Kahlenberg Establishes European Distribution Company
US manufacturer Kahlenberg Industries, Inc has appointed a new company, Kahlenberg UK Ltd, to handle the distribution of its full range of marine and industrial sound signals, sound signal controls, air compressors and accessories across all of Europe except Italy. Kahlenberg UK Ltd has been created out of the success of sister company du Pré Marine following its appointment as an agent for Kahlenberg in 2009.
Kahlenberg UK Ltd Chairman Piers du Pré, who also owns the telecommunications and IT specialist du Pré plc, explains: “The du Pré Group has extensive experience of managing support to BSI standards and the knowledge of how to build and maintain a thriving customer base within the UK and in overseas markets. Du Pré Marine was formed to represent a very select, high quality range of niche marine products where full service back-up and a personal approach is required. As an active owner of an 18m trawler yacht I know how invaluable this is for leisure skippers, superyacht captains, vessel masters and ship managers alike.”
Natural Step
He continues: “After a successful year representing Kahlenberg, selling into and supporting owners, boatbuilders, shipyards and managers, it was a natural step to create a dedicated company, Kahlenberg UK Ltd, to match the high quality of Kahlenberg products with direct support this side of the Atlantic.” Kahlenberg UK Ltd will be based at the group headquarters in Newbury, Berkshire and benefit from an existing full service environment including in-house marketing, administration and stockholding. The company can instantly ship popular models and common spares from stock, for small leisure craft right up to products for vessels in excess of 200m. du Pré plc has installed a direct telephone line with Kahlenberg Industries to enable toll free communications between both companies.
New Initiative
Kahlenberg Industries’ Vice President Erick Kahlenberg – pictured left, together with Piers du Pré (m) and Steve Kahlenberg (r) at Kahlenberg’s factory in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, USA – states: “We’re really excited about this new initiative and confident that Piers and his team will provide excellent factory-backed sales and support across Europe for leisure, commercial and naval customers. Kahlenberg is investing heavily in its product range and the establishment of a base in Europe will allow us to promote and support the demand we see from the EU, more effectively.”
Kahlenberg Industries
Kahlenberg Industries, Inc is based at Two Rivers, Winsconsin, USA. It was founded in 1895 and has operated from the same 45,000 sq.ft factory ever since. It remains a family-owned business and it is run by the great-grandsons of the founder. The company produces a wide range of sound signalling equipment and accessories for marine and industrial use. The company’s marine sound-signalling equipment all complies with the IMO’s International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) and there are ranges to suit all vessels from small RIBs and sailboats through to aircraft carriers. Industrial signals include mass notification equipment suitable for signalling up to 6 km distance.