BSI ACQUIRES HUNDESTED

Hundested Propellers has been acquired by Danish company BSI A/S who currently own a range of marine companies including BSI rod and wire rigging, Moonlight, Easy & Skylight range of hatches and port lights that are used by the wind power industries, as well as Gori propellers and Jefa steering systems writes Dag Pike.

This new acquisition takes BSI into new market areas with Hundested offering a wide range of controllable pitch propellers and their associated gearboxes that are primarily used for heavy duty workboat applications, particularly in the dredging industry and the fishing sector. Hundested also offers a range of heavy duty tunnel and retractable swing thrusters that are also used in the workboat sector.

The majority of the products currently in the BSI range are aimed at the yachting sector with the focus on larger sailing yachts where specialist packages of equipment are produced to meet individual requirements. The move into the wind farm market took the company into a new sector and now with the Hundested acquisition, the BSI products embrace the workboat sector.

Hundested was established in 1921 so it is close to 100 years old and it only manufactures controllable pitch units each of which is made individually for the specific vessel. The accent is on simplicity of design and rugged reliability and the same approach is taken for the gearboxes where each is tailored for the CP propeller that it has to drive.

“Hundested Propeller focuses on high-quality products based upon superior design and customer service,” said Morten Madsen, CEO of BSI. “It is a natural fit to BSI’s existing portfolio and we are very excited about this addition to the BSI family of companies. This acquisition will give BSI an additional world-leading product to our discerning clients worldwide and at the same time it also provides Hundested Propeller with additional resources and strength for future growth.”

Hundested Propeller will operate as a separate business unit of BSI and remain at its existing location in Hundested in Denmark. Former owner Mogens Christensen is now a minority owner and will continue in his role as general manager of the company for a few years, reporting to Madsen. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.