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Schat-Harding's Manufactures Chinese KISS Lifeboats
01 Dec 2005
Lifeboat and davit supplier Schat-Harding is expanding its Asian manufacturing activities by building its KISS lifeboats in China. The company is also developing a 32 person freefall lifeboat for dry cargo vessels and tankers which will be built at its Umoe Schat-Harding Boatbuilding Co Ltd plant at Qingdao.
The Norwegian company has invested NOK millions in development at the Chinese plant, completely reorganising the production and quality control process and in training Chinese staff at its Norwegian plants. Hooks and other complex units were taken back to Norway where they were completely re-engineered to higher standards.
Schat-Harding emphasises that the Chinese operation increases overall group production rather than shifting it away from Norway.
The company's Chinese plant currently produces a range of five models and builds some 100 boats annually. Three of these models have been re-designed, and new equipment will be brought in to build the KISS700 fifty person boat and the new FF680 freefall 32 person system.
Production of the KISS boats will begin next month and the freefall vessel will commence in mid-2006.
Production is expected to rise to 250 units annually. With changes to SOLAS now requiring owners to use OEM technicians to service their boats and davits, yards and owners in the region must increasingly choose manufacturers able to provide long-term support for their systems.
MJ Information No: 21313
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