DMT CEO achieves 'dream ' with all-in-one manufacturing facility

In 2024, DMT opened a new production and supply centre in China to meet rising demand and in 2025 a new office was opened in India to expand into the growth market.

“We have seen huge growth,” said Mr ter Schure. “We have capacity in Romania and China. It is all in our own hands with no subcontracting. We do not need to share our knowledge on winches and control systems.”

Capabilities to manufacture gearboxes will open new opportunities for DMT in offshore and maritime, which it will focus its next investment on.

“Hall 5 is in the planning,” said Mr ter Schure. “We can make 2.8-m diameter gears in hall 4, but if we want to go bigger, then we need to subcontract.”

DMT’s plans include supplying larger and more powerful winches of over 70 tonnes in weight for the next generation of anchor-handling tugs, with bollard pulls of 150-180 tonnes for the growing floating windfarm sector. It can currently manufacture winches for anchor-handling tugs with 120 tonnes of bollard pull.

“The offshore industry will need larger, more powerful equipment, up to almost 100 tonnes in weight,” said Mr ter Schure. “We plan to have hall 5 ready in 2028.”

DMT has started supporting the growing demand for sails on merchant ships, offering automation and control units and onsite testing on a gantry.

Hall 4

Inside hall 4, there is one large computer numerical control (CNC) manufacturing hub for gears and areas for engineering, integrating and testing power and control modules, including hydraulic power units that can supply energy to all deck machinery on a vessel, such as winches, A-frames, tow pins, cranes and thrusters.

Stuttgart, Germany-headquartered Gleason supplied six gear manufacturing and testing machinery, while Okuma supplied the cable carousel lathe and Demag the lifting cranes.

Manufacture of an internal or external gear begins with milling, hobbing and grinding of a steel ring to get the correct profile and teeth. This is then heat treated to harden before returning to the grinding machine to refine the profile.

The first gear in a series then goes to the measurement room for quality control to measure the diameter, profile, lead and pitch. If necessary, this gear ring is refined and retested. Once correct, a series of gears can be produced without further measurements.

Winch manufacturing

The process of manufacturing and testing a complete winch is complicated and involves four halls in Galati.

Metal steel is cut, crafted and welded in hall 1 before heading to hall 2 for more precise CNC cutting, machining, welding, milling and drilling.

The structure is moved to hall 3 where the gears and control units from hall 4 are mounted and integrated. The whole unit is tested on one of three stands in hall 3, before being painted and shipped to a shipyard.

People investment

DMT has also created a dedicated training area for improving the theoretical and practical knowledge and competence of its engineers, whether they are from academies or have long service with the company.

It also has a gym, bar and fitness expert on site and a culture enabling feedback to the top managers from employees.

“It is about respect and communications and having good working arrangements,” Mr ter Schure said. “It is good for colleagues to provide feedback. This is valuable as it keeps us sharp.”

Mr Schure visits each department and hall daily to gain greater understanding of working arrangements and workers’ challenges.

“We have a dedicated training area for career development and a fitness expert to improve mindsets. Fitter workers means fewer injuries,” said Mr ter Schure.

He started DMT in one room with three partners in 2001 with a vision to build complete winches in Romania, and after 25 years, Mr ter Schure has achieved this milestone.

Riviera Maritime Media witnessed the opening of hall 4 at a ceremony in Romania in late September 2026

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