The acquisition will make Cathelco one of the largest producers of shipboard water treatment systems in Europe.
“The new venture will operate under the name of Cathelco HEM emphasising the strength of two well known brand names and creating a stronger presence in the water treatment market,” said Justin Salisbury, managing director of Cathelco.
HEM equipment will continue to be manufactured at the company’s facility near Antibes in the south of France. This will also provide Cathelco with a technical support and stockholding hub in the Mediterranean.
Cathelco already has a presence in the desalinator market having acquired UK-based Seafresh Desalinators in 2010. Currently, Cathelco Seafresh desalinators have a maximum output of 35 tonnes per day, whereas the HEM range have outputs of up to 150 tonnes making them suitable for use on large commercial vessels and naval craft.
“The HEM range greatly increases the scope for desalinator sales and provides a good fit with our existing range,” added Salisbury. “The HEM equipment is a natural extension to our product range. It will enable us to provide a complete equipment package for commercial vessels and superyachts which we can support through our combined network of agent/installers.”
Ingemar Grip, one of the founders of HEM, will remain at the helm of the business as president. “I am very excited about this development as it will give us a wider base and bigger capacity in the supply and service of water systems to our clients. The excellent reputation of Cathelco in the market place and their work ethics is fully in line with those of HEM, so the marriage of the two companies should be a very easy process with notable benefits for our clients, present and future, as well as for Cathelco and HEM,” said Grip.
