Fish heading machines remove the head from the fish body as a dedicated step in the processing line, typically positioned after grading and gutting and before filleting or portioning.
NorMar carries one of the broadest ranges of refurbished fish heading equipment on the market, covering every major cut type, most commercially processed species, and throughput levels from small plants to high-volume industrial lines.
Contact us us to find the right fish heading machine for your line.
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The right machine for your plant is usually defined by four things – the cut shape you need, the species and size range you process, whether heading stands alone or combines with gutting, and the throughput your line has to keep up with. The sections below walk through each of these so you can narrow the catalogue down to a shortlist before getting in touch.
The shape of the cut is usually the first decision when choosing heading equipment, because it directly affects yield and downstream processing.
• Straight cut – a single vertical cut behind the gill. Fast and simple, best where speed matters more than yield. The Breivik 007SS is a typical example in this class.
• V-cut – a symmetrical two-angle cut that follows the collarbone, keeping more meat on the fillet. The Baader 427 is built specifically for this profile.
• Contour or J-cut – a curved cut that follows the natural shape of the head, giving the highest yield on whitefish. The Baader IS-series (IS-026, IS-028, IS-033, IS-034) is designed around this cut for cod, haddock and saithe.
Different species need different feeding, cutting geometry and hygiene, so we group our stock accordingly.
• Whitefish (cod, haddock, saithe, pollock) – the Baader IS-026, IS-028, IS-033 and IS-034 handle this segment at high speed with a contour cut for maximum fillet yield.
• Salmon and trout – the Baader 400-series covers this bracket, including the Baader 415, 417, 421, 427, Baader 429 and 434. The Baader 429 in particular is a well-established heading machine for medium and large salmon and a frequent request in our refurbished stock.
• Pelagic and smaller species – machines such as the Mesa 955, Norfo 524, and Josmar JM454, and fit herring, mackerel and similar sizes where a compact footprint and quick change-over matter more than top throughput.
Not every processor needs a dedicated heading step. When floor space is tight or the product goes straight to freezing rather than filleting, a combined machine is often the better choice. NorMar carries both:
• Standalone heading machines – Baader 417, 421, 427, 429, 434, the Baader IS-series, Marel CT2901, Curio C-3027, and others.
• Combined heading and gutting machines – Baader 142, 162, 166, 444 and the Josmar JM454 remove the head and gut in one pass, saving a station in the line.
The trade-off is flexibility. Standalone units are easier to adjust to size variation and give better control over cut quality, while combined machines cut labour and footprint.
The Mesa 900 is a specialised piece of heading equipment that recovers cod tongues and cheeks from heads that would otherwise go to meal or discard. It sits alongside the main heading line and turns a low-value by-product into a high-value one – a common upgrade for whitefish plants supplying the Mediterranean and Nordic markets.
Our refurbished fish heading machines come from the manufacturers most trusted in the industry.
• Baader – the widest range in our catalogue, covering whitefish, salmon, standalone and combined units, from the classic 400-series to the modern IS-series.
• Marel and Carnitech – including the Marel CT2901 for whitefish.
• Curio – Icelandic-built machines for whitefish, such as the Curio C-3027.
• Mesa – Icelandic-built heading and tongue/cheek machines.
• Norfo and Josmar – established European builders for mid-range operations.
• Pisces – including the Pisces HV-40 head-cutting unit and the Pisces FR-200 filleting line with integrated heading.
• Breivik – Norwegian straight-cut heading machines built for cold and harsh environments.
Every heading machine in our catalogue is inspected, refurbished and function-tested before it leaves our workshop. Wear parts are replaced, control systems are checked, and the configuration for a specific species or cut is documented and confirmed with the customer before shipment. We hold spare parts for the Baader, Marel and Mesa ranges we sell, and provide after-sales support and repair on the machines we supply.
If you already know which model you need – Baader 429, Breivik 007SS, Curio C-3027 or another – contact us for current availability, technical details and a price. If you are still choosing, tell us the species, target throughput and where the machine will sit in your line, and we will recommend fish heading equipment from current stock.