ScaleAQ purchases Skala Maskon AS
ScaleAQ has signed an agreement which gives us ownership of the global market leader Skala Maskon AS. With this strategic acquisition, we expand our value chain.
At ScaleAQ, we invest in and expand our product portfolio to become a total supplier and partner for the aquaculture industry of tomorrow. Scale AQ and the team which built Maskon adhere to similar drivers pertaining to sustainability and innovation. We see exciting opportunities in building on the Maskon-team and their excellent work.
“This strategic and important acquisition unites two diverse and skilled professional environments within the aquaculture industry’s supply industry. With the acquisition of Maskon we strengthen our position as a total supplier of critical infrastructure for the industry. We will now be represented with the technology of the future throughout the entire value chain, from roe to slaughter.”
Geir Myklebust, CEO i ScaleAQ
A Norwegian specialist in automatic vaccination
Maskon (est. 1991) is a global market leader in the production and sale of fully automatic vaccination machines for fish. The company sold its first roe sorting machine in 2006, and its first automatic vaccination machine to Salmar in 2011.
Maskon, a Norwegian specialist company that complements and expands the value chain of ScaleAQ, had a turnover of NOK 115 million in 2021. Until the purchase, Maskon was part of the Skala group, which is owned by Nortura and Tine.
Extensive experience and a long history
Maskon has 36 employees with extensive expertise and experience in engineering and automation. The organization is competent and experienced, with a long history as a supplier for the aquaculture industry. Their skills will be a strong supplement to ScaleAQ’s existing investment areas within technology and infrastructure for sea-based fish farming, barges, hybrid vessels, and digital solutions for the global aquaculture industry.
Maskon will continue as an independent company under ScaleAQ. This enables them to maintain their excellent track record in innovation and product development, whilst also benefitting from the advantages of being part of a global total supplier to the aquaculture industry.
Maskon CEO Jon Anders Leikvoll looks forward to becoming a part of ScaleAQ and our broad, ambitious, and sustainable approach to the global farming industry.
“We look forward to becoming part of a larger, internationally leading technology and industrial company that supplies innovation, technology and equipment to aquaculture customers – along the entire Norwegian coast and globally.”
Jon Anders Leikvoll, CEO Maskon
Key technology fish farmers depend on
Maskon is a global market leader in an attractive niche, supplying key technology and solutions that all fish farmers depend on to an international market. The acquisition further strengthens our commitment to become a global market leader in farming technology, by complementing our existing value chain: “From roe to slaughter – living fish”.
With Maskon as part of our team, we have a unique representation throughout the entire value chain.
The proposal for a new ground rent tax – the “salmon tax” – has created uncertainty in in the Norwegian market, however, the aquaculture industry has a large international catchment area and an expected international growth. At ScaleAQ we see this acquisition as a strategic investment that prepares us for further growth.
Concerted efforts and benefits
We look forward to getting to know our new colleagues better, and have a long list of concerted efforts we look forward to benefitting from:
- global presence in all salmon regions
- service network
- transfer of skills
- close relationships with customers
- sales and marketing
The acquisition has no consequences for our existing operating budget in ScaleAQ, or for our established investment areas. Maskon will continue as an independent company under ScaleAQ, retaining their existing management and premises at Stjørdal, Norway.
Geir Myklebust, CEO i ScaleAQ
CEO Maskon Jon Anders Leikvoll