Seawork debut for merged marine transmission specialist

The resulting company is now able to supply complete marine transmission systems from the engine to the water jet or V-Drive gearbox. Typically this will include a highly flexible coupling, a universal jointed shaft and the necessary interfacing flanges and adaptors.

NDE Clarke historically manufactures universally jointed flexible drive shafts for the marine markets while Pitchline also manufactures gear type flexible couplings for marine related applications. Both NDE Clarke and Pitchline felt there had been a natural synergy between their products and now the two lines are to be offered from a single source, delivering advantage to customers who use both ranges.

The companies have now fully integrated their management, sales administration and production facilities, and the newly enlarged organisation will be renamed NDE Clarke Pitchline Ltd.

The new company has chosen to launch it self at Seawork 2010, which it sees as a vital springboard for increasing market share. The current owners acquired both companies in 2000, moved to their current premises in 2001 and have until now operated separately with their own individual identities. Over time they have slowly moved ever closer together and the owners now feel that the time is right to merge.

Many acquisitions fail due to cultural differences between the two new partners so a gradual evolutionary process was adopted to ensure that such differences could be overcome, ensuring the success of the integration process.

NDE Clarke Pitchline is now poised to exploit some significant opportunities both in the UK and in Europe over the next 12 to 18 months, which will drive future growth and profitability. It is anticipated that new jobs will be created in both design and manufacturing departments, which will come as welcome news in a generally depressed manufacturing sector.

The companies had invested heavily in new skills, equipment and research and development over the past ten years and now, newly merged, feel that the investment is set to be rewarded with the addition of new business from new customers and markets, won on quality and innovation rather than just on price.