Becker Marine Systems has appointed Simplex-Turbulo to represent them in the UK. Becker is well-known and respected not just for the manufacture of high-performance rudders and maneuvering systems, but also for significant recent developments in designs achieving substantial reduction of fuel consumption.
Two examples of innovations pioneered by Becker are the TLKSR twisted full spade rudder and the Becker Mewis Duct. The TLKSR twisted full spade rudder matches the rudder shape to the water thereby reducing erosion from cavitation whilst at the same time saving fuel due to reduced resistance.
The Becker Mewis Duct, first introduced in 2008, is a fuel-saving and environmentally-friendly device for channeling the water flow over the propeller so as to optimize the thrust and thereby save fuel at any given speed (Becker guarantees fuel savings verified by model testing). The 300th Becker Mewis Duct unit was sold this year at the SMM exhibition, 250 having been sold over just the previous two years.
Becker was founded in 1946 in Hamburg. The founder, Willi Becker, surrounded himself with a team of brilliant young technicians and physicists. This emphasis on intelligent and creative thinking has formed a key part of the company’s values since then. Through synergistic acquisition, Becker also owns the Kort Nozzle patents and the Schilling rudder business.
“This is an exciting opportunity for our company to be representing such an interesting, innovative and impressive manufacturer” says James Hogg, Simplex-Turbulo’s Managing Director. "The solutions offered both by their dynamic approach as well as their established product ranges are of great interest to our customers who are increasingly seeking significant fuel savings in response to both economic and environmental demands”. The first contract executed under the new agreement, to Arklow Shipping, has just been finalised.
Walther Bauer, Sales Director of Becker will be further outlining the significant energy savings achievable through intelligent rudder design and the installation of the Becker Mewis Duct at the Ship Efficiency conference in London on October 25 this year.
Becker supplies rudder systems to a wide range of vessels ranging from luxury yachts and supertankers to container ships, cruise vessels and ferries.