Series production of lifeboats, free-fall lifeboats, tender boats and GRP davit systems for the maritime industry.
Hatecke GmbH
Drochtersen (Krautsand) · Miami · Singapore · TriesteNew on Amplifa
About Hatecke
Hatecke GmbH in Drochtersen (Krautsand) has been developing and manufacturing lifeboats, free-fall lifeboats (also as tanker versions), tender boats, rescue and work boats as well as matching hook and davit systems for over 120 years. Production takes place in-house in plastics and fibre-composite technology: laminating according to structural laminate plans, operation of resin impregnation systems, mould making, finishing up to high-gloss polishing, and steel construction for davit systems including hydraulic launching appliances. This is complemented by the assembly of hydraulic, electrical and electronic systems, engine and steering installations, loading, acceptance tests and sea trials. Main customers are shipyards and shipping companies in the Cruise, Cargo & Offshore and Defence sectors; a worldwide service network with around 60 service partners and its own service stations in Miami, Singapore and Trieste handles after-sales activities. Founded in 1903, the family-owned company employs around 300 staff in nine production halls directly on the Elbe and exports more than 80% of its products.
- Site
- Drochtersen
- Processes
- Laminating according to structural laminate plans (GRP/fibre-composite production), Operation of resin impregnation systems (infusion/impregnation processes), Production of components and assemblies in fibre composite, Production of moulds (tool/mould making), Finishing of GRP components (filling, fine sanding, high-gloss polishing, edge trimming), Machining of plastic components, Milling, turning and welding (fundamentals, maintenance), Steel construction
- Materials
- glass-fibre reinforced plastic (GRP), laminating resins, glass mats, sandwich materials, wood, metal, steel, Glass-fibre reinforced plastic
- Founded
- 1903
- Employees
- 300
- Industries
- Cruise/Cruising, Cargo & Offshore, Defence, Maritime After-Sales/Service, Cargo & Offshore (lifeboats, tanker versions, davits), Cruise/Cruising (lifeboats and tender boats)
- 01
Design/Engineering
- 02
Mould making
- 03
Laminating/Infusion (GRP fibre composite)
- 04
GRP finishing
- 05
Steel construction for davit systems
- 06
Assembly (hydraulic, electrical, electronic systems)
- 07
Acceptance tests/Sea trials
- 08
Loading/Logistics
- 09
Maintenance & Service
Materials & Processes
Glass-fibre reinforced plastic
Core material for hull shells of lifeboats, free-fall lifeboats, tender boats and rescue boats.
Laminating resins
Processing with glass mats and sandwich materials according to structural laminate plans.
Resin impregnation system (infusion)
Impregnation process for the series production of fibre-composite components.
Steel
Steel construction for davit systems and launching appliances including hydraulic solutions.
Sandwich materials
Used in the laminate build-up for lightweight, load-bearing composite structures.
Wood
Processing and machining in traditional boat building and mould making.
Locations
Drochtersen (Krautsand)
DEHeadquarters and production (design, plastics/GRP manufacturing, steel construction, assembly)
- Lot size
- Single-item and series production
- Materials
- GRP, laminating resins, glass mats, sandwich materials, steel, wood
- Resin impregnation system
- Mould making
- Laminating hall
- Steel construction production hall
- Assembly
Miami
USHatecke Service USA LLC – After-sales service station
Singapore
SGHatecke Service Singapore Pte. Ltd. – After-sales service station
Trieste
ITHatecke Service Italy Srl – Agency for Italian shipyards
Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laminating according to structural laminate plans (GRP/fibre-composite production)Plastics | – | – | – | – | glass-fibre reinforced plastic (GRP), laminating resins, glass mats, sandwich materials |
| Operation of resin impregnation systems (infusion/impregnation processes)Plastics | – | – | – | – | laminating resins, glass mats |
| Production of components and assemblies in fibre compositePlastics | – | – | – | – | fibre composite (GRP) |
| Production of moulds (tool/mould making)Plastics | – | – | – | – | – |
| Finishing of GRP components (filling, fine sanding, high-gloss polishing, edge trimming)Surface | – | – | – | – | GRP |
| Machining of plastic componentsMachining | – | – | – | – | plastic |
| Milling, turning and welding (fundamentals, maintenance)Machining | – | – | – | – | metal |
| Steel constructionWelding/Assembly (Joining) | – | – | – | – | steel |
| Manufacture of davit systems (launching appliances) incl. hydraulic Hatecke davitsAssembly | – | – | – | – | steel |
| Series production of lifeboats and free-fall lifeboats (also tanker versions)Plastics | – | – | – | – | glass-fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) |
| Construction of tender boats and rescue/work boats (individual manufacturing)Plastics | – | – | – | – | glass-fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) |
| Assembly (boat building incl. installation of hydraulic, electrical, electronic systems, enginesAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Repair and maintenance of boats, davits and technical systems (service)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Design/Engineering (design drawings, development)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Processing of woodOther | – | – | – | – | wood |
1 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resin impregnation system | – | – | – | – | Drochtersen |
Additional services
History
- 1903
Master boat builder Wilhelm Hatecke founds a shipyard in Dornbusch (repair and construction of wooden boats).
- 1937
Naval architect Ernst Hatecke takes over management; focus on lifeboats and working boats.
- 1963
Helmut Hatecke takes over management; introduction of glass-fibre reinforced plastics (GRP).
- 1970
New production facilities on Krautsand on the Elbe; start of series production.
- 1983
First free-fall lifeboat recognised by the German Maritime occupational accident insurer (See-Berufsgenossenschaft); Jan and Peter Hatecke (4th generation) join the company; alignment towards series production of lifeboats and davit systems.
- 2005
Peter Hatecke becomes sole owner; entry into the cruise market; foundation of Hatecke Service GmbH.
- 2012
Successful test of the tender boat prototype PL 14; delivery to the first customer.
- 2014
Foundation of Hatecke Service USA LLC (Miami) and Hatecke Service Singapore Pte. Ltd.
- 2017
Foundation of Marescape GmbH (on-/offshore safety services); PEL 14 prototype successfully tested (capacity >450 persons); first installation of a hydraulic Hatecke davit for PEL 150(R).
- 2024
Lower Saxony Foreign Trade Award 2024 (SME category) with an export share of over 80%; foundation of Hatecke Service Italy Srl in Trieste.
- 2025
Transfer of the majority shares to the fifth generation; market leader for lifeboats in the cruise industry.