Fender maker buys fender maker

Fender Innovations has just bought fender systems manufacturer PolyMarine Service to expand its range of fender offerings, the company announced on March 24.

Fender Innovations already makes lightweight fender systems for fast-sailing vessels, and with PolyMarine’s products, made for slightly heavier workboats, the acquisition means the new firm will have a much larger client base.

It is the first acquisition made by Fender Innovations, which began life in 2012 and in 2021 reported a 25% rise in production.

“As a result of the acquisition, from now on we will be able to offer our international customer base a much wider range of innovative fender systems. The products from the two companies complement each other perfectly,” said Koos Bijsterveld, Fender Innovations technical director.

 Fender Innovations’ systems consist of a core of non-water-absorbent PE foam and are used on fast-sailing vessels such as lifeboats, patrol vessels, crew suppliers, RIBs, fireboats, coastguard vessels and support vessels for in the offshore wind energy sector. 

PolyMarine’s systems tend to go on workboats like pilot vessels and fast crew suppliers that are operated by boatmen for mooring seagoing vessels and often come into contact with other vessels, so they have to be of a heavier duty.