Simrad Yachting
Encyclopedia
Simrad Yachting is a manufacturer of marine electronics for the leisure and professional markets. A member of the Navico
family of brands, Simrad Yachting develops, manufactures and distributes navigation
systems, autopilot
s, marine VHF radio
s, chartplotter
s, echosounders, radars, fishfinder
s and a wide range of other marine technology.
, who set up his own wireless company called Simonsen Radio. Initially he focused on the production of radio communications for fishing vessels but a few years later coined the name Simrad to encompass a wider range of activities – namely the design and manufacture of navigation, communication, auto-steering and fish-finding technologies.
In 1996 the Simrad Group was purchased by the Kongsberg Gruppen
which, following a decision to focus on the industrial market, sold on the Simrad recreational product range to Altor Equity Partners
in 2005, creating Simrad Yachting. Simrad Group and Simrad Yachting are therefore now entirely independent of each other, with separate owners and distinct product specialisations. It was the merger of Simrad Yachting and Lowrance Inc in 2006 that went on to create the Navico
Group, now the largest leisure marine electronics manufacturer in the world.
Navico
Navico is the world’s largest developer, manufacturer and distributor of marine electronics for the recreational market, supplying over 100 countries around the world. The company was created in March 2006 through the merger of Simrad Yachting and Lowrance Electronics by their common owners, Altor...
family of brands, Simrad Yachting develops, manufactures and distributes navigation
Navigation
Navigation is the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another. It is also the term of art used for the specialized knowledge used by navigators to perform navigation tasks...
systems, autopilot
Autopilot
An autopilot is a mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic system used to guide a vehicle without assistance from a human being. An autopilot can refer specifically to aircraft, self-steering gear for boats, or auto guidance of space craft and missiles...
s, marine VHF radio
Marine VHF radio
Marine VHF radio is installed on all large ships and most seagoing small craft. It is used for a wide variety of purposes, including summoning rescue services and communicating with harbours, locks, bridges and marinas, and operates in the VHF frequency range, between 156 to 174 MHz...
s, chartplotter
Chartplotter
A Chartplotter is a device used in marine navigation that integrates GPS data with an electronic navigational chart . The chartplotter displays the ENC along with the position, heading and speed of the ship, and may display additional information from radar, automatic information systems or other...
s, echosounders, radars, fishfinder
Fishfinder
A fishfinder is an instrument used to locate fish underwater by detecting reflected pulses of sound energy, as in SONAR. A modern fishfinder displays measurements of reflected sound on a graphical display, allowing an operator to interpret information to locate schools of fish, underwater debris,...
s and a wide range of other marine technology.
History
The Simrad name has been in existence for over sixty years. The brand was established in 1947 by Willy Christian SimonsenWilly Christian Simonsen
Willy Christian Simonsen was a Norwegian engineer and business founder.He was born in Kristiania as a son of chemist Einar Simonsen and Alice Sophia Andersen . He finished his secondary education at Hegdehaugen School in 1933, and graduated in electrical engineering from the Dresden University of...
, who set up his own wireless company called Simonsen Radio. Initially he focused on the production of radio communications for fishing vessels but a few years later coined the name Simrad to encompass a wider range of activities – namely the design and manufacture of navigation, communication, auto-steering and fish-finding technologies.
In 1996 the Simrad Group was purchased by the Kongsberg Gruppen
Kongsberg Gruppen
Kongsberg Gruppen is Norway's major defence contractor and maritime automation supplier, located in Kongsberg, a former mining town....
which, following a decision to focus on the industrial market, sold on the Simrad recreational product range to Altor Equity Partners
Altor Equity Partners
Altor Equity Partners is a private equity firm focused on leveraged buyout and growth capital investments in Sweden, Denmark and Norway.The firm, which is based in Stockholm, Sweden, was founded in 2003 by a team led by Harald Mix, formerly a partner at Industri Kapital, another Nordic-focused...
in 2005, creating Simrad Yachting. Simrad Group and Simrad Yachting are therefore now entirely independent of each other, with separate owners and distinct product specialisations. It was the merger of Simrad Yachting and Lowrance Inc in 2006 that went on to create the Navico
Navico
Navico is the world’s largest developer, manufacturer and distributor of marine electronics for the recreational market, supplying over 100 countries around the world. The company was created in March 2006 through the merger of Simrad Yachting and Lowrance Electronics by their common owners, Altor...
Group, now the largest leisure marine electronics manufacturer in the world.