MEYER WERFT GmbH & Co. KG-Has The Most Modern Systems In Shipbuilding

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MEYER WERFT GmbH & Co. KG was founded in 1795 and is based in Papenburg; Germany, and is owned by the Meyer family for the seventh generation; Bernard Meyer, Dr. Jan Meyer, Tim Meyer and Thomas Weigend.

The traditional company employs more than 3,450 people and is one of the largest employers in the region. The private family business trains around 250 apprentices in nine different occupations and the shipyard has employment with the construction of 11 major cruise ships until the year 2023.

With the extensive production program of MEYER WERFT covering a wide range of ship types, from cruise ships to gas tankers and research vessels to car and passenger ferries. To survive in global competition, the production facilities have been constantly improved and expanded.

Today, MEYER WERFT has the most modern systems in shipbuilding.

Over the past decades, MEYER WERFT has earned an excellent reputation worldwide for the construction of specialised ships. The company is best known for the construction of large, modern, and sophisticated cruise ships; to date, 46 luxury liners have been built in Papenburg for customers from all over the world. The latest highlight: the delivery of Spectrum of the Seas in April 2019.

MEYER WERFT offers its customers innovations and technologies: in addition to the cruise ships, car and passenger ferries as well as RoRo ships having been successfully manufactured in Papenburg for decades. The sister company of MEYER WERFT, the NEPTUN WERFT GmbH & Co. KG based in Rostock, builds river cruise ships and supplements their offerings. Finally, the construction of gas tankers and research vessels completes the portfolio.

In 2002, MEYER WERFT made the largest investment in its history: a second building dock and prefabrication halls with laser welding facilities were built and in 2008, the new construction dock was extended by 120 meters and the laser center of the MEYER WERFT was extended in 2012 by another hall. This provides the prerequisites for efficiently building all common ship sizes.

HISTORY

After the years of the wooden shipbuilding, one showed pioneering spirit at an early stage, which was the basis for the steady development of the shipyard. The company began in 1872 with the construction of iron ships with steam engines and when Papenburg had about 20 yards in 1860 – only the MEYER WERFT survived until the 21st century and only up to 400 seagoing ships were registered in Papenburg in the 19th century.

Between the two world wars, the yard built mainly fish steamer, pilot ships, and lightships as well as passenger ships for the coastal drive. In 1960, the entry into the gas tanker construction and in 1964 was delivered with the MALMÖ the first RoRo ferry in Papenburg.

In the last decades of the 20th century, MEYER WERFT has earned an excellent international reputation for the construction of passenger and passenger ferries, ro-ro and passenger ships, gas tankers, animal transporters and, above all, luxury cruise liners.

Almost the entire manufacturing process is digitized. This saves time and money at the same time: many projects can be planned and secured virtually and assembly processes can be tested. Since everything is supported by a 3D simulation, it can be planned ahead. The product and the manufacturing process can be developed in parallel: this saves time and effort and leads to better efficiency in the yard.

The “digital factory” allows for particular foresight in planning and construction: Engineers at MEYER WERFT can already estimate in the planning phase which ideas can be implemented and which, for the time being, are not. So there are fewer surprises in the production process. The product can be produced faster and comes to market earlier. Errors can be avoided before they provoke unnecessary manufacturing costs.

Computer-aided logistics minimizes storage space and thus operating costs. The material flow control system TESS controls the entire material flow at the shipyard via radio data transmission. Every component is in the right place with the right man at the right time. Shortest transport routes, minimal empty runs, and precise just-in-time supply are guaranteed.

INNOVATIONS AND TECHNOLOGIES

MEYER WERFT was the first compact shipyard in Europe and is today one of the most modern shipyards in the world. The two covered building docks as well as the modern production facilities and the concept of short distances make the shipyard successful. Innovations and the latest technologies characterize shipyard life.

All activities of the shipyard are equipped with state-of-the-art computer technology – from design to construction to production. Construction plans are rarely found here. In their place are simulations, by means of which, for example, the outer skin of a ship is constructed.

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