Formula Yacht Spars restructures
By IBI Magazine
The UK's Formula Yacht Spars has announced a restructure of the business in order to better service its clients and increase efficiency. Following an extensive review, the company has decided to split its manufacturing sites into two separate operating units — carbon and aluminium masts.
On the carbon side, Formula has created a new custom mast production facility in Lymington that will focus on producing carbon spars for superyachts, including those for the America's Cup, Volvo Open 60 and other high-end speciality markets.
"This move to one location capitalises on the work carried out in these areas for the Ericsson Sailing Team's last Volvo Race as well as both Team Shosholoza, the South African America's Cup Challenge, and United Team Internet Germany, the German America's Cup Team; a 34m Dubois superyacht called La Cattiva (ex Taramber) and the forthcoming Rogers-designed Open 60 Artemis II," says the company.
All additional carbon work will be produced in the new Formula France facility based just outside Montpellier, where a 32m (105ft) autoclave has recently been installed. According to the company, Formula France has recently won contracts for the Mills 43, which has started production, as well as the new production Ker 39, Ker 52 mast packages and a French Open 60 project.
On the aluminium side, the company operates from its UK facility in Burnham-on-Crouch and another new facility in mainland Europe whose acquisition is currently nearing completion. Over the last three years, the Burnham facility has seen great investment and development and has recently shipped spars for Bushido, a 33m (108ft) Paolo Scanu-designed superyacht, and a 64m (210ft) schooner Pilar Rossi for ex-F1 champion Nelson Piquet.
The European factory is preparing to build spar packages for the 31m (102ft) Anastasia and a 45m (148ft) Dijkstra & Partners design, both of which are due for delivery in 2007. This purpose-built mast making facility is capable of shipping 58m (190ft) in one piece, says the company.
(20 June 2007)
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