Market Gap Following Supplier Exits
Several European suppliers, including C-Nautical, exited the market, in part due to sustained price pressure that drove margins below sustainable levels. The result was a market without viable Dutch or broader European alternatives for high-quality anchor and mooring winches for seagoing vessels.
Dijvler identified this gap as a logical extension of its existing business. The company has supplied more than 2,000 winches to the inland waterway sector since its founding in 1977 and has built a track record on the back of proprietary designs and in-house assembly, while aiming for long-term service relationships.
Standardized Program, Ready for Production
Over the past two years, Dijvler has reviewed and standardized the C-Nautical design portfolio. The company found the original designs to be of solid engineering quality and updated and integrated them into a coherent new product line. Key type approvals have been obtained for the full range of winches. Taken together, this enables the company to move quickly from inquiry to detailed engineering package to production.
The winches are produced at a partner production facility in China, a facility with which Dijvler’s Managing Director Laurens van Gelder has worked for many years. Van Gelder previously served as Managing Director of Damen Anchor & Chain Factory. Production in China allows Dijvler to remain price-competitive with Asian suppliers while retaining full control over design, quality assurance, and after-sales support from the Netherlands. In the meantime, the production facility in Hardinxveld-Giessendam in the Netherlands offers the opportunity for Made in Europe production.
An added benefit for shipyards building in China is the ability to source from a locally producing supplier while owners and operators retain access to European service support. Payment in local currency simplifies procurement for Chinese yards.
First Projects Confirmed
Dijvler has re-established contact with a number of former C-Nautical customers and is in discussions with several shipyards, with the first Dijvler winch deliveries anticipated in the near future. In the meantime, several orders have been received from Damen Cargo Vessels and Briese Schiffahrt for deliveries over the next few years.
Dijvler’s winches carry type approval from Bureau Veritas and Lloyd’s Register, including Marine Design Appraisal, and are certified to current ATEX directives.
Dijvler’s Owner & Director Laurens van Gelder is proud to see the result of those years of development and investments: “The exits we saw in this market were ultimately the result of a race to the bottom on price. That is not a model that serves customers well. An anchor winch has to perform reliably for decades. That demands a supplier with the financial health and commitment to still be there when service is needed. We have been building winches for nearly fifty years. That continuity is what we are bringing to the sea-going market. Last, a message to former C-Nautical customers: we invite you to contact us if you have any questions about legacy installations, spare parts, service needs, or upgrades.”
Long-Term Commitment over Short-Term Pricing
Dijvler’s approach to the sea-going market reflects the same philosophy that has underpinned its inland waterway and short sea business—the company aims for transparency, realistic pricing, and a service network that remains available throughout the operational life of the equipment.
