DECKING
TIKAL MARINE SYSTEMS Tikal Marine Systems manufactures adhesives and sealants, the world-renowned Tef-Gel and high-end teakcaulkings. Tikalflex TSCplus is a very durable, UV-stable teak caulking, TLB Flex is used for levelling and bonding teak, synthetic teak and cork. The caulking is available in black, gray and white. TSCplus and TLB Flex are used with cork and teak without a primer. Synthetic teak decks usually require the Tikal Synteak Activator to ensure permanent bonding. Tikal products are made in Germany and have the IMO certificate. Tikal products are available worldwide and have been tried and tested for 20 years. For more details visit
www.tikal-online.de
management measures. We are able to communicate any price fluctuation with our customers to ensure a mutually beneficial result.”
Timberlux remains highly confident about importing teak and despite the challenges, is largely unchanged with pricing policy in supplying natural wood to the yachting industry.
Ecodeck B.V., meanwhile, had a longstanding 25 year experience with supplying teak decking to the yachting industry but in the last ten years, took a different view. It sold the entire stock of the precious hardwood, in pursuit of what they say, was a feasible and sustainable alternative. Nothing other than a complete change of direction!
The material now used is recyclable and branded Ecodeck®. It is a two component polyurethane system and is produced with renewed and solvent free resins. In accordance with SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea regulations) and IMO (International Maritime Organisation) regulations, it has also been green tag verified therefore recognised internationally as a globally eco friendly product.
Niels Bruinse, Sales Manager of EcoDeck B.V., explains what happened, “We converted our entire production process and became fully focused on eco friendly materials which can be recycled after long term use on board, as yacht decking.
“For 25 years Herculan Marine became an established supplier to the cruise liner, military and commercial markets and now the leisure marine market. With their technology, and also being based in the Netherlands, both companies became partners. What it meant for us, that importing teak from anywhere in the world, for yacht decking, was no longer necessary.
“Last year in 2022, EcoDeck B.V. made a huge investment in time and money and with it, a significant transition and new
strategy. We have built a completely new production facility, the complete re-education of the organisation and the same with our contractors.”
As far as pricing policy is concerned, Niels added, “With the investment we can produce decking extremely efficiently by allowing us to shorten lead times which favourably affects the price to the end user. Our ambition is to become a leading global brand, by investing in various partnerships worldwide and we have started with Germany, Italy, Sweden and Australia. We have expanded in a short time. The high quality and the level of finish in fabricating a yacht deck, is amongst the most prestigious in the industry.”
Another deck fabricator had an equally robust set of answers to add to the debate. With its roots in faux teak it was clear that their expertise had become confident over its 15 years of existence in composite decking and when asked what their composites were made out of, the reply was, “We produce UV stabilised, outdoor grade, virgin PVC.” Worth noting and worth further examination but virgin PVC remains incomprehensible to my mind!
The fabricator in question is Permateek: With a vast array of vessels that they have supplied decking to from fitting out 60m superyachts down to much smaller production sail or power cruisers, Permateek is well integrated into the marine fraternity and Vince Coda, Managing Director, smoothly shrugged off the pandemic and the restless markets that have transpired.
”During the pandemic, business was unaffected and our turnover increased in line with previous years. We did experience some shortages of raw materials, but fortunately, we held sufficient stock levels that our production line was able to keep on running. Since then, we have doubled our production capacity, appointed many more distributors world wide and exceeded sales targets in the process.
ONBOARD | SUMMER 2023 | 141
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