The local business community in Finnmark is constantly evolving, and when technology meets local expertise, things happen. A good example is the collaboration between Seaqloud and GSG.
GSG is a local supplier from Finnmark that has been supplying plastic products and plastic welding solutions to the aquaculture industry for many years. The company was established and is led by entrepreneur Roger Erlandsen, and the collaboration with Seaqloud has been both a professional boost and an opportunity to further develop within a segment that places high demands on the environment and innovation.
GSG has built its business around specialization in welding and manufacturing plastic products, with a particular focus on PE-HD materials. Their experience in the aquaculture industry provided a solid foundation when Seaqloud began exploring opportunities for collaboration. For Seaqloud, the goal was clear: a local supplier that could deliver products with a strong environmental profile and be a long-term partner in the development of customized solutions.
The collaboration began on a small scale, with an informal conversation between GSG founder Roger Erlandsen and Seaqloud founder Jørn Roar Pedersen. Shortly afterwards, Seaqloud's CEO, Jens Harald Jensen, got in touch. From there, things progressed quickly.
"They wanted a local supplier from Finnmark, but with clear requirements for the environment and sustainability. Everything we supplied had to be 100% recyclable," says Erlandsen.
GSG currently supplies, among other things, net tubes used in fish farms where Seaqloud's sensor technology is placed, and battery boxes for weather stations in the mountains. The products are designed to be fully recyclable, from first use to reuse. Used plastic is ground into pellets, which in turn become raw material for new components. This creates a circular cycle that both Seaqloud and GSG are proud of.
For both companies, the collaboration has been more than a standard customer-supplier relationship. It has been a journey of development in which quality, expertise, and dialogue have been crucial. Erlandsen explains that it is not just a matter of manufacturing according to specifications, but of truly understanding the function that the product is intended to fulfill.
"The most important thing has been dialogue and the ability to work together on a joint solution. The price has actually been of less importance," he says.
Instead, the focus has been on innovation, the environment, and local value creation. Both parties have had a clear ambition to develop products that meet the demands of both the market and the authorities, while contributing to a more sustainable aquaculture industry.
Although Seaqloud is not GSG's largest customer, it is an important strategic partner. The collaboration has given GSG increased earnings, more products in its portfolio and, not least, the opportunity to deliver locally.
Erlandsen describes the collaboration as an exciting journey:
"We have encountered problems and developed solutions that we would not otherwise have faced. This has given us expertise that we can pass on to other customers."
This knowledge strengthens GSG's competitiveness and enables the company to be an innovative supplier in other projects as well.
GSG wants to be Seaqloud's preferred partner in the years to come. New requirements from Seaqloud and our customers challenge GSG to think innovatively and find creative solutions. Strict environmental requirements provide an extra incentive to develop products that are both sustainable and functional.
Erlandsen praises Seaqloud for the way we collaborate with local suppliers:
– "Seaqloud encourages us to be innovative. They use local suppliers, but at the same time set clear requirements. That makes us better."
The collaboration between Seaqloud and GSG helps to strengthen the business community in Finnmark. When local companies are given the opportunity to deliver on high demands, it creates growth, expertise, and new job opportunities. For GSG, this means a continued focus on innovation and sustainability. For Seaqloud, it means a reliable local partner that shares our ambition for a smarter and more environmentally friendly aquaculture industry.
