Matre Delivers Advanced Fire Suppression System for Wergeland Halsvik

“Fortunately, this is only a test.”

These words reflect the reality of industrial fire preparedness at Wergeland Halsvik, where oily sludge and offshore waste are handled every day as part of critical processing operations.

Strengthening Industrial Fire Safety in Offshore Waste Processing

Matre Maskin AS has delivered a fully automated fire suppression system to Wergeland Halsvik, part of the Wergeland Group, supporting safer operations within industrial waste treatment and offshore drilling waste processing.

Wergeland Halsvik handles complex waste fluids from offshore oil and gas operations, including drilling waste, mud, slop and contaminated process water. Depending on the waste type, treatment may involve thermal processing, separation of oil, water and solids, and advanced water treatment.

Due to the combustible and oil-based materials handled at the site, robust fire protection is essential for safe and reliable operation. Matre supplied an advanced industrial fire suppression system designed to help safeguard selected critical process areas, strengthen fire safety preparedness and reduce operational risk.

Automated Fire Suppression Designed for High-Risk Industrial Environments

Matre delivered a container-based fire suppression package for selected high-risk process areas at Wergeland Halsvik. The containerized unit houses key components for the foam-based suppression system, supported by field-mounted fire detection, dedicated discharge nozzles and modular satellite foam proportioning units located close to the protected areas.

Upon signal from the field-mounted detection system, the suppression system is activated to deliver foam solution through dedicated discharge points, helping to control or suppress fire where rapid response is critical.

The container-based design supports efficient installation, flexible placement of the main system package and modular foam skids, good service access and robust operation in demanding industrial environments.

The modular skid-based design provides several advantages for industrial facilities:

• Efficient installation and commissioning

• Flexible placement and future scalability

• Adaptability to site-specific risk areas and process layouts

• Reliable performance in demanding industrial environments

• Simplified access for inspection, testing, maintenance and service

The fire suppression system is engineered to provide rapid response and reliable foam solutions delivery capacity in the event of a fire emergency. Automated activation significantly reduces response time, enabling early intervention where every second is critical to controlling fire development and limiting potential damage to critical infrastructure and production systems.

• A main containerized fire protection package housing the pump system, control system and monitoring functions, including automatic pump activation upon signal from the fire detection system
  A dedicated containerized high-capacity foam proportioning skid

• Two field-mounted modular foam proportioning skids

• Matre DY-20 Flexi Nozzles for foam solution discharge in the protected areas

• Advanced field-mounted fire detection equipment

• Full commissioning, testing and start-up support

Investing in Safety Beyond Regulatory Requirements

Although the facility was not legally required to install this type of fire suppression system, Wergeland Halsvik chose to make the investment as part of its long-term safety strategy.

“The company had no regulatory requirement for this type of fire suppression system, but Wergeland Group chose to invest in a solution with sufficient capacity for our own interests, for safety, and with insurance considerations in mind.”

— Erik Brohjem, CEO, Wergeland Halsvik

The investment reflects a proactive approach to industrial risk management, where prevention, operational continuity, and personnel safety are prioritized above minimum compliance standards.

Reducing the Consequences of Industrial Fires

Industrial facilities handling oil-contaminated waste and combustible materials face unique fire risks. Even when the probability of fire incidents is low, the potential consequences can be severe.

“It is not necessarily that the risk itself is extremely high — it is the consequences of a potential fire that make this important.”

— Linda Semjonova, Safety Representative, Wergeland Halsvik

Fire incidents in industrial processing plants can result in operational shutdowns, environmental damage, equipment loss, safety risks for personnel, extended downtime, financial losses, and increased insurance exposure.

By implementing an automated industrial fire suppression system, Wergeland Halsvik strengthens both operational resilience and emergency preparedness.

Industrial Fire Protection for the Energy and Waste Management Industry

Matre specializes in customized fire suppression systems and industrial pumping solutions for demanding applications across the offshore and oil & gas industry, waste management and recycling facilities, industrial processing plants, marine and maritime sectors, energy infrastructure, and heavy industrial operations, where containerized fire suppression skids are increasingly used due to their reliability, mobility, and rapid deployment capabilities.

Why Automated Fire Suppression Systems Matter

Modern industrial fire suppression systems play a critical role in protecting personnel, infrastructure, and production continuity.

Key benefits include:

Faster Emergency Response

Automatic fire detection and pump activation eliminate delays and ensure immediate response during critical situations.

Improved Operational Safety

Continuous monitoring and automated protection help reduce risks associated with combustible industrial processes.

Reduced Downtime

Early fire suppression minimizes damage and helps facilities return to operation faster.

Enhanced Insurance and Risk Management

Facilities with robust fire protection systems may improve insurability and reduce exposure to catastrophic losses.

Scalable and Modular Solutions

Containerized skid systems can be adapted for different industries, capacities, and operational requirements.

For facilities operating in demanding industrial environments, proactive fire protection is increasingly becoming part of long-term operational strategy — not only for compliance, but for preparedness when it matters most.

Matre søker lærling i Industrimekanikerfaget

Matre skal ta inn en lærling i Industrimekanikerfaget med oppstart i august 2026. Læretid vil være 2 år. Som industrimekaniker hos Matre monterer, vedlikeholder og reparerer du våre produkter og systemer.

Som lærling i Matre får du både opplæring og veiledning i faget, og lærlinglønn i perioden frem til fagbrev. Du får også din egen opplæringsansvarlig som følger deg gjennom læretiden. Du får lærekontrakt som skal følges, samt alt nødvendig utstyr, arbeidsklær og verneutstyr.

Matre er medlem av Bømlo opplæringskontor.

For nærmere opplysninger eller spørsmål ta kontakt med Produksjonssjef, Arve Våge Karlsen på mob. 476 45 843 eller send en e-post til arve.karlsen@matre.no.

Søknad med CV sendes til company@matre.no.

Søknader vurderes fortløpende

Equipment testing with Fluorine-Free Foam at Matre’s Test Center

As environmental regulations continue to tighten across maritime, offshore, and industrial sectors, many operators are transitioning to environmentally friendly, fluorine-free firefighting foam. However, this shift raises an important question:

Can your fire protection system and foam proportioner handle the new environmentally friendly, fluorine-free foam?

At Matre, this question can be answered with confidence — and tested under realistic and controlled conditions.

Closed, Emission-Free Test Facility

Matre operates a closed-loop, emission-free firefighting test facility at its production facilities in Rubbestadneset, Bømlo, on the west coast of Norway. The test center is centrally located between Haugesund and Bergen and is designed to meet strict environmental requirements. It allows customers to validate system performance without environmental discharge, ensuring compliance with applicable environmental regulations.

The facility provides:

• Closed-loop foam testing

• Emission-free operation

• Environmentally compliant testing

• Safe handling of fluorine-free foams

• Full-scale system testing in controlled conditions

This enables customers to test new foam types without environmental risk.

Full-Scale Testing of Foam Proportioners and Nozzles

The test center allows verification of:

• Foam proportioner performance

• Flow and pressure measurements

• Foam insertion ratio

• System functionality and response time

• Performance comparison between foam types

This ensures that systems operate as intended when transitioning to fluorine-free foam.

Temperature and Viscosity Testing for Harsh Environments

Fluorine-free foam behaves differently than traditional AFFF foam, particularly in low-temperature environments. Changes in viscosity can affect both foam proportioning and system performance.

Matre’s test facility can perform temperature-controlled testing of foam, allowing customers to evaluate performance in demanding environments such as:

• Arctic and cold climate operations

• Offshore installations in northern regions

• Maritime operations in cold waters

• Low-temperature storage conditions

These tests help verify that foam proportioners and system maintain correct performance under varying temperature conditions.

Supporting the Transition to Fluorine-Free Foam

Switching to fluorine-free foam is not simply a product replacement — it is a system performance consideration. Through controlled testing at Matre’s test center, customers can:

• Verify compatibility with fluorine-free foam

• Identify required adjustments

• Optimize system performance

• Reduce operational risk

• Ensure environmental compliance

Test Before You Transition

Changing firefighting foam requires careful verification. With Matre’s closed, emission-free test facility and temperature-controlled testing, customers can confidently validate system performance before implementing fluorine-free foam.

Can your system handle fluorine-free foam?
At Matre’s test center, you can find out — before it matters most.

Want to test your system or got any questions?

Contact:
Jan Kåre Helvik, Business Development Manager - jhe@matre.no, +47 97 79 05 10
Martin Hollund, Sales director - mh@matre.no, +47 93 69 74 42

Servicemekanikere

Vi er på jakt etter dyktige og pliktoppfyllende:

Servicemekanikere

Arbeidsoppgaver

Arbeidssted blir i Brubakken på Rubbestadneset, der du vil utføre montering, testing og vedlikehold av våre produkter og system. Som servicemekaniker vil du i tillegg få muligheten til å reise verden over, både on- og offshore, for å utføre oppstarts- og servicearbeid.

Personen vi søker må være positiv, kundeorientert og fleksibel med mekanisk erfaring. Vi oppfordrer mekanikere som ikke tidligere har reist på service, men som kunne tenke seg nye utfordringer om å søke. God opplæring vil bli gitt.

Ønskede kvalifikasjoner

• Fagbrev som industrimekaniker eller tilsvarende
  Lang og relevant erfaring kan kompensere for manglende fagbrev

• Erfaring innen olje- og gassindustrien er en fordel, men ingen betingelse

• Beherske engelsk/norsk skriftlig og muntlig

• Gode IT kunnskaper

Personlige egenskaper

• God serviceinnstilling og ansvarsfølelse

• Sunne holdninger og stor arbeidskapasitet

• Ryddig og effektiv arbeidsmetode

• Gode samarbeidsevner

• Selvstendig og selvgående

For nærmere opplysninger eller spørsmål ta kontakt med
teamleader Arve Våge Karlsen på mob. 476 45 843 eller arve.karlsen@matre.no.

Søknad med CV sendes til company@matre.no

Søknader vil bli behandlet fortløpende.

Firenor International AS acquires Matre Maskin AS

Firenor International AS, has acquired technology company Matre Maskin AS, thereby strengthening our position as a supplier of fire safety equipment.

Bømlo-based Matre Maskin is a provider of specialized products and systems for active fire suppression to global customers within the energy sector, and in recent years, it has also made significant deliveries to the offshore wind power industry. Established in 1953, the company's main products are proprietary fire suppression systems for helicopter decks and process facilities.

The acquisition of Matre Maskin expands the customer base and strengthens both the product portfolio and market position of Firenor International. Matre is already an important supplier to Frienor, and it is expected that several synergies can be achieved through the acquisition.

- "The companies complement each other, and through the acquisition, Firenor International is strengthened with increased capacity, competence, and experience," says Carl Adam Rosenblad, CEO of parent company Concejo AB (publ) in Stockholm.

- "Firenor International is an ideal partner for the future, and as a new, financially strong owner of Matre Maskin, they will ensure the company's continued international growth and contribute to securing and developing jobs in Bømlo," says Rolf Haldorsen, chairman of Matre & Co AS, who is now selling his stake in the company that recently celebrated 70 years of industrial development in Brubakken at Rubbestadneset.

New Brochure

Matre Pop-Up Nozzle is now MED Approved and DNV GL Type Approved

As probably the only Pop-Up nozzle in the world, Matre’s DY16 pop-up nozzle is MED approved and DNV Type Approved for Helideck Deck Integrated Fire Fighting Systems ( DIFFS )

MED approved According to the requirements in the following Regulations/Standards:

Regulation (EU) 2017/306, item No. MED/3.67. SOLAS 74 as amended, Regulation II-2/18 and IMO MSC.1/Circ.1431

DNV GL Type Approved in compliance with:

DNV GL offshore standards

DNV GL rules for classification – Ships

DNV GL statutory interpretations DNVGL-SI-0364 – SOLAS interpretations

Matre FOI wafer type foam inductor is now MED Approved and DNVGL Type Approved

We are proud to announce that Matre now have received MED approval and DNVGL Type Approval for our Inductor foam proportioner, M-FOI wafer type.

MED approved for use in Helicopter facility foam fire-fighting appliances, according to the requirements in the following Regulations/Standards:

Approved according to MED/3.67. SOLAS 74 as amended, Regulation II-2/18 and IMO MSC.1/Circ.1431

DNVGL Type Approved for use as a foam proportioner in firefighting systems:

DNV GL statutory interpretations DNVGL-SI-0364 – SOLAS interpretations

DNV GL rules for classification – Ships

DNV GL offshore standards

Successful FAT for two Standalone DIFFS to UK operator

Matre has successfully completed FAT ( Factory Acceptance Test ) for 2 Standalone DIFFS for our client Bayards, one of the world’s leading aluminum helideck manufacturers.

Matre has been choosen to supply DIFFS on the helidecks for the normally unmanned Blythe and Southwark platforms for UK operator Independent Oil & Gas (IOG).