Modular fender system for industrial ports

Purpose and goal

We successfully developed and tested a modular fender system. The fendersystem has been operative in the port of Halmstad for 5 months now and the result is very good. We have initiated the work to develop the sales channels. A lot of knowledge has been gathered on both the technical and commercial aspects of the fender business. We have hired a product development engineer and founded a department for product development. This department is key for the development of the fender system and is already leaving its mark on value added product development within our other business areas.

Expected results and effects

We hosted a product launch event in May 2015 and that resulted in two ports becoming interested in our fender system. We have received one request for quotation on a new quay development. The product launch event also gave HGF positive publicity as an innovative company. Other customers in other Business areas have given us very positive feedback on the fact that we now have a Product Development Department.

Planned approach and implementation

It was a very difficult and time consuming task to design all the different parts of the fender system. We had to work hard to gain knowledge on all aspects. This is why we had to do so many FEM anaysis loops for the first of the two rubber parts. The second one is now in the making and has been a lot quicker. The other parts of the project plan worked well and the cooperation with our external partners was good. It was especially important to be able to install the fender system in the local port for testing it in real life.