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Lean Manufacturing Training At Thrustmaster

Thursday July 8, 2010 (TMOT Press Release)

Holland Shipbuilding Magazine features Thrustmaster's International Sales and Marketing Manager.

Excerpt: "The sales departments, captained by Mr. Bert Ault, are now working on tenders for almost all the major oil companies in the world, impressive names can be considered as a valued relation to Thrustmaster, like: BP, Chevron, Exxon Mobile, Gazprom, Gulf Oil, Petrobras, Shell, Sonangol, Stratoil, Texaco & Total. At this moment a lot of orders come from upgrading ‘well stimulation vessels’ and tankers to DP 2 shuttle tankers. A number of Thrustmaster’s portable DP-systems are dedicated to simply bringing barges to a drill location; these barges will sink down onto a well (of course after removal of the portable propulsion systems) and will be cemented in at a depth of approximately 1,500 meters. These cemented in barges will function as base stations to which DP shuttle tanker can be connected."

Read more by clicking the PDF link to the left.


Lean Manufacturing Training At Thrustmaster

Thursday April 15, 2010 (TMOT Press Release)

Jesse Cañas, Manufacturing Manager for Thrustmaster gives the second of two classes on Lean Manufacturing Methods in Thrustmasters new training room. Employees attending this class represent all facets of the manufacturing process from senior engineers to assembly personnel.

Thrustmaster is focusing on the relentless pursuit for the elimination of waste throughout the entire business structure.


Holland Shipbuilding - Hybrid Technology at Thrustmaster

Thursday April 08, 2010 (TMOT Press Release)

Holland Shipbuilding has taken special interest in Thrustmaster's investment direction for Hybrid Technology. As more countries demand the reduction of a vessels carbon output while loitering, Thrustmaster has taken steps to embrace future involvement in providing such value added systems. 


 American Bureau of Shipping Features Thrustmaster

ABS Surveyor - Thrustmaster Article

 Monday, March 29, 2010 (TMOT Press Release)

“Thrustmaster of Texas is featured in the Surveyor, a quarterly magazine from ABS and includes the cover image with the comment, “The world of offshore energy turn on craftsmanship. Here, two workers bring a giant thruster towards completion in Thrustmaster of Texas’ new plant. Dynamic positioning, offshore oil and gas and offshore wind power – and their areas of intersection - are the subject of this issue of Surveyor.”


New Cruise Ship 3 Months Ahead of Schedule

Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - (TMOT Press Release)

The brand new American Cruise Lines ship, Independence, being built at Chesapeake Shipbuilding, was taken on its first underway trials yesterday. This important milestone trial occurred three months ahead of schedule. Maneuvering and equipment tests were performed successfully while the ship was underway in the Wicomico River.

American Cruise Lines will run the Independence on 7-14 night cruises beginning on June 12, 2009 with 102 passengers on the East Coast. The ship has a number of important differences from other ships that Chesapeake has built for American Cruise Lines, including a wider beam and active wing stabilizers. The wider beam will allow for larger staterooms, public spaces and private balconies.

The Independence is equipped with twin Caterpillar C-32 main engines putting out nearly 1,500 horsepower each, and bow and stern thrusters from Thrustmaster of Texas. The ship also has three 250kw Caterpillar C-9 generators, a 100kw Cummins generator and Rolls Royce Aquarius 50 active wing stabilizers.


Thrustmaster of Texas, Inc. posts outlook for 2010

In an article regarding the outlook for 2010 for the marine industry from Holland Ship Building Magazine, Thrustmaster president Joe Bekker is interviewed regarding Thrustmaster's outlook for 2010.

Amid the doom and gloom articles that seem to be dominating our industry Mr. Bekker puts a positive note into the article as we prepare to enter 2010. In addition to the positive outlook Mr. Bekker also announces the addition of an investment in Hybrid Propulsion Systems and strong alliances in Ice Class applications for Arctic and other Ice Class vessels.


Thrustmaster Trains Napro Service Employees

In November 2009 personnel from Napro (Brazil) attended training on hydraulic and other thruster issues at the Thrustmaster Factory Training Center in Houston.

Sessions included time in the classroom as well as hands-on sessions in the factory.


Holland Shipbuilding Magazine Features Thrustmaster

In conjunction with two trade shows these past few months (one in Scotland and the other in Rotterdam) Holland Shipbuilding Magazine featured Thrustmaster in several well written articles. Special focus was given on Dutch native Joe (Jos) Bekker, President of the company and the new factory.

Setting up the articles Thrustmaster Europe, B.V.'s manager, Hans Hoek took special pride in the fact that Joe hails from Holland. Hans played a pivotal role in setting up the European shows which helped increase Thrustmaster's visibility to the North Sea market.

With over 800 exhibitors and the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Jan Peter Balkenende appearing at the AHOY ROTTERDAM 09 show, it was still no surprise that Joe Bekker was the only Thruster Manufacturer to be interviewed for the shows hallmark video that played to arriving visitors. His optimism shows in this interview with film makers as the Rotterdam show proved to be one of the busiest in years.


Graham Gulf: Bigger is Better

Earlier this year C&G Boat Works Inc. launched the Gulf Princess for owner Graham Gulf.
 
Originally conceived as a 175 by 34-foot vessel the decision was made during construction to add a ten foot extension bringing the vessel length to 185-feet.
 
The original power package was retained. This included four 1800-horsepower Cummins KTA50-M main engines turning 48-inch propellers through ZF 4650 gears with 2.5:1 reduction.
 
A Cummins 6CTA8.3DM engine powers the Thrustmaster TH250RT retractable bow thruster. Two Cummins 85 KW 6BTA5.9DM/Newage generator sets supply the vessels electrical requirements.
 
The Gulf Princess is DP-1 rated. A sister vessel, to be named the Sybil Graham, is currently in build for delivery in the third quarter of 2009. The Sybil Graham will be classed DP-2.


IEEE Egyptian Engineering Day Features Thrustmaster OD150 Units

ADG-EG.COM (Arab Development Group) sent us this picture from an Egyptian news paper highlighting Egyptian Engineering Day in Al-Azhar Conference Center, Nasr City, Cairo, on 26th, 27th& 28th July 2008.

In the foreground is one of hundreds of self contained hydraulic thrusters (shown right) produced by Thrustmaster for the Egyptian Government.

***"The IEEE Egyptian Engineering Day is the annual nexus for IEEE engineers in Egypt, organized by the IEEE Egypt GOLD Affinity Group in conjunction with the Arab Academy for Science & Technology. This event is an opportunity for electrical, electronic, computer, biomedical, chemical & mechanical engineering professionals to meet new associates in the field, share ideas, collaborate on their graduation projects and learn something new. It is the place where industry and university enter a win to win situation."

***Source: ieeegoldegypt.org


Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corp delivers the “Woodland” Car Ferry to the State of Delaware

Web Site

It is the third ferry that Chesapeake Shipbuilding has designed and built at its Salisbury facility.

The Ferry is the only car ferry operated by the Delaware Department of Transportation and has operated at the Woodside site for over 200 years.
    • Length o.a. 94 ft
    • Beam 31 ft
    • Draft 2.5 ft
    • Hull 4 ft
    • Powered by Thrustmaster hydraulic tunnel drives and ramps

Chesapeake Shipbuilding has over 30 years of industry experience and designs and builds commercial ships up to 300 feet in length, with specialization in the design and construction of passenger vessels, tugboats, ferry boats, etc.

Chesapeake Shipbuilding’s construction yard is located on 13 acres of level land, with nearly 2000 feet of deepwater bulkhead, along the protected waters of Maryland’s Wicomico River. It has 2 construction basins, 3 level construction/side launch systems, plus a ground transfer system and various hull fabrication buildings and shops.

Chesapeake Shipbuilding offers long-term career opportunities with room for growth.


Thrustmaster Named Fastest Growing Manufacturing Company

Thrustmaster Named Fastest Growing Manufacturing Company

Highlighting this years Fastest-Growing Private Companies, Inc. Magazine has named Thrustmaster of Texas, Inc. as the fastest growing privately owned manufacturing company in the USA.

"How He Did It" feature in Inc.com Magazine.

The rating is derived by comparing revenues between 2004 and 2007 where Thrustmaster saw an increase of 1,456.7%.

Contracts and forecasts in 2008 have already exceeded the 2007 record year. "Now we're experiencing our fastest growth yet. Increased oil prices have helped in that they have given the oil companies the profit, and the incentive to start looking for new locations for oil and gas, and that has dramatically increased the demand for our product," says founder and president, Joe Bekker.

With an order backlog in excess of 250 million dollars, primarily for thrusters used in dynamic positioning applications, Thrustmaster is building a brand new 200,000 square foot manufacturing plant for production of thrusters in sizes up to 6,000kW (8,000hp) each. This new factory, which will be completely climate controlled, will be the largest of its kind in the world. A large test basin, holding 15 million gallons of water, is set up for full load testing before shipment of all products.

Thrustmaster designs and builds tunnel thrusters, azimuth thrusters, and retractable thrusters for commercial ships, platforms, and barges. The company quickly developed into one of the world's leading suppliers of thrusters for drill ships, semi-submersibles, harbor tugs, OSV's, and accommodation barges. Thrustmaster is headquartered in Houston, Texas and has its own service centers in Singapore, Dubai, Rotterdam, and China.


Thrustmaster of Texas, Inc. Signs 10 Million USD Contract

10 MM Contract

Official Press Release

From the floor of the 2007 New Orleans Workboat Show, Thrustmaster of Texas, Inc. signed a 10 Million USD contract to deliver 18 azimuth Z-drives for pusher tugs operating in South American river transportation.

Houston based Thrustmaster of Texas, Inc. is a global leader in development of propulsion systems and azimuth thrusters for dynamic positioning.


Thrustmaster of Texas, Inc. Supplies Outboard Propulsion to British Military Unit

British Navy personnel load Thrustmaster Outboard Units onto modular barges for testing.

Official Press Release

Thrustmaster of Texas, Inc. is currently working with the British Navy to deliver 33-150 HP Skid Pack outboard propulsion units for special modular barge operations.

 

The freely azimuthing self contained outdrive propulsion systems can be moved from module to module as needed for transporting troops, tanks, and tactical military vehicles and can be tilted up to 180 degrees allowing the operator to quickly clear obstructions.


Frontier Drilling Orders DNV Class Propulsion Units from Thrustmaster of Texas, Inc.

Official
Press
Release

Thrustmaster of Texas, Inc. (www.thrustmastertexas.com) has contracted with Frontier Drilling to deliver six TH6000ML DNV class mechanical azimuthing thrusters.

 

The 6000hp (4500kW) units are also part of Thrustmaster of Texas, Inc. growth into supplying primary Dynamic Positioning propulsion and station keeping capabilities to the offshore semi- submersible market. Engineering and components will be started in the current facility and completed in the new 200,000 square foot facility in mid-2009.


Thrustmaster of Texas, Inc. to Build New Houston, TX Facility

Photos

Thrustmaster of Texas, Inc. is the largest U.S. based manufacturer of bow thrusters and Z-drives for the marine industry, is breaking ground on a new 60 acre, 200,000 square foot factory near it’s current location in Houston, Texas. The new factory is scheduled for opening by year end 2008.

 

With overhead cranes up to 100 ton capacity, the new facility will produce thrusters in the range of 100 to 6,000 HP (75 to 4,500 kW) for marine transportation, offshore industries, and military craft applications.

Thrustmaster received new orders well in excess of 100 million USD in 2007 of which 75 million USD is for export outside the USA.


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