Whether two cylinder, four cylinder or rotary vane type steering gear – HATLAPA is the only manufacturer worldwide offering all three types.
Uetersen – About 6000 ships worldwide have HATLAPA steering gear on board. The German marine equipment supplier is the only producer in the world that has all three
100 such four cylinder machines have been produced for the Asian market at HATLAPA’s subsidiary factory in Busan, Korea. The Korean manufacturing site has been in operation for the last three years, a fact which shows HATLAPA’s understanding of developments and geographical shifts in the global shipbuilding industry.
The two cylinder steering gear is also part of HATLAPA’s standard portfolio, with over 250 being produced every year.
While HATLAPA has traditionally focussed on two and four cylinder steering gear it is also a major producer of rotary vane type steering gear.
"We are currently focusing on the development of our rotary vane steering gear, and a revised design will be launched soon focusing on the offshore market", announced Uwe Nickschat.
The differing types of steering gear offer different benefits to different operational requirements. A major advantage of the rotary vane steering gear is its compact design. "Saving space on board is an important factor in the offshore industry", Uwe Nickschat states. Also, compared to two or four cylinder steering gear, the rotary vane equipment offers the advantage of greater manoeuvrability, by allowing a better steering angle.
HATLAPA’s range of steering gear covers all requirements – from 2x35 to 2x65 degrees, depending on your needs.
HATLAPA has been supplying winches and compressors to the offshore industry for many years already, but it is now set to focus efforts with its steering gear in this expanding market as well, creating new business opportunities for HATLAPA in the areas of offshore oil production and wind farms.
This is especially important for supply and tug boats that have to hold a certain position at sea. On the other hand large container ships covering long distances are better equipped with cylinder type steering gear, as it offers greater directional stability."
"To this day, the most demanded type, especially for large container ships, has been the four cylinder steering gear", explains HATLAPA's Offshore Sales Manager Uwe Nickschat. "Its robust design is characterised by its ease of use, longevity and almost maintenance-free operation."