Page 92: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2015)

WORKBOAT ANNUAL

TEST DRIVE

The Ophardt design is fast, maneuverable and stable, with a hydraulic, adjustable propulsion drive and a unique hull form.

hile the name Hermann founder and owner Hermann Ophardt don’t get any pension, so I have to con- Making the Move to Boat Builder

Ophardt may be relative- developed the company into a leading tinue working!” As the story of Ophardt With his eldest son ? rmly entrenched ly unknown for now in manufacturer of high quality dispensing unfolds, it is discovered that Hermann steering the dispenser company, Her-

W many maritime circles, it systems for hygiene control in the medi- Ophardt, who celebrates his 80th birth- mann founded The Ophardt R + D is a safe bet that most everyone has been cal industry; leading to developments day this year and is the eldest of eight GmbH + Co. KG in January 2001 as ‘touched’ by Ophardt at some point in for industrial and sanitary applications children, comes from maritime roots, the research and development center of time, as the man and one of his compa- as well. As with most that are endowed earning a ship engineering degree at the the Ophardt Group in Issum. During the nies helped to revolutionize hospital hy- with the combined ‘engineer – inventor age of 23. But he learned at a relatively ? rst ? ve years, Ophardt R + D realized a giene globally with his disinfection dis- – entrepreneur’ genetic make-up, Her- young age – just two years later at age number of projects concerning sanitary penser design, which was founded in the mann Ophardt is remiss to rest on his 25 – that the aforementioned ‘engineer engineering, production automation and 1960s with the creation of the Ophardt laurels. When his eldest son ? nally took – inventor – entrepreneur’ gene was the aluminum processing.

Industrial Group. full control of the dispenser company, dominant one, and he embarked on a In September 2006, Ophardt R + D

The success of the Ophardt Group be- he wanted to ? nd something else to do, career, a life of self-employment, a self- moved to Duisburg, and it is here where gan in Issum, Germany in 1962 when as he simply explains with a smile; “I described ‘problem solver.’ the focus was shifted primarily to the 92 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • NOVEMBER 2015

MR #11 (90-97).indd 92 11/3/2015 10:09:22 AM