Mastervolt Brief

mastervolt Luxury Yacht Charter & Superyacht News

MasterBus and CZone together

November 08, 2011

Since the integration of Mastervolt into the Marine division of Actuant Electrical the engineers at Mastervolt headquarters in Amsterdam and the BEP engineering team in New Zealand have been collaborating to bring the two companies networked technologies into one system.

C-Zone MasterBus Bridge

C-Zone MasterBus Bridge

Both companies have extensive CAN based networked systems made up of Digital Switching, Systems Monitoring and Power Conversion devices. “Bringing the CZone and MasterBus systems together has been a relatively easy task”, says Jarrod Sagar, Global Product manager for Digital Switching at BEP, “as both companies had the same original philosophy for these systems, which was to bring all the points of control and monitoring of the on board systems onto one intuitive display, a central point and seamless automation simplifies boat use for the user.”

The engineering teams have developed ‘CZone MasterBus Bridge’ as the link between the MasterBus and CZone systems. The Bridge is a simple plug-in unit that reads both protocols and allows units from each manufacturer, and others such as Simrad that use BEP’s NMEA2000, to become fully compatible. This means that components such as pumps, alarms, battery chargers and monitors can be controlled from a single touch screen.

“The popular MasterShunt battery monitor and ChargeMaster battery charger can now be connected to a BEP marine network, which is based on NMEA2000,” explained Marc Persoon, Mastervolt’s marketing manager. “As a result, the monitoring and control of the battery charger can now be done via the CZone display or other compatible display such as the multi-function marine navigation screens from Simrad and B&G. The CZone MasterBus Bridge has been developed to connect two great systems together, and bring you the best of both worlds.”

As with all Mastervolt products, the Bridge is made from robust, corrosion resistant materials. The compact unit has strategically-placed screw holes allowing it to be attached to any convenient surface. Two simple 5-pin universal sockets facilitate the quick and simple connection of the two network cables, and an LED indicator shows the network status.

“By connecting the Bridge into an existing system, it will allow a yacht owner to expand a yacht’s systems without having to stick with just one manufacturer,” Persoon stated. “This is just one example of the benefits of becoming part of an organization such as Actuant, where the pooling of expertise reaps huge benefits for the customer. Furthermore, the Bridge gives our OEMS a complete simple package: a networked system made up of the worlds best power conversion and digital switching products.”

“The inclusion of the Mastervolt product range and the integration highlights the BEP marine division strategy to be become a leading global supplier of integrated electrical system solutions and electrical components,” says BEP’s Jarrod Sagar.

The CZone MasterBus Bridge will be on display at IBEX and METS, and is due for release in the first quarter of 2012. The bridge will include all the necessary connector cables and have a 2-year warranty.

PSS and Mastervolt together for Chinese OEM Market Training Program

October 14, 2011

Power Solution Shanghai (PSS) and Mastervolt put their forces together to create  particular training sessions for the Chinese OEM market and to develop professional working relationships. Sunny Sun, Director of PSS, and Erik van Wilsum, Commercial Manager (APAC & ME regions) for Mastervolt arranged a 4-day professional product training and workshop for the Chinese OEM market and its dealer network. A large number of engineers and purchasers from various yards took part in this particular training for China.

Chinese OEM Training Sessions

Chinese OEM Training Sessions

The training consisted of an overview of the complete product portfolio and also technical training and practical interaction with the products. The presentations and workshops were conducted in the Chinese language, in order to enhance the understanding of all the benefits, the installation options and quality differences. This is something Mastervolt would not have been able to achieve without PSS as a local partner.

Chinese OEM Training In Progress

Chinese OEM Training In Progress

Sunny Sun commented; “Normally a training of this magnitude is not possible in China because of the simple fact that many OEM yards will not pay the participants if they do not work at the yard and participants would need to pay for the training costs themselves.”  However, PSS and Mastervolt have worked together to organise these training sessions for the first time, as they have convinced OEM yards to understand the system approach of the Mastervolt product range and the need of optimizing service and after sales.

Mastervolt’s Erik van Wilsum said; “This training is the next step in the close cooperation between PSS and the OEM yards in China. OEM yards start to understand the need for quality power products from a worldwide supplier with a worldwide service network.”

The training sessions have focused on the central region of China, with more planned for the North and South regions.

Mastervolt opens new premises

October 04, 2011

Mastervolt, for 15 years being a dominant supplier of electrical power solutions to the marine, mobile and solar markets in all over the world, has currently moved into new offices, located in a large business centre in Mouans Sartoux. Staying in the luxury charter destination, Cannes area, on the French Riviera, the French team wanted to remain close to their marine customers, moving only because of the lack of working and warehousing space.

Mastervolt France New Offices

Mastervolt France New Offices

Stuart Ingram, Director of Mastervolt France, explained, “The new premises now offer a 350m² building, with modern training and service facilities and larger storage areas at our disposal. The move allows the whole team to work in a more professional environment and we now plan to offer regular training courses for installers and customers in both the marine and solar business.”

In addition to the new offices, Mastervolt France has also recently begun to work with Vidal Diffusion Marine (VDM) as the new distributor for Mastervolt products, specialising in the electric-propulsion range. Chosen for their high level of customer service, VDM is an active existing distributor of technical parts for the marine industry with a range including mechanical equipment linked to e-propulsion systems. This makes them a perfect choice for Mastervolt and their growing e-propulsion portfolio and other product ranges.

Situated near Toulon in the south of France, VDM is in an ideal location to work closely with Mastervolt as well as being in close proximity to the large marine customer base in the south. Furthermore, VDM’s nationwide network of installers is able to service all areas of France.

“France is a key market for Mastervolt and we want to offer optimum service to our customers here,” Stuart Ingram commented, “We believe our new partnership with VDM will improve this service. I am also looking forward to working with some of the key e-propulsion specialists on their team, to jointly further the e-propulsion market potential in France.”

Mastervolt & Marinco appoint Chris Yellow as the Sales Manager Nordic

September 27, 2011

Mastervolt and Marinco announce the appointment of Chris Yellow as the Sales Manager Nordic of Actuant Electrical’s marine and mobile markets and his territories include Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Baltic States, Finland and the Russian Federation. Chris will be looking after the Actuant product groups of Mastervolt, BEP Marine and Marinco in the Actuant Electrical portfolio.

Chris Yellow a newly appointed Sales Manager Nordic for Mastervolt and Marinco

Chris Yellow a newly appointed Sales Manager Nordic for Mastervolt and Marinco

Previously working as part of the European sales team for Marinco, Chris steps into the new management role representing the Actuant Electrical group, with a growing business value in the Nordic territory. Chris has an existing knowledgeable background to the Actuant Electrical product groups having played a key part in the execution of Marinco’s European distribution strategy that he will continue to contribute to.

Commenting on the new appointment, Sales Leader Bert Jansen said, “I am very happy to announce Chris’ promotion to Sales Manager Nordic. Coming from the Marinco family, Chris has easily adapted to the new position with the complete Actuant Electrical portfolio and already is familiar with many of the Nordic customers and accounts.

The new position for Chris is part of an ongoing strategy under the giant US parent company Actuant to grow in current markets and to enter new market segments.

Mastervolt adds Technautic B.V. to its worldwide network

September 06, 2011

Mastervolt, the leading supplier of electrical power solutions to the worldwide marine, mobile and solar markets, has added a new distributor to its global network – Technautic B.V. The addition of Technautic further increases Mastervolt’s presence in The Netherlands, as they join existing company Cuno Marine Supplies as distributors for Mastervolt equipment.

Mastervolt appoints Technautic in The Netherlands - From left to right – Cees Kopper (Technautic), Pieter Eggermont (Mastervolt General Manager Benelux) and Peter Wayper (Director of Technautic)

Mastervolt appoints Technautic in The Netherlands - From left to right – Cees Kopper (Technautic), Pieter Eggermont (Mastervolt General Manager Benelux) and Peter Wayper (Director of Technautic)

Technautic is an existing wholesaler for marine equipment, including bow thrusters and navigation equipment making them ideal partners for Mastervolt and their large range of marine powered electronics and e-propulsion systems. Acting as an intermediate between Mastervolt and the retailer, installers and ship yards, Technautic will be important in reaching even more customers and the aftermarket for Mastervolt in The Netherlands through their existing extensive network of retailers.

Another element to Technautic’s appointment with Mastervolt will be in a training role where they will provide product training to help retailers successfully promote and sell Mastervolt equipment, as well as passing this information on to the end user.

Pieter Eggermont, Mastervolt’s General Manager Benelux, commented, “Mastervolt and Technautic speak the same language – both companies highly value quality, service and innovation and we are looking forward to strengthening our relationship with Dutch retailers through Technautic’s expertise and large network.”

Director of Technautic, Peter Wayper, added, “Mastervolt is the perfect extension to our portfolio of marine companies. Everyone at Technautic is looking forward to working with Mastervolt and using our knowledge and resources to build both businesses.”

Gulf Craft appoints Mastervolt to supply Gulf Craft Oryx 36 Motor Yacht

March 08, 2011

The Middle East’s and Asia’s leading producer of luxury fiberglass motoryachts, Gulf Craft, has appointed Mastervolt, the market leader in onboard power supply systems to provide the Digital Switching control system for the Oryx 36 sport cruiser, which is on display at the Dubai International Boat Show.

Gulf Craft appoints Mastervolt to supply Gulf Craft Oryx 36 Motor Yacht

Gulf Craft appoints Mastervolt to supply Gulf Craft Oryx 36 Motor Yacht

Mastervolt’s Digital Switching system enables the owner of the boat to control the entire electrical system, including all lights, pumps, fridges, sound systems, generators and so on, from anywhere on board. They can even send the boat an SMS text message or access the system from their laptop at home to turn equipment on or off remotely. The Digital Switching system makes use of Mastervolt’s MasterBus one cable system to reduce required wiring to a minimum and to make connectivity and setting up particularly easy. This in turn produces significant savings in both weight and cost.

The iconic Oryx 36 motor yacht from Gulf Craft is a 36’10” (11.23m) vessel that fully benefits from the Mastervolt Digital Switching as power can be controlled from any position on the boat, as well as from a central control console, making the Oryx 36 motor boat even more luxurious for all on board. The Digital Switching provides full power information at a glance and can operate ‘smart alarm’ functions if required. A full system integration and energy management, ensuring the best balance between power generation, storage and consumption is also offered. For example, the generator can be set to start automatically if it’s needed when the air conditioning is turned on. Light levels can also be adjusted without the need for individual dimmer controls, making life aboard that much more convenient.

Speaking of the new agreement with Mastervolt, Erwin Bamps, Chief Operating Officer for Gulf Craft, said: “This is an excellent arrangement for our two companies. We share a desire to provide our customers with the ultimate in quality and reliability and Mastervolt’s equipment fulfils that requirement perfectly.”

Mastervolt’s representative in the United Arab Emirates, John Paul, General Manager of Exalto Emirates said: “Gulf Craft are leaders in the world of luxury motoryachts and leisure craft and Mastervolt leads the market in electrical systems for such boats – it’s a perfect match.”

Beschier Kik joins WhisperPower board

March 01, 2011

Beschier Kik (53) recently joined the board of WhisperPower BV. In his role as Commercial Director, Kik will help the company develop into a global player in the field of power and propulsion systems in close cooperation with general director/owner Roel ter Heide.

Beschier Kik joins WhisperPower board

Beschier Kik joins WhisperPower board

Roel ter Heide is the founder and former director/owner of Mastervolt, a renowned diesel generator and power system company. Established in July 2007, WhisperPower has since mid-2010 been serving the maritime market with an extensive range of advanced power systems previously sold via the Mastervolt network.

WhisperPower’s sister company Hybrid Power Systems BV was established in 2010. It focuses on the development and production of hybrid systems for vessels and vehicles which are sold globally via WhisperPower’s commercial network. The WhisperPower Group has fifty employees in the Benelux region, the UK, Spain, Germany, Australia and China, and its products are sold in over fifty countries.

Beschier Kik is a well-known name in the maritime world. After a technical and managing career at Bolnes Diesel Motoren and Yanmar Europe, Kik held various positions at Vetus NV before becoming CEO in 2000. After leaving Vetus in 2008, Kik spent the past two years as a key consultant at various companies in the Netherlands and abroad in the field of commerce and management.

“I have known Roel ter Heide as an industry colleague for some twenty years and we have always had a good relationship,” Kik comments. “As we are both full of ideas and have a strong drive, it seemed natural to approach the further expansion of WhisperPower together. It is a very interesting challenge as WhisperPower’s field of activity is very familiar to me and its ‘mechatronics’ product range, including diesel engines, is state of the art.”

Ferretti Group and Mastervolt sign ‘strategic supplier’ contract

November 16, 2010

The Ferretti Group and Mastervolt, has signed a three year ‘strategic supplier’ contract which will run from Autumn 2010 until Autumn 2013. The agreement will extend the cooperation that started between the company’s around eight years ago.

Riva 92 Duchessa Motor yacht

Riva 92 Duchessa Motor yacht

The new ‘strategic supplier’ contract initiated by Mastervolt Italia, brings together two companies dedicated to quality in all aspects of production. Mastervolt, is a market leader in the supply of electrical power solutions to the international marine market and the Ferretti Group, is a world leader in designing, building and marketing luxury motoryachts with a unique portfolio of some of the most prestigious and exclusive brands in the nautical world.

Under the terms of this agreement, Mastervolt will supply equipment for the all Ferretti Group brands, including Ferretti Yachts, Pershing, Itama, Bertram, Riva, Mochi Craft, CRN and Ferretti Custom Line.

Mastervolt Logo

Mastervolt Logo

 “This is a perfect association between two leading companies that have the same high standards for quality products and customer satisfaction.

Our electrical power solutions offer the levels of reliability and durability that are essential throughout the Ferretti Group range of motor yachts, giving both the builders and their customers, complete confidence in their craft.” Said Paul Kenninck, CEO of Mastervolt

Ferretti Group Logo

Ferretti Group Logo

The Ferretti Group, led by Chairman Norberto Ferretti and Chief Executive Officer Salvatore Basile, has always been committed to constant product and process innovation, and continuous research into cutting-edge solutions within the sphere of technology. The Group employees share a continuous quest for quality, technological excellence, top performance, an exclusive, innovative design, maximizing comfort and taking painstaking care over detail. This common daily commitment has taken Ferretti Group yachts to the very heights of the nautical world.

Naturally such motor yachts also have considerable power demands, which is where the Mastervolt products fall neatly into place.

“We are extremely satisfied to have signed this contract with Mastervolt, an ideal partner with which we share common values” declared Norberto Ferretti, Ferretti Group Chairman and Founder. “For over eight years, we have been strengthening our profitable collaboration and achieved important results. I believe this agreement will enable us to combine the unique style and tradition of Italian-made products which is so typical of the Ferretti Group with Mastervolt’s leadership in the supply of electrical power solutions to the international marine market”.

Mastervolt’s drive systems DriveMaster & PodMaster

June 25, 2010

The Dutch yard of cruiser motor yachts has fitted Mastervolt’s DriveMaster 7.5 Ultra drive system in their 26ft Grand Sturdy 25.9 Sedan. In order to express the green image of the 25.9 “E-Tech” Hybrid, Linssen has chosen the drive system to be powered by four lithium-ion batteries. For extended range the system is supported by a Whisper 3,5 generator.

the drivemaster 20 ultra

The system was successfully integrated within 3 months of time, from request for quotation up until finalization of test drives, JIT ready for the introduction during their Summer Festival. This festival is a yearly event exclusively held for Linssen boat owners and prospects and is combined with their annual International dealer meeting.

Mastervolt Benelux was invited to give a presentation at this dealer meeting for the dealers to get an impression of the company and technology behind the hybrid drive system. After a corporate presentation, a more detailed product presentation focused on the applied hybrid drive system was given.

The presentation was followed by a test drive of the boat during which the dealers were able to more specifically raise their questions in the nice atmosphere of sunny weather, calm water and the silence of the vibration and odorless Mastervolt full hybrid drive system.

Our presence during this dealer meeting as well as the clear explanation was much appreciated, not only by the dealers but especially by the board of directors of Linssen . Dealers and Linssen personnel expressed to be impressed by the performance of the system, especially supplied power by the drive system over the full throttle range and driving range at cruising speed. We expect many of these full hybrid Linssen Grand Sturdy boats to show up in different area’s worldwide.

The podmaster 10