p.forumnews 2009/Fall

Transcription

1 p.forumnews 2009/Fall DIMENSION-POLYANT Interview Robert Kühnen DP at the Super Yacht Cup in Palma de Mallorca Designing the Future clear ahead Safeguarding the Production Location by Investments into the Future Eighteen yachts participated in this year s SuperYacht Cup in Palma de Mallorca right in front of this historic city. The 4 day impressive race regatta was co-sponsored by DIMENSION-POLYANT and was also the stage for the presentation of the new D4 membranes with Dyneema to the sailing press. A special DIMENSION-POLYANT crew briefed the journalists with the outstanding characteristics of this new development. What is so special with the new D4 membranes with Dyneema? Kiel Week 2009 Robert Kühnen, DP Vice President Sales & Marketing, answers the most important questions regarding this new product. Continued on page 6... DP at the Mother of all Races DIMENSION-POLYANT The former president of the International was the focal point for many sailors. Sailing Federation, Paul Henderson, No surprise, as most of the participants called Kiel Week the mother of all in the world s largest race event use races in this world. Logical that DP has sails made from DP sailcloth. The sailors to be there. As Kiel Week sponsor being interested in the further developments of their sails were at the DP stand DIMENSION-POLYANT has a stand on the dockside of the Olympic harbor in to ask questions. Very often the various Kiel-Schilksee where more than 5000 D4 sail membranes were a topic of active sailors congregate. As in the previous year, the DP stand at the Kiel Week Continued on page 2 discussions.... S. Nauber and U. Stein DP managing director Uwe Stein (right) and DP plant manager Stefan Nauber are more than pleased: Investments of several millions are made to safeguard the DP production location Kempen and to enforce further growth. One of the most up to date coating systems modified to the special demands of sailcloth production will be put into work within the next year. The high tech sailcloth production will become even more efficient. This investment emphasises the focus on the core business of DP, the development and production of sailcloth for sailmakers. clear ahead, Designing the Future and "powered by DP are not just words for us, at DP we mean it! Forum 2009/Fall DSM: Interview Robert Kühnen S. 1/6-7 Review 08/09: Kiel Week 2009 S. 1/2 The Wavester Story: Anders Lehmann S. 3 Hydra Net radial: Lüchtenborg S. 4 powered by succeeds S. 5 DP UK: Gary Owen with Team S. 8

2 2 dp.forum Review 08/09 Kiel Week 2009 DP at the Mother of all Races...Continued from page1 Many participants were well aware that D4 has an outstanding position in the market by equipping the winners of the miles Vendée Globe. However, for cruising sailors the woven high tech cloth Hydra Net is still of much interest. The expert team at DIMESION- POLYANT gave these clients the right advice. Out of interest, DP also re-newed contacts with sailmakers from around the world, who had come to the mother of all races. Swedish Match Cup DIMENSION-POLYANT Championships of Champions It is the ultimate German Sailing Regatta and its 30th anniversary will take place on the first weekend (24th 25th October) of the Hamburg hanseboot boat show. Thirty German national championship crews of various classes, will compete to win the title of champion of champions. They sail on laser SB3 keelboats equipped with cloth from DP, on the Hamburg Alster inshore bay. This is as exciting as the final leg at America s Cup, says German Sailing Association president Rolf Bähr, who always is amongst the many spectators. Sorenti Klaus Andrews Key West At the end of every January the DP US Team display and discuss the variety of DP woven and laminated sailcloth. Around 300 racing and fast yachts with more than 3000 sailors come to the start of the traditional races in Key West. When winter stops the sailing activities in northern latitudes, Key West Florida, the spring sailing has already begun. In 2010 the 23rd Sailing Week in Key West will start. Again everyone in the who s who of the American Sailing scene will be there. Amongst the yachts competing this year were the Club Swan 42, Mumm 30 and ultra competitive TP52 s, mixing it with yachts of up to 75. In Key West the current state of sail development with new sailcloth and designs is obvious. Whatever succeeds in Key West carries on in the upcoming sailing season. For DIMENSION-POLYANT this event is a very important showcase, and to be gearing up for the forthcoming season.

3 3 dp.forum In August 1999 Anders Lehmann broke his neck in a swimming accident. When I first saw him in the hospital five months later, Anders was confined to a wheelchair, paralyzed from the neck down and requiring a respirator to keep him alive. Wavester Henrik Hansen The Wavester story DIMENSION-POLYANT Helps Make the Impossible Possible. By Kenneth Madsen, Vice President Operations, DIMENSION-POLYANT USA Anders was a casual acquaintance before that first meeting in the hospital. At that time I had just moved from Denmark to start working for DIMENSION-POLYANT USA and we were as such far removed from each other. Since that first meeting, an intimate friendship has developed. Sailing again with DP It was at a Christmas get-together in 2000 that we first discussed the Wavester project. Anders said he wished to take up sailing again, and I eagerly volunteered all my sailing experience to assist. Anders was very focused on a boat that would allow his wheelchair to be onboard, that other handicap individuals would be able to use as well, and finally that the boat should be a modern high tech performance boat that would give all the excitement he knew from sailing before his accident. Anders concluded that there were no existing boats available and he would have to engineer the solutions needed. In 2003, he started the project that is realized today. Along the journey, three major systems had to be developed: A platform that will keep the skipper leveled at all times. A fully automatic sail handling system. A wireless steering system allowing all wheelchair users to steer the boat. With Anders s engineering background, he developed the automatically leveling platform and wireless steering system. The EasySail control system, for which he today has the sole distribution rights in Scandinavia, was developed. The EasySail system allows Anders to sail in 100% automatic sail trim mode giving him the freedom to focus on steering the boat. By demonstrating the systems to potential sponsors and supporters, Anders secured enough funds to buy what would later become Wavester. In Italy he found a highly successful 38 Farr designed IMS racer that was a perfect platform to fulfill Anders ultimate dream of singlehandling a high performance sailboat. With the boat back in Denmark, a major rebuild started. Working with Danish yacht designers, local boat builders, mast builders, sailmakers and many other companies and individuals supporting his project, Anders has worked hard to make the impossible happen. This summer Anders completed one of sailing s greatest achievements when he set out in his high tech 38 Wavester, sailing the world s first chin joystick controlled high performance sailboat. Modern technology, an education as a production engineer, the support of the sailing industry and most importantly a steadfast desire to make the impossible happen has assured that Anders is not confined to computer chess and backgammon. The boat is equipped with DIMENSION-POLYANT GPL DT carbon fiber laminates which are the first laminated sailcloth line to capture the strength of high performance carbon and therefore, along with a chafe and UV protecting Double Taffeta surfaces, delivers unsurpassed performance and durability for the sailor who wants long lasting racing sail shapes. Free sail handling The GPL DT is fully in line with Anders s wish of high performance and it also provides reliable security for error free sail handling for many years to come. Anders has since confirmed that his DIMENSION- POLYANT sailcloth is a significant aspect of the success he today fully enjoys off the coast of Copenhagen, Denmark.

4 4 dp.forum Hydra Net radial Sedlacek and Lüchtenborg Holding the Shape to the Very End he made it. This extraordinary achievement gave him credit from many outside the sailing community. When crossing the finish line he was greeted like a winner. Around the world Lüchtenborg Until now it was the most successful longterm test of the woven high-tech sailcloth Hydra Net radial. After 126 days of permanent use the Hydra Net radial sails of Austrian sailor Norbert Sedlacek were still perfectly in shape. World s toughest race Sedlacek took part with his ageing 60 with an up-wind sail area of 240 sqm in the world s toughest singlehand race, the Vendée Globe. A total of thirty sailors started the race through the stormy latitudes of the world. Only 11 made it to the finish. Among them was the Austrian with his set of sails made from Hydra Net radial. His limited budget and his rather old boat denied him any chances for victory against the state of the art French participants. His goal was to reach the finish line. Thanks to Hydra Net radial Most likely German sailor Bernt Lüchtenborg will even top this long-term test of Sedlacek. He plans to sail singlehanded nonstop around the world twice. His 16 m aluminum yacht, equipped with 170 sqm of Hydra Net radial sails will be taking him around the world, first with and then against the wind. The former owner of a construction company in the North of Germany is an experienced offshore cruiser and started his double circum navigation in June 2009 from the German North Sea. After his passage with the wind he will take on fresh water and food near Gran Canaria and set off on the final leg. After nautical miles Lüchtenborg hopes to return to his starting point in Cuxhaven in autumn of The 56 year old sailor will not only test his personal limits. His extreme undertaking also has a scientific aspect. During his entire journey the sailor will collect water specimen from the various oceans for a German ocean research institute. Some of the samples will be handed over at a meeting with the research trawler and should disclose the levels of ocean pollution. On Lüchtenborg s return to Cuxhaven after miles DP will be hopefully be able to substantiate that sails made from Hydra Net radial maintain the promised quality even after two nonstop around the world. The clue: The patented Hydra network made from Dyneema helps to absorb and divert extreme loads.

5 5 dp.forum SW Stade powered by powered by succeeds The high quality of DP sailcloth has become more visible. Quality has a name, and it is DIMENSION-POLYANT. The position of DP as world market leader in sailcloth originates from its quality. It is no surprise that more and more sailors appreciate the high standard of wovens and laminates. Do well and talk about it Do well and talk about it is a principle DP started last year. Show that you work with DP cloth with this slogan sailmakers were encouraged to apply quality seals in the form of small labels powered by DIMENSION-POLYANT. The small labels are applied at the luff of a sail. Its impact is enormous because this way all sailors are assured that their sails were made from innovative quality products. Sailmakers know the importance of a good brand. No surprise that more and more of them are joining DP in GREECE its quality offensive. powered by DIMENSION-POLYANT is the guarantee for highest product quality every sailor is expecting. Clear ahead : The motto of DIMENSION-POLYANT. Clear ahead becomes obvious by: Success on all race courses - like the wining of 25 out of 33 Olympic medals; The comprehensive range of more than 300 styles covering all demands of racing and cruising sailors; The innovation DP is recognised for. Sailmakers recognized that they can be even more successful by using the quality DP as sailors always want the best for their dinghies and yachts. Watch for the label. You can see if quality styles are used SPAIN for your sails. The DP campaign alerted sailors to that. The impact happened. SPAIN Watch for the label Sailcloth manufacturer and sailmaker complement each other in this campaign to the common success of all concerned. If you haven t joined the campaign then call for information or drop by one of our many stands at Boatshows and events around the world (see website for detail) SPAIN powered by DIMENSION-POLYANT achieves satisfied customers. Making sailmakers clear ahead. SPAIN

6 6 dp.forum DIMENSION-POLYANT...Continued from page1 DP at the Super Yacht Cup Interview Robert Kühnen The interest in this new membrane product with Dyneema is enormous, states Robert Kühnen. Sailors like to be kept up dated on developments. What is so special about the new D4 membranes with Dyneema? In sailcloth Dyneema is not a new fibre. For many years we have been using this high modulus fibre in various products like Hydra Net or DYS. It has always been difficult to work with the Dyneema fibre as it has a very slippery surface making the lamination quite difficult. In addition the melting point is well below the temperatures being applied during the lamination or finishing of rolled goods. However, compared to other high modulus fibres, Dyneema has some very attractive properties making all hard work more than worthwhile. Mentioning first the fantastic flex strength and secondly it s very high UV stability. The basic problems in using this fibre are the same in a membrane production of course. At DIMENSION- POLYANT we are very proud to be the first membrane producer having found the right process solutions. I feel our efforts were also justified because Dyneema provides not only the technical advantages but an undisputable optical attraction: A membrane can be brilliant white. A wish many sailors have. Were D4 membranes not already a success story before the introduction of Dyneema? Yes, that is absolutely true. For example, the five first seeded sailors of the Vendée Globe, the toughest singlehanded nonstop around the world race, were equipped with D4 sails. Membranes from other producers failed to survive the torture on the sails due to storms and calms. Unfortunately these sailors had to drop out. However, we did not rest on our laurels. By now thirty-five Dyneema membrane sails, of various sizes have been tested on the water. After more than nautical miles there are hardly any negative comments. Isn t a downside of Dyneema the tendency to creep? That s history. DSM, the producer of Dyneema, developed a new fibre type called SK78. Creeping permanent elongation under maximum load has been almost completely eliminated. This new fibre type makes the use of Dyneema for us even more attractive. How are the Dyneema fibres processed in the D4 production? A long lasting bond requires a lot of know-how and is a company secret. What I can say is the application of controlled heat and high roll pressure are part of our process. In addition a vacuum removes enclosed air and excess glue.

7 7 dp.forum DIMENSION-POLYANT in Palma de Mallorca Interview with Robert Kühnen How is quality secured at DP? A perfect performance of a membrane sail relies on a sufficient and permanent bond of the laminate. This is achieved by the use of UV resistant glues which stay smooth and flexible. Also high quality polyester taffetas with special coatings are important to protect the product against chafing and mildew. And last but not least permanent process control and practical testing are crucial for DIMENSION-POLYANT to secure high quality standards. super yacht was more to provide an exciting platform for the presentation. Also allowing members of the sailing press to see first hand the benefits of D4 Dyneema for such a yacht. Are D4 membranes with Dyneema only suitable for super yachts? No, not at all. D4 with Dyneema makes sense on all high performance cruising boats starting from 45 ft and up. The reason that we introduced our new product to the sailing press on a 112 ft DIMENSION-POLYANT

8 8 dp.forum DP United Kingdom Gary Owen and the UK-Team DIMENSION-POLYANT has been active in the UK for over 25 years, and been present on site with its own distribution since 1991, over seen by Gary Owen. Located at the centre of British yachting, within 15 kilometers of Cowes and Hamble two world reknowned centres of yachting and home to many of the prestigous events such as Admirals Cup and Volvo Ocean Race, DP UK s Southampton office and warehouse is ideally positioned to service the demands of the sailmaking community. Last year Gary was been joined by Ben Rogers to assist in the general sales program, whilst Gary together with the Superyacht Team concentrates on the global Superyacht sector of the market. Within a short period Ben s IT knowledge has been crucial in the implementation of internal systems making him a key player within the worldwide team. as several events overseas (where the weather is warmer!). This could only be possible with the support back in the office, this is provided by Inger Buchanan in the office and Rebwar Hamafaraj in the warehouse. Inger has been a loyal member of the group for over 10 years, and maintains a solid foundation for sales admin in the UK. Together the UK Team service the sailmaking industry in the British Isles, Ireland as well as some overseas customers making Gary and Ben an important link with the production facilities in Germany, America and Australia. The UK office is an ideal sounding board for new ideas and developments allowing sailmakers in the UK to benefit from the latest fabric innovations. DP UK maintains the highest level of commitment and service possible and look forward to the next 25 years. DIMENSION-POLYANT GmbH, Germany Headquarters Speefeld 7 D Kempen Phone: +49 (2152) Fax: +49 (2152) info@dimension-polyant.com DIMENSION-POLYANT ApS, Denmark Redhavnsvej 9 DK-2100 Kobenhavn Phone: +45 (39) Fax: +45 (39) copenhagen@dimension-polyant.com DIMENSION-POLYANT SAS, France Rue Newton Parc Technologique F La Rochelle Phone: +33 (0) Fax: +33 (0) larochelle@dimension-polyant.com DIMENSION-POLYANT SAS, France Port de la Pointe Rouge F Marseille Phone: +33 (0) Fax: +33 (0) marseille@dimension-polyant.com DIMENSION POLYANT.COM DIMENSION-POLYANT UK Ltd., United Kingdom Unit 11, Kingdom Close Kingdom Business Park Segensworth East GB-Fareham Hampshire PO15 5TJ Phone: +44 (1489) Fax: +44 (1489) uk@dimension-polyant.com imprint Both Ben and Gary are active sailors, competing in most of the UK s regattas, as well DIMENSION-POLYANT GmbH Speefeld Kempen. Germany Phone: Fax: info@dimension-polyant.com Managing Director: Uwe Stein, Martina Minten-Schalley Registered Office: Krefeld. Text: Klaus Bartels Responsible for editorials: DIMENSION-POLYANT Design: DIMENSION-POLYANT GmbH. Hanseboot, Hamburg: October 24 - November 1, 2009 hall B6, booth 481. Mets Amsterdam: November 17-19, 2009, hall 4, booth Superyacht Pavillon hall 10, booth Salon Nautique, Paris: December 4-13, boot 2010, Düsseldorf: January 23-31, Key West, Florida: January 18-22, Kiel Week: June 19-27, 2010 Shows DIMENSION-POLYANT Inc., USA 78, Highland Drive USA-Putnam CT Phone: +1 (860) Fax: +1 (860) info@us.dimension-polyant.com DIMENSION-POLYANTSailcloth PTY Ltd., Australia P.O. Box 825 Unit 7/9 Powells Rd. AUS-Brookvale N.S.W Phone: +61 (2) Fax: +61 (2) dp-aus@dimension-polyant.com