Seakeeper
Seakeeper was founded in 2002 for the purpose of researching, developing, and marketing motion control devices for boats under 70 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.
Gyro Component Manufacturing
Seakeeper's manufacturing facility 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 parts up to 72" in diameter.
The overall machining capacity has increased from 30,000 to 55,000 square feet as Seakeeper has grown dramatically over the past three years. 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.
Seakeeper's workforce is highly trained, with all machining employees capable and cross trained in the disciplines of programming and operation. The requirements of complex machining and intricate design helped forge a strong relationship between Seakeeper's engineers and machinists. The result is a manufacturing plant 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
Seakeeper's 3 Front Street assembly center is a facility that is specifically designed to organize, assemble, and test the Seakeeper Gyro. A just in time delivery system utilizing multi-shift manufacturing capacity 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 this 10,000 sq. ft. clean room area used for critical bearing and component assembly and vacuum sealing.
The Gyro's stringent testing requirements are provided for in a separate area as each Gyro and its controls are matched, tested under full load and performance results are completely documented before release for shipment.
