Celebrating 10 years of partnership in innovative composites
by ATL Composites 13 Apr 2022 07:22 PDT
2022 marks a decade of joint venture partnership between ATL Composites Australia and M.u.H. von der Linden GmbH, based in Wesel, Germany, manufacturing the range of ATL's lightweight panel solutions including DuFLEX, DuraKore, and Featherlight composite panels to top European boat builders, architects and other creative industries.
Over the past 10 years, their Joint Venture company, vdL Composites GmbH has attracted a loyal clientele across Europe and they are proud of their well-deserved reputation for precision manufacturing of quality products, expert technical support and top customer service.
In that time, many significant products have been refined and new products developed as a result of their creative teams and in response to evolving industry requirements.
"Since we established our joint venture partnership, developments in improving the production process and products have been implemented by the respective partners in their own production, on both sides," said Director, Inga von der Linden.
Highlights over the past decade include working with some of the leading international boating brands, including Schionning, Gunboat, Outremer, Nautor Swan, Baltic Yachts, Judel Vrolijk Designs, Itacat from Italy, Twans in the Netherlands, Lütje, Michael Schmidt Yachtbau and Shiptec AG, as well as various superyachts, production boats, sea ferries and commercial craft, proponents in the construction industry and even manufacturers of camper vans.
"Over the years we have provided materials for eight Schionning Catamaran Building Kits: Arrow 1200, two Arrow 1360, Arrow 1500, Legend 60, GForce 1400, Growler 710 and Solitaire 1740," said Inga.
"We have worked with Gunboat on their 68 and 72 models supplying deck panels and bulkheads, and we're currently providing the Gunboat 80 with carbon panels. There have been many interesting, unique projects, such as an impressive 80-metre superyacht which we supplied deck panels and panels for outdoor furniture.
"Then there was the acclaimed Southpark Building in London, which involved an ambitious extension of Narrow House, which despite the many challenges went off without a hitch and is now inspiring the next generation of architects and builders.
"Another key project was the result of working with building firm, Detlef Urban. Whatever industry our clients come from, we have fostered strong communications and respected relationships among our various departments, technical, design and purchasing - which is no mean feat!"
In 2022, M.u.H. von der Linden GmbH will attend METSTRADE Show in Amsterdam, just as they have since 2012, and for many years prior. Initially becoming a distributor for DuFLEX in the late 1990s and ultimately resulting in the JV being formed in 2012.
"METS is a very valuable networking and showcase opportunity for us," said Inga. "And we always enjoy catching up with Lorraine, Nick and some of the team from ATL Composites. There have been some barriers over the past years, but we are looking forward to 2022 to catch up with clients and hear about their new projects."
Ahead for the partnership between ATL Composites Australia and M.u.H. von der Linden GmbH are many more years of innovation and product development.
"We are looking forward to new developments, especially in the area of sustainability," explained Inga.
"Panels with bio-resins and natural fibres such as flax or hemp and cores made from balsa or recycled PET, as well as panels that have a fire certification. There are so many novel and environmentally-friendly solutions to building sustainable vessels, homes, commercial buildings and any other structure that requires ingenuity and light-weight composite materials.
"We are also enthusiastic about promoting our DuFLEX panel system to existing and new customers all over our region."
ATL's Managing Director, Nick Cossich added, "We had a vision of collaborating with the most discerning European clients, and it is undoubtedly due to the determination and hard work of our close friends at VDL that we have been able to build an enviable reputation in the market over the past 10 years.
"Their focus on precision manufacturing to the highest standards, but also the ability to intimately understand clients specialised needs, has been fundamental to this success.
"It is a privilege to partner with so many unique and inspirational European clients, and we truly appreciate that they have trusted us to deliver solutions to their most technically challenging requirements."