What Scale Aquaculture does

Scale Aquaculture (ScaleAQ) is a Norwegian aquaculture technology company headquartered in Trondheim that supplies integrated hardware, software, and services to commercial fish-farming operators, principally Atlantic salmon farmers in Norway, with additional presence in Chile and New Zealand. Its product portfolio spans cage and mooring systems — including the proprietary SUBSEA subsea cage concept (operating depths of 25–30m), the heavy-duty Frøyaringen steel floating collar, and the patented Milda all-plastic collar — feeding systems (pneumatic feeding, the Hybrid Air-to-Water Feeding Unit co-developed with Nærøysund Aquaservice), monitoring hardware (underwater Vision cameras, sensors, lighting), a software stack (FeedStation, Vision, Barge Control with a developer portal and API), concrete feed barges (SC 500), fish-health products, and the SirkAQ circular-economy line using recycled HDPE in load-bearing constructions. The company is certified to NS 9415:2021 and NYTEK23 and co-developed Addendum G to the NS 9415:2021 standard.

ScaleAQ operates a direct enterprise sales model through three Norwegian regional organizations (North, Central, South) supported by service departments, net-service facilities, and the Light Hotel light-storage network running the length of the Norwegian coast from Alta to Haugesund. Manufacturing includes concrete feed-barge outfitting at Moster/Bømlo and equipment production at Bømlo, with headquarters in Trondheim. Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of cages, collars, mooring, feeding, and barge systems, complemented by recurring software subscriptions, service contracts (net service, light hotel, technical support), and one-off vessel/barge construction projects. Reported 2025 operating revenue was approximately 4.5 billion NOK (up 20% YoY), with EBIT of 412 million NOK and EBITDA approaching 600 million NOK on a headcount that crossed 1,000 globally in the same year.

The company has roughly 50 years of operating history (previously branded as Aqualine until rebranding to ScaleAQ) and pursues ongoing R&D partnerships with SINTEF Ocean, SINTEF Energi, Hallingplast, Norner, Future Materials, OsloMet, and Oceanize. Beyond salmon, ScaleAQ positions SUBSEA and related technologies for cod and other species, and markets its SirkAQ initiative toward a stated 'zero plastic waste by 2030' goal with documented 33–82% CO2e reductions per floating collar depending on recycled-HDPE content (EPD NEPD-14256-14603). It remains a privately held Norwegian entity with no disclosed venture capital, private equity, or public ownership structures identified in the available source material.

Name

Scale Aquaculture

Legal name

Scale Aquaculture AS

Website

https://scaleaq.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Short description

ScaleAQ is a Norwegian aquaculture technology company supplying cage systems, feeding and monitoring hardware, software platforms, feed barges, and circular-economy solutions to commercial salmon farmers primarily in Norway, with operations in Chile and New Zealand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aquaculture Equipment and Technology

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611)

SIC

Farm Machinery & Equipment (3523)

akta.pro primary industry

Aquaculture & Fish-Farm Service Vessels (Feed, Wellboats, Harvest Support) (IMAJADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Offshore & Open-Ocean Aquaculture (AFAEAAAH), Aquaculture & Fish Health Services (AFAEANAE)

Keywords

• Aquaculture equipment
• Fish farming technology
• Salmon farming solutions
• Marine engineering services
• Feeding and monitoring systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Trondheim

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Aquaculture Equipment Hardware: Sale of physical aquaculture equipment including cage systems, floating collars (Frøyaringen, Frøyaringen PL, Milda), mooring systems, feeding systems, camera systems, sensors, lighting, feed barges, and fish health/hygiene products. This is the primary revenue driver, representing the bulk of the 4.5 billion NOK operating revenue.
2. Service and Maintenance: Service contracts, maintenance, inspection, and repair services for aquaculture equipment. Service offerings include net service, light hotel (storage and maintenance of underwater lights), and technical support along the Norwegian coast.
3. Software Subscriptions: Software products including FeedStation, Vision, Barge Control, and developer portal/API for aquaculture biology management.
4. Vessel and Barge Construction: Construction and delivery of concrete feed barges (SC series) and vessels for aquaculture operations, including customization of feed lines, ensilage capacity, cranes, generators, and superstructures.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Scale Aquaculture (ScaleAQ) supplies equipment, software, engineering, and services for aquaculture operations, primarily for Atlantic salmon farming. The company's portfolio includes cage systems and floating collars (Frøyaringen, Frøyaringen PL, Milda), pneumatic feeding systems, concrete feed barges, underwater cameras and sensors, lighting, fish health products, and software platforms (FeedStation, Vision, Barge Control). ScaleAQ also operates a service network along the Norwegian coast and runs the SirkAQ circular economy initiative using recycled plastic in load-bearing constructions.

Product overview

Scale Aquaculture (ScaleAQ) is a Norwegian aquaculture technology company offering a comprehensive, integrated product portfolio spanning the entire aquaculture value chain. The portfolio is structured around five core product categories: (1) Cage Systems and Anchoring — including the Frøyaringen steel collar (flagship), Frøyaringen PL hybrid, and the newly launched Milda all-plastic collar, plus net bags, mooring systems, and the Midgard winch system; (2) Feeding and Monitoring — encompassing pneumatic feeding systems, the novel Hybrid Air-to-Water Feeding Unit (with Nærøysund Aquaservice), anti-static feed hoses, underwater camera systems (Vision), sensor systems, underwater lighting with Lyshotell storage service, and remote operations (fjerndrift); (3) Software Platforms — FeedStation (feed management), Vision (camera/monitoring software), and Barge Control (barge management), all accessible via a developer portal and API; (4) Feed Barges and Vessels — concrete feed barges (SC 500 at 500 tonnes), hybrid solutions, and vessels, with a collaboration with Moen Marin for vessel products; and (5) Circular Economy (SirkAQ) — reuse of equipment, recycling of plastic floating collars with documented CO₂e reductions, and life extension of feed barges. The company also provides marine engineering, service and support, and net service operations. All products are developed in collaboration with partners such as Hallingplast, SINTEF, Norner, and SINTEF Ocean. The company employs over 1,000 people globally and generated approximately 4.5 billion NOK in revenues in 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cage System (Merdsystem) Complete cage system for containing salmon at aquaculture installations, including net bags, floating collar integration, and anchoring components. Designed for salmon farming operations ranging from sheltered to exposed locations.
• Frøyaringen Floating Collar ScaleAQ's flagship steel-collar floating collar designed for extreme weather conditions and heavy operational loads. Features a welded steel cable system and robust steel clamps for optimal load distribution and secondary protection. Certified to NS 9415:2021 and NYTEK23.
• Frøyaringen PL Hybrid Floating Collar Hybrid model combining plastic and steel clamps, offering flexibility and strength in one solution. Designed for demanding conditions where the full steel version is not required.
• Milda Plastic Floating Collar Patented all-plastic floating collar for calmer waters, developed using a pipe-in-pipe principle with injection-moulded HDPE clamps and no steel components. Certified to NS 9415:2021 and NYTEK23. Designed to reduce operational complexity, maintenance needs, and lifecycle costs.
• Anchoring System (Forankringssystem) Anchoring systems for securing cage installations to the seabed. Includes mooring solutions and marine engineering services.
• Net Bags (Notposer) Net bag products for containing fish stock within the cage system.
• SUBSEA System Subsea cage system where the net volume is lowered into the water column while the buoyant collar remains at the water surface, allowing operation below the sea lice zone and in more exposed locations. Net depths of 25-30 metres. Tested at Marintek (SINTEF Ocean) in significant wave heights up to 9 metres (max 17m). SUBSEA 2.0 version launched in 2026.
• Feeding System (Fôringssystem) Pneumatic feeding systems for automated delivery of fish feed to pens. Includes feed pipes, hose systems, and blowers.
• Hybrid Air-to-Water Feeding Unit Developed jointly with Nærøysund Aquaservice (NAS), this unit converts from air-based to water-based feed transport at the pen edge. Combines the benefits of traditional pneumatic feed transport with precise water-driven distribution to deeper levels in the pen. Compatible with existing feed barges without modification and integrates with ScaleAQ FeedStation.
• Camera System (Vision) Underwater camera systems for real-time monitoring of fish stock, behaviour, and environmental conditions. Provides visual data to support feeding decisions and fish welfare monitoring.
• Sensor System (Sensorsystem) Sensor systems for monitoring environmental conditions and fish welfare parameters within the cage.
• Lighting and Light Hotel Service (Lys / Lyshotell) Underwater lighting solutions for aquaculture pens, plus the Light Hotel service for off-season storage, cleaning, maintenance, pressure testing, and LED quality measurement of lights between production cycles. Storage facilities available along the entire Norwegian coast from Alta in the north to Haugesund in the south.
• FeedStation Software Feed management software platform for controlling and optimising fish feeding operations. Integrates with camera systems, sensor systems, and feed barges to provide automated and data-driven feeding. Accessible via developer portal and API.
• Barge Control Software Software for managing and monitoring feed barge operations, including feed distribution, silo management, and operational controls.
• Feed Barges (Fôrflåter) including SC 500 Concrete Feed Barge Feed barges for storing, handling, and distributing fish feed at sea cage installations. Available in concrete (SC series) and hybrid configurations. The SC 500 is a 500-tonne concrete barge (30x20m) with 6 silos and 642-tonne total payload capacity.
• Hybrid Feed Barge Solutions Hybrid feed barge configurations combining multiple energy sources and feed delivery technologies for improved efficiency and reduced environmental impact.
• Sea Lice Control (Lusekontroll) Products and solutions for managing and controlling sea lice infestations in salmon farming operations.
• Dead Fish Handling (Dødfiskhåndtering) Systems for safe and efficient handling of dead fish at sea cage installations.
• SirkAQ Circular Economy Initiative ScaleAQ's circular economy initiative focused on transitioning from linear to circular economics in aquaculture through reuse, repair, life extension, and use of recycled materials in new products. Recycled HDPE plastic is used in load-bearing constructions (floating collars). Documented CO₂e reduction of 33% (45% recycled plastic) and 82% (90% recycled plastic) per collar.
• Equipment Reuse Service (Gjenbruk av utstyr) Equipment reuse services as part of the SirkAQ circular economy initiative, extending the useful life of aquaculture equipment.
• Feed Barge Life Extension Service (Levetidsforlengelse av fôrflåter) Life extension services for existing feed barges, part of SirkAQ circular economy offerings.
• Service and Support Comprehensive service offering including technical support, warranty and complaints handling, return procedures, service agreements, user manuals, and net service. Service technicians and service departments are located along the entire Norwegian coast.
• Marine Engineering Marine engineering services for aquaculture installations, including site assessment, design, and engineering support.
• Net Service (Notservice) Net service operations including net inspection, repair, and maintenance at dedicated service locations.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nærøysund Aquaservice (NAS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Joint development of a hybrid water feeding system that converts from air-based feed transport to water-driven distribution at the pen edge, enabling precise feeding at deeper levels. The collaboration has also produced a new Subsea air dome. ScaleAQ's FeedStation software is compatible with the hybrid solution, enabling seamless integration.
• NornercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the SirkAQ project developing circular economy solutions using recycled plastic in load-bearing aquaculture constructions. Norner contributed to developing Addendum G to the NS9415:2021 standard, opening for use of recycled plastic in load-bearing structures. Project funded through Grønn plattform (project no. 340887).
• SINTEF OceancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerModel testing of aquaculture structures (including SUBSEA and recycled plastic constructions) conducted at SINTEF Ocean's facilities (formerly Marintek). Critical partner for validating structural performance, loads, and behavior under various sea conditions. Testing for SUBSEA 2.0 planned for February 2026.
• HallingplastcoreTechnology or IntegrationLong-standing collaboration on plastic products for aquaculture including anti-static feed hoses developed jointly with SINTEF. Partnered on recycled plastic development for SirkAQ project. Contributed to Addendum G to NS9415:2021 standard.
• Future MaterialsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipant in the SirkAQ circular economy project funded through Grønn plattform (project no. 340887), contributing to the development of recycled plastic applications in load-bearing aquaculture constructions.
• OsloMet (Oslo Metropolitan University)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in the SirkAQ circular economy project (Grønn plattform, project no. 340887), contributing to the development of recycled plastic use in load-bearing aquaculture structures.
• OceanizeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the SirkAQ circular economy project contributing to recycled plastic development for aquaculture constructions.
• SinkabergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the SirkAQ circular economy project, contributing to the development and scaling of circular solutions for aquaculture equipment.
• HallingplastcoreTechnology or IntegrationDevelopment partner for anti-static feed hoses, developed in close collaboration with SINTEF Energi. Products developed to meet aquaculture operator standards and usage patterns.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Akva Group: Largest publicly listed Norwegian aquaculture technology company, offering cages, feeding systems, software (Akva Connect), sensors, and service across salmon farming. Directly competes with ScaleAQ across nearly every product category and customer segment in Norway and internationally.
• Steinsvik (Imenco): Norwegian aquaculture equipment supplier covering feeding systems, cameras, lights, and underwater monitoring. Targets the same Atlantic salmon farmers with a comparable equipment portfolio to ScaleAQ's feeding and monitoring category.
• Fjord Maritime: Norwegian aquaculture technology company focused on feeding systems, sensors, and digital monitoring for salmon farms. Competes with ScaleAQ's pneumatic feeding, Vision cameras, and FeedStation software offerings.
• Moen Marin: Norwegian builder of workboats and aquaculture service vessels; ScaleAQ already partners with Moen Marin for its 'Fartøy' (vessel) product category. Closely comparable in the aquaculture vessel / service-craft segment, including feed barges.
• Cflow: Norwegian supplier of fish handling and processing equipment for the aquaculture and seafood industries. Comparable as a Norwegian equipment supplier serving the same salmon-farming customers with adjacent processing/well-boat equipment.
• Innovasea: Global aquaculture technology company offering fish farming infrastructure, sensors, and biomass monitoring software. Comparable to ScaleAQ's integrated hardware-software model and competes in international markets where ScaleAQ is expanding.

Broad incumbents

• Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems: Division of Pentair providing aquaculture systems, water treatment, and life-support equipment globally. Larger, broader incumbent with overlapping capabilities in feeding, water management, and farm infrastructure but not specialized to Norwegian salmon farming.

Emerging players

• XpertSea: Canadian aquaculture technology company applying computer vision and AI to shrimp and fish farming. Emerges as an adjacent technology competitor to ScaleAQ's Vision and FeedStation software, with a narrower species focus but a strong data-analytics proposition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/scaleaq
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scaleaq
• Instagraminstagram.com/scaleaquaculture

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Scale Aquaculture