Propulsion thrusters and controls manufacturer Caterpillar Propulsion (formerly Berg Propulsion) will be sold to Gula Skrinet and rebranded
An agreement has been reached for the sale by Caterpillar Luxembourg Sarl to investment group Gula Skrinet, led by former Berg Propulsion chief operating officer Stefan Sedersten.
This deal includes acquiring Caterpillar Propulsion and its subsidiaries with manufacturing operations in Sweden and Singapore and offices in Shanghai, China, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The company is a global supplier of customised marine propulsion systems comprising transverse and azimuth thrusters, controllable pitch propellers and control systems.
The current team within Caterpillar Propulsion will transfer with the sale for continuity of support for current and future propulsion installations.
After the sale, the products and services will be branded Berg Propulsion.
Mr Sedersten said the company will remain “committed to preserving continuity with Caterpillar customers and dealers and to maintaining a close business relationship with Caterpillar Inc”.
It will support sales of MaK and Cat marine branded propulsion products and develop its own products and services further in the marine sector.
“We will honour all existing contracts and agreements to safeguard a seamless transition,” Mr Sedersten said.
Berg Propulsion will be a leading manufacturer of mechanically and electrically driven propulsion systems and marine controls for vessels. The new owner of the company will develop external relationships, products and services in close co-operation with customers and partners.
“Our aim is to combine the best of two worlds, the innovative and efficient approach of the big company with the flexibility and nimbleness of the small enterprise,” Mr Sedersten said. Berg Propulsion will be headquartered in Öckerö Islands outside Gothenburg, Sweden.
As Caterpillar Propulsion, it manufactures MPC 800 control and monitoring systems with the latest microprocessor technology. This provides clear information and full control of all propellers, thrusters and engines and can be configured to control and interface with a wide range of supplementary systems.
It manufactures marine azimuth thrusters in L-drive and Z-drive configurations and marine transverse thrusters with rugged gears and bearings and customised blades.
These are available as heavy-duty thrusters for dynamic positioning applications and auxiliary thrusters, suitable for harbour manoeuvring.
Berg Propulsion will also manufacture ship propellers and twin-fin propulsion systems.
Mr Sedersten is the chairman of Lean Marine and I-Tech in Sweden, businesses focused on marine equipment and vessel optimisation.
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