packing.
- Pinboning Machines (Uni-Food Technic) Full line of pin-bone removers from Uni-Food Technic of Denmark. Model 400 for smaller operations, Model 350 NK double-lane with neck pin bone removal for salmon. Removes 90-95% of pin bones.
- Skinning Machines (Varlet) Complete line of skinning equipment from Varlet of France. V series (V1258 to V3668) for whitefish, salmon, smoked fish, and skate wings. Feature adjustable depth control and tool-free disassembly. V3668 enables skin/meat separation.
- Processing Systems (Turnkey Lines) Complete turnkey processing lines organized by species including AHF 592 (salmon), AHF 492 (head-on gutted salmon), PL 158 (yellow perch), and PL 226 (sea bass/bream). Single-operator whole-fish-to-fillet systems.
- Tilapia Processing Equipment Complete tilapia processing line from live fish reception through weighing, chilling, bleeding, filleting, trimming, chilling, washing, electronic grading, and packing. Includes the HV-30 new head cutter with adjustable blade intersection.
- Atlantic Salmon Processing Equipment Complete salmon processing line offered in partnership with Uni-Food Technic. Includes VHV-90 head cutting, SGA gutting, FR-9000 filleting, FS-8000 splitting, pinboning, skinning, and electronic grading systems.
- Trout Processing Equipment Trout processing solutions ranging from FR-75 standalone to AHF-224 automatic single-operator system. Includes FB-181 butterfly filleting, VHV-45 head cutting, and AVF-423 integrated systems for trout from 300g to 3.5kg.
- Pelagic Fish Processing Equipment On-board and shore-based processing equipment for sardine, herring, mackerel, and anchovy. Includes HG roller graders, FSC-4000 scaler, SF-14 dressing, PN-400/700 nobbing, and NFB-481 butterfly filleting systems.
- Ocean Fish Processing Equipment Processing systems for corvina, hake, pink salmon, and wild salmon. Includes PN-700 nobbing for large hake, FR-75/FR-200 for pink salmon, and FR-9000 MKIV with 4-22lb capacity for wild salmon.
- Fresh Water Fish Processing Equipment Freshwater fish processing equipment for lake perch, walleye (pike perch, zander), lake whitefish, and smelt. Includes PSM-30 scaling, AHF-225 automated system, and specialized DS drum scalers backed by 25+ years of Great Lakes experience.
- Sardine Processing Equipment Complete sardine processing line for North America, Spain, and Morocco. Includes HG roller graders, FSC-4000 flow-through scaler, SF-14 dressing, PN-400 nobbing, and NFB-481 butterfly filleting at up to 300 pieces/minute.
Quantifiable outcome
- Single operator systems eliminate need for pre-gutting and save at least one operator per line
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Pisces
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Pisces technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Pisces partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.
- Uni-Food Technic A/ScorePartnership with Denmark-based Uni-Food Technic for complete salmon processing line solutions. Uni-Food specializes in pin bone, fillet washing and other salmon-specific machinery while Pisces concentrates on head cutting, gutting and filleting equipment. Pisces has partnered with Uni-Food since 1993 to offer the complete processing line.
- VarletcorePartnership with French company Varlet for skinning machines. Pisces offers the full line of Varlet skinning equipment including V1558, V3568, V1258, V1588S, V1658, V1530 SA, and V1458 models for various fish species and processing requirements.
- Mekalis (Greece)regionalSales and service partner for Sea Bass and Bream processing equipment in Greece. Located at Kolokotroni 9, 14568 Kryoneri, Attica, Greece.
- FPT Ltd (Turkey)regionalSales and service partner for Sea Bass and Bream processing equipment in Turkey. Located at Ali Sami Yen Sok. No. 9, D.4, Gayrettepe 34394, Istanbul.
- Scanz Technologies LtdregionalDistributor covering Austria and New Zealand. Located at 22 Burleigh Street, PO Box 26 148, Auckland 1344, New Zealand.
- Toa Koeki Co. LtdregionalDistributor in Japan. Located at Nakata Dai-ni Bldg. No: 29-10, Ogikubo 4-Chome, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 167-0051, Japan.
- BG Food Technology RussiaregionalDistributor in Russia. Contact: tel +7 926 658 38 22, [email protected]
- MakelisregionalDistributor in Greece. Located at Kolokotroni 9, 14565 Kryoneri, Attica, Greece.
- NettoyerregionalDistributor in Brazil. Located in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
- KAPP ehfregionalDistributor in Iceland. Located at Midhraun 2, 210 Gardabaer.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Pisces competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Marel: Marel is an Iceland-headquartered global leader in fish and meat processing equipment with a comprehensive product portfolio spanning heading, filleting, grading, and complete lines. It is the largest direct competitor to Pisces, particularly in salmon and whitefish processing, with broader scale and publicly listed resources.
- Baader: Baader (Nordischer Maschinenbau Rud. Baader GmbH + Co. KG) is a Germany-based specialist in fish and seafood processing machinery with a deep installed base in Europe and South America. It directly competes with Pisces across filleting, gutting, and grading for species such as salmon, herring, and whitefish.
- Skaginn 3X: Skaginn 3X is an Icelandic fish processing equipment manufacturer specializing in onboard and shore-based systems, particularly for pelagic species. It competes head-to-head with Pisces in the pelagic (herring, mackerel, capelin) and whitefish segments and overlaps in turnkey processing line solutions.
- Cabinplant: Cabinplant is a Danish manufacturer of processing and weighing equipment with a dedicated seafood division serving processors of fish, shrimp, and other aquatic species. It is a direct competitor in shrimp grading (G-series overlap with Pisces G-series) and weigh-grading solutions.
Broad incumbents
- JBT Corporation: JBT (John Bean Technologies) is a large US-listed supplier of food processing equipment including a meaningful seafood/protein portfolio (formerly Frigoscandia). It offers overlapping capability with Pisces but at much broader scale and across multiple protein categories rather than specializing in fish.
- GEA Group: GEA is a large Germany-listed industrial conglomerate with a substantial food processing equipment division covering seafood, dairy, and meat. While it does not focus exclusively on fish, its seafood separation, homogenization, and processing lines overlap with Pisces' broader offerings and represent a more capitalized competitor.
- Tomra: Tomra is a Norway-listed technology company best known for reverse vending but with a Food sorting division offering optical sorting solutions for fish and seafood. It competes with Pisces' vision control and grading systems in the higher end of the sorting market and brings significant R&D resources.
- Bühler Group: Bühler is a Swiss global industrial equipment group with a focus on food processing and advanced materials. While its core focus is grain and protein processing, its fish-handling and processing capabilities overlap with Pisces' broader processing system offerings, especially for industrial-scale plants.
- Multivac: Multivac is a German global leader in packaging and processing equipment with a seafood product line spanning weighing, portioning, and labeling. It overlaps with Pisces' downstream end-of-line systems and serves similar food-processing customers with a much broader product portfolio.
Emerging players
- Uni-Food Technic: Uni-Food Technic is a Danish specialist in salmon pin-bone removal and fillet washing equipment and has been Pisces' strategic partner since 1993. While not a direct competitor (it complements Pisces' heading/filleting machines), Uni-Food sells equipment both through Pisces and directly to processors, making it a partial competitor in salmon lines.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Pisces social profiles
Digital presencePisces financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pisces leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Pisces subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Pisces funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pisces M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pisces
What does Pisces do?
Pisces Fish Machinery, Inc. manufactures and globally distributes industrial fish processing equipment for marine, freshwater, and aquaculture species. The product range spans standalone machines (filleting, heading, gutting/eviscerating, scaling, skinning, nobbing, grading) to complete turnkey single-operator processing lines handling fish from 10g to 10kg, sold primarily to commercial fish processors worldwide.
Is Pisces a public or private company?
Pisces is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Pisces founded?
Pisces was founded in 1983. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Pisces based?
Pisces is headquartered in Wells, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pisces make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Fish Processing Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are complete Processing Line Solutions and engineering and Technical Services.
Who are Pisces's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Marel, Baader, Skaginn 3X and Cabinplant. Broad incumbents are JBT Corporation, GEA Group, Tomra, Bühler Group and Multivac. Uni-Food Technic is listed as an emerging player.
Does Pisces have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pisces.
What industry is Pisces in?
Pisces's product category is Industrial Fish Processing Machinery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFANADAB, Finfish Processing (Filleting, Portioning, Trimming), with a secondary code of AFANADAA, Primary Seafood Processing (Heading/Gutting/Deheading; Icing). Its NAICS code is 31171 and its SIC code is 2092.