While Karl Senner LLC (KSLLC) marked its 50th anniversary in 2022, this year could represent even bigger happenings. At the 2024 WorkBoat Show, the team will be talking up new developments in Electrical Integration, Azimuth Propulsion, and Buy America/Buy American compliance. They’ll also be capturing feedback from attendees about past, present and future projects as well as learning about industry challenges and where they can help.
The company has an extensive history based on over fifty years of history exclusively in the maritime propulsion industry, selling and supporting thousands of REINTJES Gearboxes, hundreds of CP Propeller systems and Azimuth Drives (Z-drives and L-Drives) to date. As an upcoming electrical integrator, their history as a distributor, propulsion integrator, and industry leading service provider has given them exposure to electric propulsion systems utilizing REINTJES gearboxes since the mid-1980s - which began onboard passenger cruise vessels and over the years the company has provided solutions and earned references on offshore supply boats, fishing vessels, Dredgers, tugs, inland towboats, and passenger vessels. The electric propulsion products are available for all vessel types and all sizes with product offerings starting around 500hp per shaft line to over 30,000 hp.
Chris Senner, Executive Vice President at KSLLC, has experienced this development firsthand. He’s seen how the technology has changed and become more advanced and economical, creating more opportunity in both the government-funded space and the commercial vessel space as well. The passenger vessel segment is currently the most active in adopting this technology, and we see strong possibilities for growth within the inland waterways and tug sectors. The technology can be custom tailored for the specific vessel type, operating profile, operating location, owner’s preference, and the operator’s own in-house technical capability.
KSLLC enables operators and organizations to consider the full range of solutions available. Their wide-ranging experience with various propulsion types is unmatched - delivering everything from complex gearboxes, azimuth and tunnel thrusters, controllable pitch propellers, advanced control systems, and now full electrical integration. The company’s commitment to electrification and has expanded their staff to ensure success of their current and future electrical integration projects. Josh Davis, the most recent addition to their electric propulsion division, is now leading the way as Electrical Integration Manager. “Regarding electrical integration, our customers often prefer a simplified approach - which is why our solutions remain brand agnostic and designed to our specification. We’re not pushing a specific manufacturer or technology into our offerings. Instead, we utilize the best array of components to suit the application - with serviceability and commonality of parts in mind,” said Davis.
This approach to propulsion system integration speaks to how KSLCC is meeting increasing demand for electric, diesel-electric and electro-mechanical hybrid solutions. Their focus and dedication to meet market demands has also led to the successful manufacturing of their first Buy America compliant REINTJES gearboxes at their facility near New Orleans, LA. The company utilized a third-party specialist to perform a full compliance audit of their manufacturing processes and procedures which passed with full compliance, resulting in a final product that can be up to 100% US content. This new capability opens their market up to more FTA, FHWA, and FMF-funded programs that frequently have Buy America or Buy American requirements with US content minimums.
At this year’s WBS, the team is looking forward to discussing these developments, and learning about past, present, and future projects at this year’s WorkBoat Show, which attendees will be able to do in their booth. “I can’t tell you how many new projects and innovative solutions have started with both formal and informal conversations at the Workboat Show. We love hearing about new and old projects alike, discussing new ideas or challenges that we can help solve,” said Senner.
These discussions can lead to immediate results for attendees, which Senner mentioned happened just last year. At the WorkBoat Show in 2023, the KSLCC team had a conversation regarding a space constraint challenge in the engine room of a newly designed high-speed catamaran. The KSLCC team and REINTJES sat down with the interested parties to sketch out a possible solution to integrate a variable speed shaft generator with the gearbox in a more compact way. They left the meeting with a sketch of a concept and within a month the team had finalized a formal and engineered solution, solving the challenge at hand. It’s an illustration of how quickly things can take shape. The Senner team is excited to discuss any-and-all opportunities at this year’s show.
“We want to hear about your projects,” Senner said. “How can we help make your project a success? Bring us the challenge and we will provide a technically sound and reliable solution.”
Visit Karl Senner, LLC at booth #2915 at the upcoming WorkBoat Show, November 12-14th in New Orleans
