Page 42: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (March 2011)

42 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News

By Greg Trauthwein

The Goltens name is certainly no stranger to the global maritime community, as the family-owned company has been steadfast not only in the quality of its on-site and in-situ field machining services, but also in its systematic global expansion to 17 countries including 25 facilities since it was started in New York in 1940.

At the helm today is Paul F. Friedberg, President,

Goltens Worldwide Services, based in the com- pany’s Dubai, UAE office. From here it is Fried- berg’s mission to ensure that Goltens stays on target with its stated mission: to provide 24/7 global spe- cialized services to fix machinery, minimizing downtime and cost associated with disassembly, re- moval, transportation and re-installation. “2008 was a great year for Goltens; 2009 wasn’t bad; 2010 should have been better, and in 2011 we will expand our reach in the market,” said Fried- berg. “We are specialists in diesel engines, and while the company is still mostly focused on the marine market, we have been diversifying to off- shore and industrial areas, because when you are only in marine, you can be more vulnerable,” par- ticularly when the market and the economy turns downward, said Friedberg. Born and bred in the maritime industry, though, has made the company a specialist in a complex industry that values “up” time. “It is a complex industry, because the ships are always moving around, and it is our job to be where they need us,” Friedberg said. He pointed to three core customer expectations that serve as

Goltens’ mantra: 1. Respond to needs with precision 2. Be where the customer needs us to be 3. Provide an independent alternative, which is not tied to any particular manufacturer.

GETTING AROUND

It was in 2000 that Goltens made the concerted

FEATURE SHIP REPAIR & CONVERSION

Middle East

Goltens Expands Capability (Photo: Gr eg T rauthwein)