With global population growth and dietary structure upgrades, aquatic products have become an important source of protein for humans. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations’ “The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024”, global aquaculture production surpassed capture production for the first time in 2022, accounting for 51% of the total aquatic animal output. Meanwhile, per capita aquatic product consumption has risen from 9.1 kg in 1961 to 20.6 kg in 2021.
Against the backdrop of increasing pressure on the sustainability of fishery resources, closed aquaculture systems have emerged as a key direction for the global transformation of aquaculture, thanks to their core advantages of high yield, environmental friendliness, and risk resistance.
Norway’s Bluegreen Group, the world’s only enterprise capable of manufacturing giant High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) tanks, has led industry transformation with its “Marine Donut” and “FishGlobe” series projects. The birth of these world’s largest thermoplastic structures would not have been possible without the full support of MM-Tech’s welding equipment.
MM-Tech Supports the Stunning Debut of the “Marine Donut”
In 2023, Bluegreen launched the “Marine Donut”, a floating closed aquaculture facility made of recyclable HDPE 100 RC material. With core parameters of 600 tons in weight, 22 meters in diameter, and 22,000 cubic meters in volume, it has become the world’s largest polyethylene structure, offering a breakthrough solution for sustainable aquaculture.
Leveraging the excellent properties of HDPE, the facility effectively isolates external environmental disturbances, preventing sea lice and diseases from entering. Equipped with a dual purification system consisting of Bernoulli filters and UV lamps, as well as a design featuring elevating floating pipes, reinforced bottom pipes, and vertical ballast tanks, it can easily withstand high-intensity waves and water currents, meeting the dual needs of fry rearing and food fish farming.
While HDPE boasts corrosion resistance and recyclability, welding the giant toroidal structure requires extremely high precision and airtightness—any compromise would directly affect the facility’s safety and service life.
MM-Tech’s two 6m Sheet Butt Fusion Welding Machines and 1200mm Butt Fusion Welding Machines became the core support for the project. Utilizing advanced hot-melt welding technology, the equipment achieved efficient joining of HDPE sheets and pipes, with weld joint strength equivalent to the base material, perfectly solving the sealing and stability challenges of the giant structure.
This collaboration not only facilitated the successful launch of the “Marine Donut” but also marked the precise alignment of MM-Tech’s welding technology with the requirements of world-class aquaculture facility construction, laying a solid foundation for in-depth cooperation between the two parties.
MM-Tech Escorts the Iterative Upgrade of the FishGlobe Series
Following the “Marine Donut”, in 2024 Bluegreen announced the successful launch of two “next-generation” FishGlobe aquaculture facilities—FishGlobe 3.5K and FishGlobe 10K—from its construction site in Frier Vest, Norway. These giant floating closed cofferdams were constructed by Bluegreen, with technology developed and installed by FishGlobe Technologies based in Rogaland, Norway. The project, launched in the summer of 2024, brought together a large team of engineers and experts, with MM-Tech’s equipment playing an integral role.
Compared to the “Marine Donut”, the FishGlobe series imposed higher requirements on welding process adaptability. MM-Tech’s comprehensive welding solution, including 6m Sheet Butt Fusion Welding Machines, 1200mm Pipe Butt Fusion Welding Machines, Fitting Fabrication Welding Machines, and Pipe Band Saws, perfectly matched the construction needs of different structural parts, ensuring the smooth commissioning of FishGlobe 3.5K and 10K. Currently, these two facilities are undergoing testing in Norway and will be shipped to international customers thereafter.
Notably, with the successful commissioning of FishGlobe 3.5K and 10K, Bluegreen has initiated site clearance to fully advance the construction of FishGlobe 30K. With a volume of 30,000 cubic meters, this facility will become the world’s largest closed aquaculture system and the largest thermoplastic structure upon completion. MM-Tech will continue to provide full-set welding equipment support, witnessing the birth of a new industry record.
MM-Tech‘s Core Competitiveness
MM-Tech’s sustained status as Bluegreen’s trusted partner stems from the exceptional performance and precise adaptability of its welding equipment. Giant HDPE aquaculture facilities demand welding technology that balances airtightness, strength, and corrosion resistance—requirements that MM-Tech’s full range of equipment precisely meets.
Adopting advanced hot-melt welding technology, MM-Tech’s equipment ensures weld joints not only match the base material in strength but also share its corrosion resistance, enabling the facility to operate stably in long-term marine environments and withstand continuous impacts from waves and currents.
SWT-PH6000 Sheet Butt Fusion Welding Machine
Focused on precision and ease of use for large-size sheet welding, it is equipped with 23 independently controlled pneumatic suction cups to enable vertical laying and sealing of PP/PE sheets, facilitating effortless 90° welding. The 6m steel beam is divided into two independent 3m sections with separate pressure clamps for flexible adaptation. Featuring three control modes (mechanical buttons, touchscreen, and foot pedal), paired with Delta servo motors and screws, it controls the heating plate’s lifting with 0.01mm precision. During vertical welding, the contact surface adjusts automatically based on sheet thickness to ensure perfect weld quality. It supports three core welding functions (linear welding, circular welding, and vertical welding) with a maximum welding length of 6000mm, compatible with plate thicknesses ranging from 3.0 to 50.0mm, offering exceptional adaptability and precision.
1200mm Butt Fusion Welding Machine
Renowned for stability and durability, it is driven by a powerful motor and an accumulator that maintains pressure effectively. The heating plate, coated with DuPont Teflon, delivers outstanding wear and high-temperature resistance, extending equipment service life. Available in multiple sizes, it is suitable for water pipelines, gas networks, mining operations, and other fields.
Fitting Fabrication Welding Machine
Versatile, cost-effective, and intelligent, it specializes in manufacturing fittings such as elbows, tees, and crosses for HDPE, PP, PVDF, and other plastic materials. Equipped with an automatic control panel, it initiates welding automatically after setting parameters (SDR, pipe diameter, standard requirements), allowing operators to focus on the welding process without distractions. Built-in memory records the entire welding process, with data exportable to computers via USB or directly to printers for traceability and control.
Multi-Angle Pipe Band Saw
Designed for high-precision, multi-scenario cutting, it offers a cutting angle range of 67.5° to -67.5°, enabling easy fabrication of Y-shaped fittings. Driven by an electric cylinder system, it delivers more stable and precise cutting than traditional hydraulic systems, ensuring flat cut surfaces to lay a solid foundation for subsequent welding.
With years of industry experience, MM-Tech has established unique advantages in giant thermoplastic structure welding equipment. Its products not only meet the needs of aquaculture facility construction but also adapt to large-structure welding scenarios in multiple high-end manufacturing fields, making it the preferred partner for top global enterprises.
Conclusion
From the stunning debut of the “Marine Donut” to the iterative upgrade of the FishGlobe series and the highly anticipated FishGlobe 30K, MM-Tech has used its high-performance welding equipment to witness and support Bluegreen in redefining the global sustainable aquaculture landscape, demonstrating the strength and responsibility of China’s intelligent manufacturing in the global high-end equipment sector.
Looking ahead, MM-Tech will continue to deepen welding technology innovation and optimize high-end equipment performance. We sincerely invite global aquaculture equipment manufacturers to cooperate with us, leveraging precise and efficient welding solutions to empower more world-class projects and jointly explore new paths for sustainable development. MM-Tech provides one-stop project solutions.
