Damen Marine Components (DMC) has acquired the assets of WK Hydraulics, a specialist maritime hydraulics systems manufacturer located in Barendrecht, the Netherlands. The takeover fits in with DMC's ambition to become a "competence centre" in hydraulics.

The companies already overlap in areas such as steering gear and hydraulic power units, but WK Hydraulics also has experience in the building of larger, customised hydraulic systems for winches, cranes, bow thrusters and other applications. The WK Hydraulics product portfolio also includes towing pins, wire and chain stoppers, and equipment to flush large hydraulic systems, which will be new to DMC’s current product range.

Competence Centre in Hydraulics

DMC and WK Hydraulics have worked together on projects in the past. WK Hydraulics' wanted to broaden its business model from being focused on hydraulic systems to becoming an allround supplier of drive systems. This required bringing in additional skills and resources in disciplines such as electronics and PLC technology. This ambition in turn fits with that of DMC to become a "competence centre" covering the entire hydraulics sector.

Filling the Hydraulics Gap

Steef Staal, managing director of Damen Marine Components, added, 'With DMC now moving to extend its product portfolio, we identified the need to enhance our capabilities in hydraulics and hydraulic-driven deck gear. WK Hydraulics is ideally positioned to fill that gap.'

DMC and Van der Velden Brand

From now on, the WK Hydraulics product range will be sold under the DMC or the Van der Velden Marine Systems brand names. The takeover was concluded on 1 April 2019, but was only announced today (12 June). The transition will be complete when the company joins the DMC team at its new facility at Hardinxveld, which is currently under construction. 

Picture: From left to right: Peter Kok (former Owner/Managing Director WK Hydraulics) and Steef Staal (Managing director, Damen Marine Components).