Tunamax: The Mark of Gaictech on Morocco’s Largest Tuna Project

In the Ecoparc of Berrechid, in the Casablanca region, one of Morocco’s most ambitious and technologically advanced tuna canning plants is taking shape. Behind this project is Tunamax SARL and, as technology partner, Gaictech; an international specialist in industrial solutions for the canning industry.

Abdellah Bouja, Co-Owner & CEO of Tunamax, explains how this turnkey project has been developed and the role Gaictech’s technology has played in commissioning the country’s largest tuna plant.

A Comprehensive Industrial Project

In 2023, Tunamax signed a contract with Gaictech worth close to €6 million for the design and full supply of its new factory. The project included all process lines.

“The tuna line supplied by Gaictech covers the entire industrial process, from receiving frozen fish to the finished, palletized can”, Bouja explains. This line includes the stages of thawing, preparation, cooking, cleaning, filling, addition of covering liquid, seaming, sterilization, cooling, labeling, and packaging. “It is a continuous line, designed to ensure consistency, food safety and constant final product quality“, he adds.

The plant can process around 15,000 tons of whole tuna per year and produce more than 50 million cans annually, making it one of the highest-capacity canneries in the country.

As its CEO emphasizes, the project stands out not only for its size: “Beyond the footprint, the project stands out for its level of automation, traceability and international standards“.

Layout Designed to Optimize Flows

Gaictech supplied all the process lines, shipping nearly 40 containers of machinery from Galicia, including three 12-meter-long cookers. However, the differentiating value was not only the technical scale.

“We chose Gaictech for its proven experience in complex projects and its ability to adapt to our needs”, Bouja states. “This was not just about selling machinery, but about building a complete industrial solution“, he stresses.

We chose Gaictech for its proven experience in complex projects and its ability to adapt to our needs.

The layout design was one of the project’s key points. The arrangement of equipment, production flows and certain technical configurations were specifically adapted to Tunamax’s requirements, both in terms of product and in terms of regulations and internal organization.

“We particularly highlight the support in layout design, the line’s flexibility, real-time monitoring, and operational efficiency”, says the CEO. “But also the technical support during installation and start-up“, he adds.

The plant is currently in a consolidation phase, with gradual increases in line speed and optimization of production parameters.

“As with any industrial project of this magnitude, the main challenges have been coordination among suppliers, adaptation to local and international regulations and training teams in a highly technological environment”, Bouja explains. “Rapid commissioning of the lines was a challenge, but we overcame it thanks to close and transparent collaboration“, he notes.

That collaboration between Gaictech and Tunamax has been decisive in stabilizing the process and reaching the first operational targets within a tight timeframe.

Real Impact on Performance and the Region

From the outset, Tunamax has seen concrete improvements resulting from the new line.

“We have seen clear improvements in the organization of production flow, in reducing unnecessary handling, and in better use of personnel”, Bouja explains. “Also in process stability and quality”, says the CEO of Tunamax.

The ergonomics of the design have also made it easier for operators to adapt. Bouja explains: “Adaptation has been progressive and positive. The logic of the design and the technical training have helped a lot with the learning curve”.

Beyond production, the plant is having a significant impact in the Casablanca region: direct and indirect job creation, development of local suppliers, and transfer of industrial know-how. The factory has become part of Morocco’s industrial fabric as a long-term, structural project.

For Tunamax, this facility is much more than a new factory. It is a strategic pillar.

“It allows us to serve both the domestic market and international markets, with products that meet European standards and those of other demanding markets”, Bouja says. “Our goal is to position ourselves as a reliable and competitive industrial player in the fish canning sector”, a goal they hope to achieve thanks to collaboration with Gaictech, he notes.

In this sense, technological commitment has been a key element in ensuring competitiveness, traceability and quality in the final product.

Gaictech: A Trusted Technology Partner

When asked what learning he takes from this collaboration, Abdellah Bouja is clear: “A successful industrial project is built on market analysis, planning, flexibility, productivity and continuous monitoring. But always on the basis of collaboration built on mutual trust”.

The CEO adds a reflection that sums up the experience: “Technology is key, but the human relationship and long-term vision are even more important”.

This combination of advanced technology and strategic collaboration is already delivering results. Tunamax and Gaictech have shown that when the technology partner understands the business and supports beyond the delivery of machinery, the impact goes beyond production: it transforms the industry.