Zeppelin Power Systems GmbH & Co. KG, Hamburg, a subsidiary of the venerable Zeppelin Group, and SkySails are joining forces to market SkySails propulsion systems. The Oltmann Gruppe has played a key role in financing the establishment of SkySails. Zeppelin Power Systems now takes stake as strategic partner in order to create the optimal basis for the next step – the market entry. Starting next year, the two Hamburg-based companies will be combining their expertise and competence in what will be called the Zeppelin SkySails Service- und Vertriebsges. mbH & Co. KG. The two partners intend to set new worldwide standards through the joint marketing of diesel-wind hybrid power systems. Zeppelin Power Systems’ robust sales and service network will ensure that the SkySails-Systems are maintained and serviced quickly and reliably across the globe. Zeppelin has been the partner of Caterpillar, the world’s largest independent manufacturer of diesel engines, for over 50 years and is one of the leading sales and service organizations for marine engines.
“Rising fuel costs and climate-change-related requirements and restrictions are forcing the shipping industry to change its way of thinking. The combination of cutting-edge diesel engine technologies from MaK and Caterpillar and the wind propulsion systems from SkySails will allow us to chart a new and much more promising course in our industry. This partnership not only fully accommodates the development of new market potential in the maritime industry, but also follows the future-minded tradition set forth by our company’s founder: the courage to try something new and to believe in its success,” says Ernst Susanek, the President and CEO of ZEPPELIN GmbH.
“We want our customers to be excited about the SkySails-System,” adds SkySails Managing Director Stephan Wrage. “This includes the kind of excellent service quality that we can guarantee our customers thanks to this collaboration with such an experienced partner as
Zeppelin Power Systems.“
This partnership between Zeppelin and SkySails was initiated by the Oltmann Gruppe, which, as the exclusive financing partner of SkySails, arranged the bulk of the capital needed to establish the company. Oltmann chief executive André Tonn is delighted: “The Oltmann Gruppe welcomes this partnership with Zeppelin and recognizes it as the ideal arrangement to enable SkySails to fully develop the market.”
Hamburg / Garching 02 December 2008
About Zeppelin
Zeppelin is a company rich in tradition whose name and origins go back to the great airship pioneer Ferdinand Count Zeppelin, who contributed the company he founded in 1908 to the Zeppelin Foundation that is headquartered in Friedrichshafen, Germany. The Zeppelin Group is still owned by the foundation to this day. Zeppelin Group has its headquarters in Garching near Munich and has been the exclusive sales and service partner of Caterpillar Inc. of Peoria, Illinois since 1954 – a partnership that has since expanded from Germany to numerous countries in Central and Eastern Europe.
The Zeppelin Group employs some 6,500 people at 190 locations around the world and is projected to post revenues of 2.5 billion euros in 2008. The Zeppelin Group’s subsidiary Zeppelin Power Systems GmbH & Co. KG is responsible for the sales and service of MaK and Caterpillar marine and other engines.
Video - Introductory film of the press conference on 02 December 2008
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You can find detailed background information and photos under the respective headings in our Press Lounge.
