Page 40: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (September 1998)

[ CD [TC^\v/[] C®\V/yV/

German Marine Equipment Manufacturers As Driving Force In Technology And Cost Efficiency sales, with about 40 percent going to EU countries and 28 percent to

Asia. The world market share of

German marine equipment suppli- ers is well above 10 percent, putting them in second place behind Japan. Despite the healthy order situation, however, earnings remain unsatisfactory on account of low world market prices.

Apart from rationalizing, many companies have been compelled to move some of their production activities aboard, mainly because of the cost advan-

Circle 226 on Reader Service Card tages and, to an increasing degree, the required local contenl marine equipment, since mors more shipbuilding countries, ticularly in Asia, have 1 expanding their own compoi sectors to save foreign exchs and create local jobs.

German firms will maint their current technical mar leadership only by investing concerted R&D programs, developing problem-oriented pr< ucts, German marine equipme suppliers have a vested interest an efficient German and Europei shipbuilding sector.

Three main trends can be idei tified in the marine equipment set tor:

Firstly, marine equipment sup pliers will continue to be con cerned with further cost reduc- tions in the next few years, gener- ally in conjunction with shipyards and aiming at increased modular- ization and standardization.

Secondly, as already noted, sys- tem solutions involving various products rather than traditional component deliveries are becoming increasingly significant, which offers shipping lines and shipyards a new quality of service, all the way from initial system concept to spare parts deliveries.

This naturally represents a challenge, but also an opportunity for highly innovative German marine equipment manufacturers, which can make the most of their expertise in terms of qualification, ^project management and service

Standard.

Every second German supplier now offers system solutions that go well beyond the company's own production program.

Thirdly, in the technical area, further reductions in operation costs are required, coupled with enhanced safety and environment compatibility.

The following are some exam- ples to illustrate the trend:

In the diesel engine sector, the issue is the compromise between low fuel consumption levels and a further reduction in pollution 42 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News

A leading name in shipbuilding history - Shipbuilding and shiprepair, drydocking - Precision machine shop - Maintenance, berthing and docking facilities for pleasure boats

Cantiere Navale Fratelli Orlando

Piazza Mazzini, 92 - 57123 Livorno (Italy) - Phone +586 / 827811 - Fax +586 / 827890 e-mail: [email protected] internet: http://www.portnet.it/livorno/orlando/