Seakeeper |
Strategic Manufacturing Partner - JOMA Machine Company
Seakeeper
Seakeeper was founded in 2002 for the purpose of researching, developing, and marketing motion control devices for boats under 50 meters. The founders are Shepard McKenney and John Adams.
McKenney previously owned Hinckley Yachts and developed their innovative JetStick™ technology, a fly by wire control system for jet powered boats. Adams previously owned a ship motion control company which, under his leadership, became the world leader in motion control for high speed ships.
From 2002 through 2007, McKenney and Adams, together with employees who were involved with their previous ventures, completed the research and development for the SEAKEEPER GYRO and began manufacturing and sales of the product. The Company is backed by venture capital funding which puts it in the position of having no debt and a strong source of cash to support its manufacturing and sales initiatives.
The Company’s headquarters and engineering facilities are located in Solomons, Maryland, USA which is about 55 miles (90 kilometers) south of Washington, DC.
The Company’s philosophy is to outsource manufacturing of the product to suppliers who are experts in their respective areas. In parallel with the product development efforts, the Company has developed a strong portfolio of outsourcing partners who provide a solid manufacturing foundation. The Company has a 10,000 square foot (1000 square meter) assembly facility located in the state of Pennsylvania where units are assembled and tested by the company’s strategic outsourcing partner JOMA Machine Company under the supervision of the company’s manufacturing engineering and quality employees.
Strategic Manufacturing Partner - JOMA Machine Company
Gyro Component Manufacturing
Joma Machine Company is located in Mohnton PA, occupying 3 renovated factory buildings at 3, 5 and 6 Front Street Plaza that were once home to the areas thriving textile industry. The precision machining capacity within the main facility at 5 Front Street is designed to emphasize the company’s ability to manufacture complex parts complete.
Milling, turning and grinding foremen are responsible for their machining discipline, crews and the 30 dedicated machine tools that can handle diameters up to 72” in diameter.
The overall machining capacity of Joma has increased from 30,000 to 55,000 square feet. as prototyping of Seakeeper’s Gyro’s has evolved into production orders. A building at 6 Front Street has been recently remodeled to accept production machining cells conceived with lean manufacturing principles, complimenting the existing technical expertise across the street.
Joma’s workforce is highly trained, all machining employees are capable of programming, and the crews are cross trained. The machining and design that involved Joma early on helped forge a strong relationship with Seakeeper’s engineers. The result is a manufacturing plan that combines the talents of both groups and integrates manufacturing and engineering ideas to produce technically superior machining, assembly and testing on one campus.
Gyro Assembly
Joma and Seakeeper designed 3 Front Street’s additional 10,000 square feet facility specifically to organize, assemble, and test the Seakeeper Gyro. A just in time delivery system utilizing the manufacturing capacity of 5 & 6 Front Street is meant to easily supply the assembly building with parts to satisfy the demands of a complete turnkey operation.
Electrical, cooling, hydraulic, mechanical, vacuum/charge and frame sub-assembly stations are organized outside a 10,000 sq ft clean room area used for critical bearing and Gyro assembly.
The Gyro’s stringent testing requirements are provided for in a separate area as each Gyro and its controls are matched, tested under load and documented before release for shipment.
Gyro Component Machining [ click thumbnails to enlarge image ]
Gyro Assembly [ click thumbnails to enlarge image ]
Gyro Test [ click thumbnails to enlarge image ]
