Seawork success takes fast track to India
Birmingham UK based KPM Marine continues to extract maximum benefit from its participation in the Seawork exhibition by rapidly optimising opportunities which arise there.
KPM made its Seawork debut in 2009 and carried away the prestigious Spirit of Innovation Award for its Run Dry Pumping System. It also formed an immediate joint venture with coincidentally adjacent Seawork exhibitor Scot Seats Marine which resulted in newly designed Shock Mitigation Seats being fitted in a Redbay RIB at the Southampton Boat Show less than three months later.
Among the many visitors to the KPM Marine stand at Seawork 2013 were representatives of the National Union of Seamen of India (NUSI), who were looking for electric track bridge chairs which could be installed in a training simulator at their facility in Mumbai.
In typical KPM fashion, six such systems have been not only designed but also manufactured, tested and delivered in less than seven weeks following Seawork 2013, providing part of an additional £500,000 in turnover which KPM has added since the recent event.
In winning the contract, KPM produced a design which was technically superior to a German competitor and cheaper than another from Poland. The NUSI specification called for 3m long electrical tracking for the bridge chairs, bolting together in 1m sections like Scalextric slot car tracks and providing variable speed movement whilst transporting a weight of 250kg. KPM Marine added electric lift and swivel facility and also designed an integral communications systems which includes speakers in the seat headrests. Igus heavy duty cycle run dry bearings are fitted in the runners.
Light weight construction means an entire system can be fitted into a packing case measuring 1.2m by 0.7m by 0.7m for affordable air freight delivery to the customer. Upon arrival, each system can be fitted in less than an hour.
Light weight is a characteristic KPM design feature which has seen the company’s modular Sea-Ka-no workboat fit-out system, featuring KPM Uni Trac which can be bolted into a vessel quickly and precisely, serving as the basis for a package that often includes KPM Shock Mitigation Seating and other fitments. KPM is currently doing a workboat installation every week. Also in the pipeline is a line of four new jockey seats with Scot Seats.
KPM’s irrepressible technical and design director Jules Morgan told MJ: “Anyone tells me Britain cannot manufacture to the highest standards, I say think again. Don’t tell me Britain can’t compete. We have a full order book with 60% export orders.”
